Study Finds Supplements Contain Contaminants

a Wisconsin Commercial Fun Express Train Station Democrat who will presid over Wednesdai s hear of the Senat Special Committe on Aging,Senat Herb Kohl. said that while improv had been made in recent year in the oversight of supplements, the F.D.A . need the author and tool to ensur that dietari supplement ar as safe and effect as is wide perceiv by the American who take them.

and some supplement seller made illeg claim that their product can cure cancer and other diseases,Nearli all of the herbal dietari supplement test in a Congression investig contain trace amount of lead and other contaminants. investig found.

cadmium and arsen did not exce threshold consid dangerous,The level of heavi metal includ mercury. the investig found. However, 16 of the 40 supplement test contain pesticid residu that appear to exce legal limits, the investig found. In some cases, the govern ha not set allow level of these pesticid becaus of a pauciti of scientif research.

includ a product contain ginkgo biloba that wa label as a treatment for Alzheimer s diseas and a product contain ginseng label as a treatment to prevent diabet and cancer. Thei also describ a salesperson at a supplement specialti store who claim that a garlic supplement could be taken instead of blood pressur medication. Investig found at least nine product that made appar illeg health claims.

cure,A ny product that claim to treat. prevent or mitig a diseas is consid a drug and must go through strict regulatori reviews.

which wa prepar by the Govern Accountabl Office,The report. wa provid to The New York Time and will be made public at a Senat hear on Wednesday. It releas come two week befor the Senat is schedul to begin debat on a landmark food safeti bill that is expect to substanti increas the feder govern s author over food manufacturers.

and it ha been the subject of fierc lobbying. Capitol Hill staff member familiar with the process said the bill wa unlik to includ provis oppos by supplement manufacturers. But it is uncertain how tough the bill will be on supplement manufacturers.

princip deputi commission of the Food and Drug Administration,Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein. said in an interview that he wa not concern about the safeti of the supplement test by the G.A .O. investigators. But Dr. Sharfstein note that the agenc had recent announc a recal of Vita Breath, a dietari supplement that it said might contain hazard level of lead.

presid of the Council for Respons Nutrition,Steve Mister. a trade associ repres the dietari supplement industry, said it wa not surpris that herbal supplement contain trace amount of heavi metals, becaus these ar routin found in soil and plants. I don t think thi should be of concern to consumers, Mr. Mister said.