Wednesday, March 6, 2002

Seniors want more info on supplements

Widespread use by seniors of dietary supplementssuch as vitamins, minerals, and herbal productshas contributed significantly to the rapid growth of the supplement market over the past decade. Now, older Americans want to see more information on product labels and greater government involvement in ensuring the safety of these products.

According to a recent survey commissioned by AARP's Public Policy Institute, a majority (62 percent) of persons age 50 and older take some type of dietary supplement. The report indicated that an overwhelming percentage (over 8O percent) of those polled want more information on product labels, such as information on possible side effects and drug interactions. In addition, over 70 percent of respondents think the federal government should review safety data and health claims for any dietary supplement product before it is sold.

"With so many mid-life and older persons taking these dietary supplements, it is critical to provide reasonable assurance of safety and efficacy," commented John Rother, AARP Director of Policy and Strategy.

Very few respondents indicated that they would contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if they had a problem with a supplement product. The FDA currently operates an "adverse event reporting system" for supplements, but it learns of less than one percent of adverse events involving supplements, and investigates only a fraction of these. There was significant support (76 percent) among survey respondents for including information on whom to contact in case of an adverse reaction on product labels.

"This survey clearly demonstrates that seniors want to be informed and empowered to protect their own health and finances," said Senator John Breaux (D-LA), chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, which held hearings last September on supplements that claim to provide 'anti-aging' benefits. "We in Congress need to do all we can to protect seniors and provide them with both the peace of mind and the tools they need to become educated consumers. The survey results and the findings of my committee's investigation on supplements serve as reminders that more can and must get done."

Senator Breaux has also requested a study from the Health and Human Services Inspector General on the need for and merits of supplement labeling. The report is available online at research.aarp.org/consume/dd66_diet.html.

The AARP Public Policy Institute is the focal point for public policy research and analysis at AARP. Its mission is to inform the development of AARP's public policy positions and to contribute to and influence public debate on issues of importance to mid-life and older persons.

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