In the world, more people We take nutritional supplements that promise to improve our skin and hair, strengthen our immune system, or improve performance.Magnesium, vitamin C, etc. are part of the market value billions of euros.
Angela Clausen from the Consumer Consultation Center of North Rhine-Westphalia has been working on this issue for many years.
“The problem is that so many people view dietary supplements as a type of natural medicine and use them accordingly, whether it’s for treatment, disease mitigation or cure,” she says. “But nutritional supplements are really just meant to replace essential components that we don’t get enough of through our diet.”
In the best-case scenario, if a consumer buys a nutritional supplement that has no benefit to them, they are just wasting their money. However, some substances, such as vitamin D, iodine, and selenium, can be harmful if taken in excess.
Also applies to nutritional supplements less controlprecisely because it is so, It’s not a medicine. They may be sold without testing for safety, quality, or effectiveness. Therefore, dietary supplements may not necessarily contain the ingredients listed on the package or in the amounts listed. In some cases, they may also contain substances such as: dangerous or prohibited.
On social media, these claims are even less monitored. False promises about the health properties of dietary supplements are everywhere. surprise investigation Of the hundreds of posts and stories made in 2021.
DW Fact Check independently searched for claims about dietary supplements on social media and analyzed three examples.
Get Smarter with Ginkgo Biloba, Bacopa Monnieri, L-Theanine, and Magnesium L-Threonate
Claim: in this videohas been viewed about 1.7 million times, with one TikTok user writing, “You’re not stupid, you just don’t have enough blood circulation to your brain, and you can’t concentrate or concentrate effectively, which is really serious.” “This has led to a situation of serious concern.” I have bad memory. Her top four recommended supplements to help with this are ginkgo biloba, bacopa monnieri, L-theanine, and magnesium L-threonate.
DW Fact Check: False
Cognitive abilities and concentration have improved thanks to these nutritional supplements. Unfortunately, it’s too good to be true. Friederike Schmidt, a nutritionist at the University of Lübeck, analyzed the video for DW.
“TikTokers are talking about very specific metabolic mechanisms that seem competent at first,” Schmidt says. But regarding many aspects of preparation that women mention, “I actually have no idea what it does and whether it’s helpful at all,” she points out.
For example, one of the claims made in the video is that the plant extract Bacopa monnieri increases levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, improving memory.
“This is a very surreal story,” Schmidt said. “So far, there hasn’t been a single methodologically sound study where people took this plant extract and found that acetylcholine increased in the brain and they were able to remember things better, let alone some. There is no research.”
Angela Clausen of Consumer Advisory Center knows all too well that citing studies of little or no relevance or significance is a common tactic when promoting nutritional supplements. “As far as the actual product goes, published research is usually a disaster,” she says.
Overall, the TikToker’s claims are not scientifically correct at all. There is no evidence that her “Top 4 Supplement Recommendations” improve her cognitive performance in the way she describes.
Turmeric: A miracle cure?
Claim: according to this spanish videohas been viewed more than 1.5 million times, turmeric powder dissolved in water helps prevent eczema. It is also said to detoxify the body, prevent arthritis, and reduce the risk of cancer.Similar claims can be seen here and hereas well as elsewhere.
DW Fact Check: False
Turmeric, used as a spice, has long been believed to be good for digestion. However, according to Claussen, “All of these claims are unacceptable. There is no existing research to support them.” Indeed, research has been done on curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, but “gold standard research“It’s about imprecisely defined extracts being used in the product. This is about an imprecisely defined extract being used in the product. means a study conducted and ideally supported by at least one other study conducted by another working group.
Research has only shown in clinical tests that certain turmeric extracts have anti-inflammatory effects at certain doses. in vitro. However, these effects can only be attributed to precisely this extract, and precisely this dose, and not simply to turmeric itself. The effects on humans may be quite different from the effects in vitro.
“Turmeric is far from certain to be effective,” says Friederike Schmidt. Nutritionists explain that a special problem with curcumin is that it is highly reactive, meaning that in the laboratory it interacts with many other substances. This may also be why curcumin is said to be effective against so many different illnesses and problems. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is effective in people.
How can collagen improve your skin, hair, nails, and joints?
Claim: Posts on social media also believe that collagen has many positive properties. this viral video Although it claims to give you firmer skin, stronger nails, and shinier, stronger hair, This TikTok clip It also claims to support joints.
DW Fact Check: False
Collagen is a protein naturally produced by the body. Important for bones, joints, muscles, and tendons. Therefore, nutritional supplements containing collagen are derived from animals, usually slaughterhouse waste.
It is not clear how well the body processes collagen received from outside. Even the most well-known effects of collagen, namely skin rejuvenation, still require further research. According to meta-studies Implemented in 2023.
“None of these advertising claims are approved for use in the EU, and certainly neither are claims about joint health,” consumer adviser Clausen said. She says there is no conclusive evidence that this works. The Consumer Consultation Center sued the manufacturer and won. Glow25 collagen powder In 2022, he will be recognized for using the slogan “Healthy Bones and Joints.” Additionally, the supplier acknowledged that promises regarding effects on skin, hair and nails were unacceptable. Despite this, many posts online still make such claims.
Conclusion: Consumers are misunderstood
When it comes to dietary supplements, it’s not easy to separate truth from hype. In general, claims on social media are often exaggerated, unscientific, or prohibited.
“We often find that people spend money on things they don’t need,” Schmidt says. She describes this as “a really appealing idea that you can do something for your health with just a few capsules or powders.”
Additional reporting by Julia Vergin.
This article was originally written in German.
