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

Flickr/B Rosen 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. Vitamins are supposed to be good for you. But if recent research is any indication, the pricey pills and powders may offer more of a health risk than a nutritional boost. 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 in policing the more than $40 billion industry , which has continued to blossom in recent months with the entrance of new startups. On Monday, Scott Gottlieb, the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 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 said in a statement , are pills that claim to treat Alzheimer’s , a serious brain disease that hinders memory and has no cure. Dietary supplements "cannot claim to prevent, treat, or cure diseases like Alzheimer’s," Gottlieb wrote. "Such claims can harm patients." On Monday, the FDA said it sent warnings or advisory letters to 17 companies for illegally selling products that claim to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Other, less niche supplements may be equally risky, according to a recent […]

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