Choosing the right supplement

Researchers from the University of Auckland’s Liggins Institute rocked the supplement industry last year when their new study claimed that many fish oil supplements sold in New Zealand and Australia contain less than two-thirds of the Omega-3 fatty acids listed on their labels.

The study, published in the Scientific Reports last year, also found levels of oxidisation in the fish oil products, which can be harmful.

While the Omega-3 Centre, Australian and New Zealand authority on long-chain Omega-3s, as well as other industry experts, have since refuted the study, saying it was flawed due to non-standard procedures the researchers used, the issue of inaccurate labelling is not unheard of in the supplement industry.

According to Ms Jacqueline Wee, pharmacist and sole distributor in Singapore of WHC Nutrogenics, laboratory tests by supplement watchdogs in the United States have also found inaccurate labelling in certain brands of fish oils, probiotics, protein supplements and herbal supplements.

“Although the reports of mislabelling are from overseas, some of the products tested and mentioned to be inaccurately labelled are brands sold in Singapore too,” said Ms Wee.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) advises consumers to buy health supplements from reliable sources like a pharmacy or an established retail store. But with health supplements currently not subjected to pre-market approval by the authorities, how can consumers make an informed decision when buying them?

Experts offer these tips:

Look for seals or awards for quality. Seals awarded by scientific research will weigh more than a seal awarded by say, consumer satisfaction which may be subjective, said Ms Wee.

Read the fine print on labels. Ms Wee advised taking note of the serving size and amount of active ingredients per pill or capsule. Scrutinise the content per pill as it can vary with different brands. According to Ms Wee, certain types of supplements like fish oil and probiotics are more sensitive to stress from manufacturing environment conditions. A responsible manufacturer will share details on how the raw materials are handled during processing and how the end-product is kept fresh, she said.

Exercise caution. This is especially so for health supplements that are promoted to improve lifestyle-related problems like weight loss, anti-ageing and sexual function enhancement, said the HSA’s spokesperson.

Avoid products with exaggerated claims. Health supplements are not evaluated by the HSA and claims like “clinically tested” and “scientifically proven” may not be adequately supported.

Check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplements. Some supplements may be unsuitable for people taking certain medications or have certain medical conditions.

Buy from reliable sources such as a pharmacy or established retail store. Avoid buying from unknown websites, online discussion forums, blogs and street peddlers, advised the HSA.

More information on the use and purchase of health supplements can be found at www.hsa.gov.sg.