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Useless Iron Supplements Flood Australian Market
7 Dec
Summary
- Many marketed iron supplements contain minimal iron, below therapeutic doses.
- Experts call for stronger TGA oversight on supplement efficacy and marketing.
- Patients may be misled by 'gentle on the stomach' claims on ineffective products.
A significant number of iron supplements available in Australia contain extremely low levels of elemental iron, falling far short of therapeutic doses recommended for treating iron deficiency anaemia. These products, often marketed with claims like 'gentle on the stomach,' mislead consumers into believing they are receiving effective treatment when the actual iron content is minimal, sometimes 5mg or less per serve.
This situation has prompted calls from health professionals, including clinical pharmacy specialist Dr. Geraldine Moses and Royal Australian College of Physicians president Prof. Jennifer Martin, for the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to implement stronger regulations. They argue that supplements, particularly those classified as 'food-supplements' or 'listed medications,' do not undergo the same rigorous efficacy testing as prescription drugs, allowing ineffective products to reach the market.
Professionals advocate for increased transparency in how these products are registered and marketed, urging better guidance from pharmacies and clearer differentiation between evidence-based treatments and those lacking scientific backing. The TGA, however, has indicated no immediate plans for enhanced oversight or minimum therapeutic dose requirements for low-dose iron supplements.
