MikeLigalig.com

THE Department of Health (DOH) 7 is appealing to the public to be careful what drugs they take, amid a growing fixation with food supplements that supposedly improve a person’s health.

“What is important is that you have to look at the Bfad (Bureau of Food and Drugs) registration and the expiration date,” said Dr. Thelma Fernandez, DOH 7 Botika ng Barangay coordinator.

While media reports label most food supplements as a “cure-all” drug, Fernandez said the food supplements were not registered as drugs yet.

“And there is no such thing as a drug that cures every ailment.”

”If you’ll take a look at the Bfad registration, if they are registered at all, these pills and tablets are just food supplements,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez added that consumers of food supplements should be cautious of some of the testimonials statements in advertisements.

“Food supplements aid us for nourishment. But cure all health problems? That’s something else. In the testimonials they say the food supplement helped lower their high blood pressure, but actually, they cannot really say that. After all, at the end of the advertisement, they say there are ‘no approved therapeutic claims.’ That’s just contradictory,” said Fernandez.

She explained that before creators of food supplements can claim that their products help lower high blood pressure and other health problems, the drugs have to undergo a series of tests to prove their efficacy.

“However, none of the food supplements on the market have undergone any clinical trials. They do not undergo clinical trials because these are expensive. Aside from the testing, you’ll have to pay for the people who will undergo the month-long testing. You pay for their food, and accommodation,” said Fernandez.

While the health department cannot stop the public from taking supposed “cure-all” food supplements, Fernandez said that one should not forget to take their regular prescription drugs as well.


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