FDA cracks down on illegal bodybuilding supplements, industry calls for tougher enforcement

18 May 2022 --- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cautioning the public over bodybuilding products misleadingly labeled as dietary supplements, which could contain illegal substances associated with potentially serious health risks.

“Dietary supplement distributors and manufacturers cannot ignore the law,” principal deputy assistant attorney general Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s civil division, tells NutritionInsight.

“The department of justice will work with law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals and companies who disregard public safety to make a profit.”

According to the FDA, these bodybuilding items are marketed as hormone products or as alternatives to anabolic steroids for boosting muscle gain and strength.

“Many of these products are not dietary supplements at all; they contain undisclosed or unproven ingredients and are illegally marketed, unapproved new drugs,” an FDA spokesperson tells NutritionInsight.

Industry calls for stringent measures
Dietary supplement trade association Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) responded to the FDA’s move to eliminate illegal and unadulterated bodybuilding supplements, with calls for tougher implementation.

The FDA advises that individuals taking bodybuilding products that claim to contain steroids or steroid-like substances should stop consuming them immediately (Credit: FDA).“CRN supports greater enforcement against products containing substances such as illegal steroids” Andrea Wong, senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the FDA, tells NutritionInsight.

“We supported the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2014, which gave federal officials additional authority to rapidly act against new designer anabolic steroids masquerading as dietary supplements.”

Products in question
Many bodybuilding products position the active components’ capacity to increase or decrease androgen, estrogen, or progestin-like effects in the body. However, they include anabolic steroids or steroid-like compounds and synthetic hormones similar to testosterone.

According to the FDA, the bodybuilding products in question have been linked to kidney damage, heart attacks, strokes, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.

The agency can take further regulatory and enforcement steps against sellers of these illicit products in addition to sending warning letters. However, this can be difficult, primarily if the seller only sells online. Companies’ names or websites can easily be changed to prevent authorities and swindle consumers and products can be relabeled, the FDA notes.

Breaking the law
The FDA has found many bodybuilding products are labeled as “dietary supplements” both online and in retail stores, details the FDA spokesperson.

These products are not dietary supplements; they contain undisclosed or unproven ingredients and are illegally marketed as unapproved new drugs.

“These potentially harmful, sometimes hidden, ingredients in products promoted for bodybuilding continue to be a concern, says the FDA spokesperson. “The companies making these products are breaking the law by exploiting an easily accessible marketplace to get these products to consumers.”

CRN agrees with the FDA’s move to enforce rules against products that contain illegal steroids.Some bodybuilders utilize “stacking,” which is when they use two or more bodybuilding products at the same time (including stimulants or drugs that falsely claim to protect the liver) to boost their results or “gains.” These combinations may increase the risk of severe and life-threatening responses in users.

The FDA has received hundreds of adverse event reports, including allegations of severe liver injury. Anabolic steroids have been linked to various side effects, including severe acne, hair loss, mood swings, irritability, increased aggression and depression.

Taking action
CRN advises customers to select products from nationally recognized brands or trusted retailer store brands, avoid items that promise extraordinary results, research companies and supporting science and always seek guidance on supplement use from a healthcare practitioner.

“CRN agrees with FDA’s recommendations for consumers to stop taking products that claim to contain illegal steroids or steroid-like substances,” adds Wong. “These problematic ingredients may lead to potentially serious health consequences.”

“We also developed an education campaign to increase consumer awareness about the potential dangers of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), which are unapproved drugs that have been found in several adulterated products.”

Plant-based steroid alternative and anabolic steroid use
The industry has been addressing the unregulated anabolic steroid market.

Previously, Nature Gains released a plant-based alternative to steroids made of testosterone boosters found in plants. The plant-based product is pegged as beneficial for an increased level of athletic performance and it may “mimic” steroids.

NutritionInsight previously reported on body dysmorphia and how the unregulated supplement industry harms health, as most supplements bought online are not regulated and some may contain anabolic steroids. The latter can cause kidney problems and liver damage when used long-term.

Additionally, a previous study found that protein powders and shakes in adolescence are strongly correlated with anabolic steroid use in early adulthood for boys.

By Nicole Kerr