Although myths about supplements have been debunked over the years, misleading claims and unverified anecdotes mean that the true benefits and risks of these products have been obscured, leading individuals to make uninformed decisions.
The industry's focus on sales-driven messaging, promoting unproven benefits, and exploiting health anxieties has led to the proliferation of unnecessary products. Consumers must critically evaluate these claims, and regulatory measures are necessary to ensure transparency and accuracy in marketing dietary supplements. This promotes a more responsible and informed approach to supplementation.
Before beginning any supplement regimen, it's vital to consult a physician or nutritionist to assess individual nutritional needs. Additionally, it's essential to consider the nutrients obtained from food sources before popping a pill or taking supplements.
As dietary supplements continue to populate store shelves and online markets, Dr Mutwiri emphasises the pivotal role of healthcare providers in guiding consumers towards responsible supplement usage.
Understanding each supplement's dosage and duration is key to preventing misuse. Moreover, the decision to use a specific supplement should stem from a comprehensive assessment of an individual's physiological condition by a qualified physician, as certain health conditions may warrant avoiding particular supplements.
Moreover, in the expansive and poorly regulated multi-billion dollar dietary supplements industry, the unsuspecting public could easily fall prey to counterfeit products. Last April, NOW Foods warned its customers against fake NOW Foods supplements being sold on Amazon. The company contacted the American FDA Health Fraud Division and Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit, demanding a recall of the products which were found to contain rice flour and trace amounts of Sildenafil, a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction in men and pulmonary arterial hypertension (a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart) in men and women.
To avoid the risk of counterfeits and the risk of misusing supplements, Dr Mutwiri advises getting reliable guidance from health professionals who can provide comprehensive information and support, including how to choose products from regulated companies endorsed by registration authorities.
While there are guidelines for the registration of dietary supplements, Mr Ngethe says the Pharmacy and Poisons Board should implement stricter rules to limit the sale of unregulated nutraceuticals to protect consumers. Nutraceuticals are food or food products like fortified foods, functional foods and dietary supplements that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition, often marketed as having medicinal or therapeutic properties. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board did not respond to repeated requests for information about the enforcement of checks and balances to protect the public from counterfeits and unregulated products. Officials at the Kenya Bureau of Standards which has a standard for vitamin and mineral food supplements said that the questions were not within their mandate.
Mr Ngethe suggested that the government enhance nutrition by educating the public on the harms of misuse and abuse of dietary supplements, expanding the food fortification programmes and conducting another National Micronutrient Survey to gather updated data. The last survey was done in 2011.
Additionally, he recommended the employment of more nutritionists, including at the county level, to improve public access to nutrition services at community and household levels. According to the 2023 Economic Survey, Kenya only has 4,235 nutritionists, meaning there is only one nutritionist per 11,813 people.
This article was produced as part of the Aftershocks Data Fellowship (22-23) with support from the Africa Women's Journalism Project (AWJP) in partnership with The ONE Campaign and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).