ANSES investigates glucosamine and chondroitin supplements
The Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) told us it was working on two formal internal requests regarding the food supplements.
It followed warnings of liver and endocrine damage through its nutrivigilance scheme, a health monitoring system that aims to improve consumer safety by rapidly identifying “potential adverse effects” of food supplements or novel food consumption.
The spokesperson said it was investigating whether such products should be kept on the French market.
Health professionals like doctors, pharmacists and dieticians could file a report through the scheme’s online portal. The agency was unable to provide us with details of how many reports it had received on the issue and from whom.
The submitted warnings did not have to come in the form of a medical report but could simply outline the health care worker’s concerns. ANSES said it was obliged to look into every complaint.
The opinions were due to be published at the end of 2016, with the investigations started at the beginning of this year.
Last October the agency said it had received 1565 cases of adverse effects through the nutrivigilance scheme since 2010, 76% of which related to food supplements.
According to Euromonitor International, dietary supplements positioned for joint health accounted for a retail value of €301.7m in Europe in 2013 up from €262.2m the previous year.
