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Reading Labels
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Before you buy any supplement including colon cleansing products, look at the label carefully. It is easy to misread the claims that are being made about the product. Here is what you need to look for.
The manufacturers of dietary supplements are allowed to make 4 kinds of claims, which are explained below, on the labels of their products:
- nutritional claims
- claims of well being
- health claims
- structure or function claims
Nutritional claims: These are statements about the general effects dietary supplements, vitamins, and minerals have on diseases known to be caused by nutrient deficiency. For example, “vitamin C prevents scurvy.” These claims do not need to be approved by the FDA. But the label must also state how many cases of the disease occur in the United
States. Consumers must weigh the risk of getting scurvy against the potential risks of the supplement itself.
Claims of well being: These are just that — statements such as “makes you feel better.” These claims also do not require pre-approval by the FDA.
Health claims: These are statements about known health benefits of certain compounds. For example, risk-reduction claims such as “folate may reduce the chance of pregnant women delivering an infant with neural tube defects” fall into this category. The FDA must pre-approve all health claims, and requires that they be supported by evidence from scientific studies. Remember that risk-reduction claims are not the same as prevention claims.
Structure or function claims: These are the most hotly debated and confusing to consumers. They are claims about the effect of the dietary supplement on the structure or function of the body. The FDA published a ruling in January 2000 that explained exactly what kinds of structure or function claims would be acceptable for dietary supplements. Dietary supplements may not make any claims regarding the treatment of disease. But the following product descriptions are acceptable as structure or function claims for dietary supplements:
- The product’s mechanism of action (“works as an antioxidant”)
- The product’s effects on cellular structure (“helps membrane stability”)
- The product’s effects on the body’s physiology (“promotes normal urinary flow”)
- The product’s effects on chemical or lab test results (“supports normal blood glucose”)
- Claims of maintenance (“helps maintain a healthy circulatory system”)
- Other non-disease claims (“helps you relax”)
- Claims for common conditions and symptoms related to life stages (“reduces irritability, bloating, and cramping associated with premenstrual syndrome”)
Structure or function claims are not reviewed by the FDA. In fact, labels that carry them must also include the disclaimer “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
The FDA requires this disclaimer on supplement labels because it is easy for consumers to misunderstand structure or function claims. For example, many consumers believe that a statement such as “helps maintain vision acuity” means the product has been proven to prevent vision loss, or that a statement such as “helps maintain a healthy prostate gland” means the product has been proven to prevent or remove diseases like prostate cancer. Do not assume that because a product claims to support or promote healthy body function that it prevents or reduces the risk of any disease, including cancer. Products that are proven to have a significant effect on any disease are considered drugs by the FDA and are strictly regulated as such.
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