Guest columnist

They are no magic pills to reach your goals

Posted

The multi-billion dollar big business of performance-enhancing and dietary supplementation has its vision aimed in the direction of athletes striving to increase performance and fitness fanatics looking to gain an extra edge in the gym, or shed a few unwanted pounds.

But unfortunately, we may never have a clear understanding of their true effects, largely in part to Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch (R), who was responsible for drafting 1994’s Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. DSHEA made the Food and Drug Administration virtually powerless in the testing and regulation of nutritional and dietary supplements, placing them in a special category under the general umbrella of foods, not drugs.

“Under DSHEA, the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring its dietary supplement products are safe before they are marketed. Unlike drug products that must be proven safe and effective for their intended use before marketing, there are no provisions in the law for FDA to approve dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they reach the consumer. Generally, manufacturers do not need to register their products with FDA nor get FDA approval before producing or selling dietary supplements,” according to FDA.

Now, here’s the political irony behind DSHEA and the supplement saga. Federal candidates and political parties have received more than $16.1 million in contributions since 1990 — including the 2015-16 election cycle — from the manufactures of nutritional and dietary supplements, and those linked to the industry. Hatch has received over $415,000, of which $92,750 was received during the 1993-‘94 election cycle. He was the No. 1 recipient. The top five contributors in 1993-94 were Slim-Fast Foods ($140,650), AkPharma Inc. ($103,800), Dietary Supplement Coalition ($95,000), Herbalife International ($75,771) and General Nutrition Centers ($33,000), according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Of the total $586,116 that was donated to candidates in 1993-94, 58 percent of the funds went to Democrats ($342,550) and 42 percent ($243,566) to Republicans. The other top five political recipients were Tom Harkin (D-IA) ($40,250), Jon Rappoport (D-CA) ($10,250), Bill Richardson (D-NM) ($10,000) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) ($10,000).

The CRP reports that, for several years, Democratic legislators have attempted to pass a bill that would have health and dietary supplements regulated under the mold of prescription drugs, rather than drugs. But “key players in the industry have continued to oppose efforts to replace the DSHEA, contending that increased regulation would limit consumers' access to dietary supplements at a time when the U.S. population is rapidly aging and the health care system is already spread too thin.”

Ironically, beginning in 2008, the majority of donations that had been traditionally spread to Democrats began to take a turn toward the Republican Party.

In 2011-12, presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R) received $205,540—the highest single-year recipient from the nutritional and dietary supplement industry since 1990. The largest overall contributor from the 2011-12 election cycle was Slim-Fast Foods, donating more than $1.9 million of a total $3.6 million in contributions, the CRP reports.

During the 2015-16 election cycle thus far, total contributions from the nutritional and dietary supplement industry have topped $567,000, with the highest donations coming from Essential Formulas ($111,450), Sunrider International ($104,500), Herbalife International ($42,277), Pharmavite LLC ($41,380) and Advocare International ($34,679). The top three political recipients during this cycle have been Marco Rubio (R-FL) ($31,550), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) ($24,000), Hillary Clinton (D) ($21,576), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) ($20,250) and Steve Isreal (D-NY) ($14,600). Overall, 70 percent of the current cycle’s contributions have gone to Republicans, with 30 percent to the Democratic Party.

Lawmakers made progress in 2004 when the dietary supplement ephedra was banned and still remains illegal in the United States. Ephedra, a stimulant, was widely used for weight loss and by athletes to enhance athletic performance. A closer look at the supplement found it was linked to athlete fatalities at the high school, college and professional levels. The most notable death was in Feb. 2003, after a coroner’s report found that Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler had died after taking ephedrine alkaloids (ephedra).

“There are no magic pills, powders or liquids to help you reach your goals,” said Dr. Amy Eichner, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s Special Advisor on Drugs and Supplements.

And that’s real talk, right there. Truth.

Brian T. Dessart, a former Herald sports preview editor and director of marketing, now writes for Sports Illustrated, covering performance, fitness and action sports.