Your multivitamins and brain-boosting pills may be suspect, and regulators are cracking down on the $40 billion industry

This week, federal regulators announced they’ll be taking a more active role in policing the more than $40 billion supplement industry . From vitamins to specialized supplements for improved focus and weight loss, some formulations have been tied to serious health risks . The vast majority of supplements and vitamins have little-to-no strong science behind them, but the space is booming for startups — especially in Los Angeles and Silicon Valley. An error has occurred Sign up for our Health Newsletter! Dispensed: Your weekly dose of healthcare news By clicking Sign Up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Inc. and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Vitamins are supposed to be good for you. But if recent research is any indication, the pricey pills and powders may offer less of a nutritional boost than a health risk . From vitamins to specialized supplements for improved focus and weight loss, several formulations have been tied abnormal heart rhythms , worsened asthma symptoms, and even death . So as of this week, federal regulators will be taking a more proactive role to policing the more than $40 billion industry , which has continue to blossom in recent months with the entrance of new startups. On Monday, Scott Gottlieb, the head of the Food and Drug Administration, announced a series of steps his agency would take in coming months to crack down on manufacturers that tout the ability of their formulas to do everything from increase energy to cure cancer. Of particular concern, he noted in a statement , are pills that claim to treat Alzheimer’s , a serious brain disease that hinders memory and currently has no cure. Dietary supplements "cannot claim to prevent, treat, or cure diseases like Alzheimer’s," Gottlieb wrote. "Such claims can harm […]

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