FTC FACTS for Consumers

FOR THE CONSUMER 1-877-FTC-HELP

ftc.gov FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

Test Your 

Supplement 

Savvy

A dvertised throughout the media, displayed in grocery stores and pharmacies, and promoted widely on the Internet, dietary supplements 

look like just another consumer product on the shelf. But are they? Take this quiz to 

find out how much you know about using dietary supplements safely.

Questions

A supplement labeled “natural” means that it also is:

A. mild

B. without any risk of side effects

C. safe to use with other medications

D. none of the above

Since dietary supplements are so easily available – and don’t require 

a doctor’s prescription – they are much safer than drug products and 

can be used to self-treat illnesses without a health professional’s 

advice or supervision.

True or False

Testimonials in dietary supplement promotions give a good idea of the 

supplement’s benefits and safety because they’re based on firsthand 

accounts.

True or False

Vitamin

Natural

HEALTH

D

ei tary

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Facts for Consumers

Many supplements have proven 

health benefits.

True or False

Before you start taking a dietary 

supplement, talk it over with a 

knowledgeable person like: 

A. your doctor or health professional

B. your pharmacist

C. a supplement salesperson

D. a friend who takes them

Answers

D. 

The term “natural” may suggest 

to consumers that the supplement 

is safe, especially when compared with 

prescription drugs that are known to have 

side effects. But natural is not necessarily 

safe. Although many supplements can 

be used safely by most people, other 

supplements, including some herbal 

products, can be dangerous. Aristolochic 

acid, which has been found in some 

traditional Chinese herbal remedies, has 

been linked to severe kidney disease. 

And the herb comfrey contains certain 

alkaloids that, when ingested, have been 

linked to serious, even fatal, liver damage. 

Animal studies suggest that the herb may 

cause cancer, too. Even certain vitamins 

can be toxic at high doses. And certain 

supplements have been found to interact 

with other medications in ways that could 

cause injury.

False.

Studies have shown that some 

herbal products interact with drugs 

and can have a wide range of effects. For 

example, St. John’s Wort can lower the 

effects of indinavir, a protease inhibitor 

for treating HIV. St. John’s Wort also 

may interfere with drugs used by organ 

transplant patients and drugs used to 

treat depression, seizures, and certain 

cancers. In addition, there are concerns 

that it may reduce the effectiveness of oral 

contraceptives. Garlic, ginkgo, danshen, 

and dong quai can cause blood to thin, 

which could cause serious problems for 

people on drugs like warfarin or aspirin. 

Dietary supplements are not required to go 

through the same pre-market government 

review for quality, safety, and efficacy 

as drug products. But that doesn’t mean 

they should be taken lightly — or without 

consulting your health care professional, 

especially if you have a medical condition 

or are taking other drugs.

False.

It’s unwise to judge a product’s 

efficacy or safety based only on 

testimonials. First, it is very difficult to 

verify the accuracy of the account: Some 

marketers may embellish or even make 

up testimonials to sell their product. 

Second, you can’t generalize one person’s 

experience to others. Anecdotes are not a 

substitute for valid science.

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Facts for Consumers

True.

Studies suggest that several 

popular supplements, including 

herbal products, may provide health 

benefits. For example, calcium can reduce 

the risk of osteoporosis, folic acid during 

pregnancy can prevent birth defects, and 

there is some evidence suggesting that 

St. John’s Wort may be helpful for some 

people with mild depression. Check out 

any health claims with a reliable source, 

such as the National Institutes of Health’s 

Office of Dietary Supplements, a public 

health or scientific organization like the 

American Cancer Society or the Arthritis 

Foundation, and your health provider. 

A or B. 

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, 

or other health provider about any 

medicines you take, as well as any dietary 

supplements you’re using or thinking 

about using. Though some doctors have 

limited knowledge of herbal products and 

other supplements, they have access to 

the most current research and can help 

monitor your condition to ensure that no 

problems develop or serious interactions 

occur. Retailers or marketers can be good 

sources of information about their products 

and their ingredients, but bear in mind 

that they have a financial interest in their 

products. If your doctor or pharmacist has 

a financial interest in the product, get a 

second, independent opinion.

For more information about the safe 

use of dietary supplements, visit the 

FTC’s Virtual Health Treatments page at 

ftc.gov/healthclaims. 

The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, 

deceptive and unfair business practices in 

the marketplace and to provide information 

to help consumers spot, stop and avoid 

them. To file a complaint or get free 

information on consumer issues, visit ftc.

gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP 

(1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. 

Watch a new video, How to File a 

Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. 

The FTC enters consumer complaints 

into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a 

secure online database and investigative 

tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal 

law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and 

abroad. 

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Facts for Consumers

1-877-FTC-HELP FOR THE CONSUMER

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ftc.gov

June 2001

Federal Trade Commission

Bureau of Consumer Protection

Division of Consumer and Business Education

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the nation’s consumer protection agency. Here 

are some tips from the FTC to help you be a more savvy consumer.

1. Know who you’re dealing with. Do business only with companies that clearly provide 

their name, street address, and phone number.

2. Protect your personal information. Share credit card or other personal information only 

when buying from a company you know and trust. 

3. Take your time. Resist the urge to “act now.” Most any offer that’s good today will be 

good tomorrow, too. 

4. Rate the risks. Every potentially high-profit investment is a high-risk investment. That 

means you could lose your investment — all of it. 

5. Read the small print. Get all promises in writing and read all paperwork before making 

any payments or signing any contracts. Pay special attention to the small print. 

6. “Free” means free. Throw out any offer that says you have to pay to get a gift or a 

“free” gift. If something is free or a gift, you don’t have to pay for it. Period. 

7. Report fraud. If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, report it. It’s one way 

to get even with a scam artist who cheated you. By reporting your complaint to 

1-877-FTC-HELP or ftc.gov, you are providing important information to help law 

enforcement officials track down scam artists and stop them!