Risks associated with the use of herbs and other dietary supplements.

This research article focuses on the potential risks and adverse effects that can occur from the use of dietary supplements – including herbs, vitamins, minerals and more – in horses.

Risks and Misconceptions

• The study pointed out that a common misconception is that these dietary supplements are completely safe due to their ‘natural’ status. However, some active compounds in these supplements may have inherent toxicity, which could lead to adverse effects.
• The long-term and over-zealous use of even relatively non-toxic ingredients could potentially lead to toxicity.

Lack of Testing and Oversight

• Most of these dietary supplements have not undergone rigorous testing for safety or efficacy, especially as they are used in commercial settings.
• There is limited regulatory oversight for these products, which potentially increases the risk of adverse effects.

Interactions and Consequences

• Dietary supplements may interact with conventional drugs, leading to unexpected adverse effects. This aspect of dietary supplement use seems to be particularly under-researched and thus, poorly understood.
• The study also raises concerns about the possibility of violative residues from dietary supplements appearing in urine samples collected from show or performance horses. This could potentially lead to false positive results or penalties in competitive events.

Focus on Herbs and Essential Oils

• The research article primarily focuses on dietary supplements that contain herbs and essential oils. However, it implies that the issues identified are broadly applicable to dietary supplements in general.