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Bodybuilding pills are marketed as a fitness supplement designed to help an athlete achieve optimum results. The FDA is now warning that bodybuilding pills are being spike by supplement makers -- adding dangerous additions into the product without notifying the unassuming consumer. U.S. health authorities have now warned supplement makers that they could be facing criminal consequences for their tainted products.

Unlike drugs supplements, bodybuilding pills other supplements do not have to be proven safe before being sold to the general public. Although regulated by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act and required to adhere to certain standards, many companies are ignoring the standards. The problem with the relaxed regulation is that many of the supplements are spiked with dangerous and sometimes deadly additions.

The FDA concerns are real and serious. "Some contain prescription drugs or analogs never tested in humans and the results can be tragic. We have received reports of serious adverse events and injuries associated with consumer use of these tainted products including stroke, liver, kidney damage, pulmonary failure and death," Business Week quotes principal deputy commissioner at the FDA Dr. Joshua Shapstein.

Whether the product of deceptive labeling or unnamed ingredients, spiked dietary supplements are both a legal and serious health issue. In addition to increased monitoring, the FDA has issued over 300 alerts on tainted products.

Related Resources:

• FDA Warns Against Spiked Dietary Supplements (LA Times)
• Unsafe Under Any Name: Designer Steroids May Be Hidden in Dietary Supplements (FindLaw's Common Law)
• Dangerous Supplements Pose Challenges To FDA (FindLaw's Knowledgebase)