Some brain-boosting supplements contain an unapproved drug that could harm users, study warns8

Some brain-boosting supplements contain an unapproved drug that could harm users, study warns

By ELIZABETH COONEY @cooney_liz

NOVEMBER 25, 2019

The FDA has sent warning letters to companies including Pure Nootropics for selling piracetam as a dietary supplement.FDA

Promising to lift brain fog or improve memory, brain-boosting supplements have joined sexual-enhancement and weight-loss remedies in the lightly regulated world of dietary supplements. These products may be sold legally with broad-brush come-ons like these, as long as they don’t make specific claims about treating a disease — or contain actual drugs.

New research led by Dr. Pieter Cohen of Harvard Medical School documents five supplement brands for sale in the U.S. that contain various amounts of piracetam, a drug prescribed in European countries for cognitive impairment in dementia but not approved in the U.S. 

The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t allow piracetam to be sold as a dietary supplement and has issued warning letters in the past to other companies marketing supplements that contain it. Though the drug is approved in Europe, evidence for using piracetam to improve cognition was “inadequate,” a Cochrane Review analyzing 24 studies that enrolled more than 11,000 patients concluded in 2012.
Be well!
DrD

Academician Dorodny, Dorodny, Life Enrichment Practitioner, Prof, Dorodny, NEW Institute, myths, , Dr.Dorodny, Victor Dorodny MD, mythology, investigative Mythologist, TRI-PAC, health consumer advocacy, medical/heath investigative mythology, medical myths, skin patches, inhaled, inhaled vitamins, PatchMD.com, health myths, healtcarING, health carING, PatchMD, PatchMD.com, Medical Scientist, Chief Medical Scientist, Investigative Medical Mythologist, Editor-in-Chief AMHSR, DrD, Dr.D, DrD's, Mobility Scooters, www.thehouseofscooters.com, Victor Dorodny, AmazingDrD, #AmazingDrD, assisted mobility scooters, scooters, golden milk,turmeric, coconut oil, honey, cinnamon, cayanne pepper, dialing 911,