There are more than 100,000 supplements on the US market capsules, powders, tablets and gummies sold to improve or maintain health. Supplements can contain vitamins, minerals, botanicals and amino acids on their own or in various combinations. The consumption of these products is surging. But it's a common misunderstanding that these products are entirely safe, says Dr Pieter Cohen, an internist and associate professor at Harvard Medical School.
CGMP stands for "Current Good Manufacturing Process," which are FDA guidelines put in place for a product's safety. This includes where and how it was made, as well as what it was made of. But even with this kind of baseline, it's hard to tell what additives are used in a supplement and how that can counteract its effects or react with your body chemistry.
From June 2027 any vitamin B6 product containing more than 50mg in each recommended daily dose will be moved behind the pharmacy counter. The recommended dietary intake of vitamin B6 for a healthy adult is just 1.3mg to 1.7mg a day. The decision follows a Therapeutic Goods Administration review and public consultation process identifying 250 reports of peripheral neuropathy or damage to the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord and related conditions, with most of those reports made since 2023.