The IAA One Minute Blog

The safest and most effective way to lose weight permanently is to eat less and exercise more, but Americans seem to crave rapid results. As a consequence, diet pills are a big business for drug manufacturers. Some however, are very unsafe and have been linked to kidney problems.

The Problem With Diet Pills and Supplements

Dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Their manufacturers do not have to prove that they are safe to use, and ingredients can vary from one brand to the next.

Ephedra was once a common ingredient in diet pills because it increases your metabolic rate and causes you to burn more calories than you otherwise would. According to the National Institute of Health, among the side effects, ephedra is known to cause kidney stones.

Since ephedra has been shown to be dangerous, it's banned in the United States. However, diet pill manufacturers work hard to find ways to modify molecules like ephedra, producing similar--but not yet banned--molecules with similar effects and similar side effects.

There's a public perception that herbs and other alternative remedies to lose weight are safer than pharmaceutical drugs. Just because a substance is natural doesn't mean it's safe--some of the most toxic substances are known to occur naturally.

Some common concerns about herbal supplements are:

• The FDA does not regulate supplements for dose, content or pureness
• Some supplements have aristolochic acid, which is harmful to kidneys
• Herbal supplements made in other countries may contain heavy metals
• There are few studies to show if herbal supplements have real benefits and even less information in patients with kidney disease
• Herbal supplements may interact with prescription medicines to either decrease or increase how the medicine works
  

If you are looking to lose weight, the best idea is to talk to your doctor for guidelines on how to do so in a healthy manner. You should always check with your doctor before taking any diet pills, regardless of whether it's prescription, over-the-counter or herbal.

Kidney Patients and Supplements

Not only are diet pills harmful to your kidneys, vitamins and other supplements can be harmful to kidney patients as well. Even a simple multivitamin can cause serious problems. The following substances which can be found in supplements, can be harmful to kidney patients:

• Mineral risks-phosphorus: If phosphorus levels get too high, as they often do in kidney patients, the phosphorus starts to pull calcium from the bones. This reduces density and weakens bones. Dietary supplements that contain phosphorus can aggravate this problem.
• Mineral risks-potassium: Healthy kidneys filter out excess potassium levels within a healthy range. As renal failure approaches, kidneys are less able to perform this critical function, so potassium levels can become elevated. Dietary supplements that contain potassium can aggravate this problem.
  
• Vitamin risks: As renal function declines, the kidneys are less able to clear substances from the blood. Levels of A, E and K can become unnaturally high in patients with chronic kidney disease. Consequently, doctors do not recommend supplements with these vitamins.
  

What IAA has to Say

Insurance Administrator of America wants you to lose weight in a healthy way. A great way to lose weight is to start a wellness program at work. IAA's wellness programs are designed to keep employers and their employees in good health. If you are interested in learning more about IAA's wellness programs, please feel free to reach out! Remember, with IAA one call does it all.

Interested in reading more about your kidneys? Click here.