According to the FDA a Dietary Supplement Cannot Treat a Concussion or TBI
By Daniel E DAngelo Esq on January 3, 2014
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a Consumer Update on its website to alert consumers about dietary supplements that claim to prevent, decrease the severity, or speed the healing of concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). According to Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., who is the director of the FDA’s Division of Dietary Supplement Programs, “… the science doesn’t support the use of any dietary supplements for the prevention of concussions or the reduction of post-concussion symptoms …”
According to its Consumer Update, the FDA recently sent a warning letter in December 2013 to Star Scientific, Inc. for its marketing of its dietary supplement called Anatabloc for false claims that it treated TBIs. According to the FDA, there are likely many more companies making similar false claims about their products, and consumers should “walk away” from any dietary supplement that claims to treat traumatic brain injuries. Even though many people may feel dietary supplements are harmless, the FDA is concerned that it may cause people with brain injuries to resume strenuous activity too soon thus increasing their risk for additional injury before they have properly healed.
You can read more about the Consumer Update, the FDA’s warning letter, and prevention and signs of concussions at the FDA website.
