AERs reflect supplement usage patterns, says AHPA

The adverse event reporting system for dietary supplements is an association system, not a cause and effect system, says trade group AHPA, stressing that high numbers of AERs linked to multivitamins does not mean the products are dangerous.

Michael McGuffin, director of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), tells NutraIngredients-USA.com that 25 percent of 600 supplement AERs submitted to FDA in the first six months of 2008 are related to multivitamins and minerals.

“All this is recording is that the largest used dietary supplements are multivitamins, and so it’s not remarkable that the largest number of adverse events are associated with multivitamins,” he says.

To read the full article, click here.

Related Topics

Regulation & policy

Related news

Leading weight loss supplements linked to liver damage

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated a massive recall of a top-selling American weight loss supplement brand, after a series of adverse event reports indicated that the products could be linked to serious liver damage.

FDA issues new guidance on AER labeling

FDA has issued another draft guidance document on the labeling of dietary supplements to facilitate adverse event reporting, despite earlier calls from industry that the guidance should be withdrawn.