Researchers looked at how companies that make natural health products (like vitamins, herbs, and supplements) help monitor safety and side effects. They reviewed 40 published studies from around the world. They found that most companies track side effects by collecting reports from customers when problems happen. Some companies also do more active monitoring through studies in hospitals and clinics. However, there’s not much information about what doctors, patients, and other people think about how well these companies are doing this job. The researchers suggest that better ways to collect safety information directly from everyday consumers could help make natural health products safer.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How do companies that make natural health products (vitamins, herbs, supplements) help watch for and report side effects and safety problems?
  • Who participated: Researchers reviewed 40 published studies from around the world that discussed how natural health product companies track safety. The studies included information from companies, hospitals, clinics, and databases that collect safety reports.
  • Key finding: Natural health product companies mainly help track side effects by collecting reports when customers or doctors tell them about problems (called ‘passive surveillance’). Only a smaller number of companies do more active monitoring through organized studies, usually in hospitals or clinics rather than in regular communities.
  • What it means for you: If you use natural health products, know that companies are tracking side effects, but mostly through reports people voluntarily send in. There may be better ways to collect safety information that could help make these products safer for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you experience any unusual effects from supplements or herbal products.

The Research Details

This was a ‘scoping review,’ which means researchers searched through published scientific articles to map out what’s already known about a topic. They looked through seven major scientific databases using specific search terms related to natural health products and safety monitoring. They found 2,285 articles initially, then carefully reviewed them to find 40 that specifically discussed how natural health product companies contribute to tracking side effects. Of these 40 studies, 33 focused on how companies monitor safety after products are sold to the public, and 7 explored what different people (like doctors, patients, and regulators) think about how companies are doing this job.

This research approach is important because it gives a complete picture of what’s already been studied about how natural health product companies help keep consumers safe. By reviewing all the published research together, the researchers could see patterns in how companies track side effects and identify gaps where more research is needed. This helps regulators and companies understand what’s working and what could be improved.

This review is reliable because it searched multiple international databases and used clear rules for deciding which studies to include. The researchers were transparent about their methods. However, the review only looked at published studies, so some company safety work might not be included if it wasn’t published. The review also found that only 40 studies met their criteria out of thousands reviewed, showing this is an area where more research is needed.

What the Results Show

The main finding is that natural health product companies contribute to safety monitoring primarily through ‘passive surveillance’—meaning they collect and report side effects when customers or healthcare providers tell them about problems. This is often done because regulations require it. Out of the 33 studies about post-marketing surveillance (monitoring after products are sold), 22 were written or paid for by the industry itself, while 11 involved companies submitting safety reports to government databases.

The review also found that some companies do more active monitoring, where they organize studies to watch for side effects. However, only 13 active surveillance studies were found. These studies typically happened in medical settings like hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices rather than in regular communities where most people actually use these products. Most of these active studies focused on just one product at a time.

The research shows a significant gap: there’s very little published information about what patients, doctors, regulators, and other stakeholders think about how well companies are doing this safety monitoring work. Only 7 of the 40 studies explored people’s opinions on this topic.

The review found that most of the safety monitoring work by companies happens through spontaneous reporting systems—basically, waiting for people to report problems. While this is required by law in many places, it may miss side effects that people don’t report or don’t recognize as being caused by the product. The review also noted that active surveillance studies done by companies tend to be small and focused on single products, which means they don’t give a complete picture of safety across all natural health products.

This review is one of the first to specifically map out what’s known about how the natural health product industry contributes to safety monitoring. Previous research has looked at safety monitoring for prescription drugs, but natural health products have been less studied. The findings suggest that natural health products may have less rigorous safety monitoring compared to pharmaceutical drugs, which typically have more active surveillance and larger studies.

The review only included published studies, so some safety work done by companies may not be included if it wasn’t published in scientific journals. The review didn’t evaluate whether the safety monitoring was actually effective or whether it caught all the side effects that occurred. The researchers also found very few studies about what people think of these monitoring efforts, so it’s hard to know if patients and doctors feel the current system is working well. Additionally, the review didn’t look at whether different countries’ approaches to monitoring natural health products are better or worse than others.

The Bottom Line

If you use natural health products, report any unusual side effects to the company and your doctor (moderate confidence). Keep a record of what supplements or herbal products you take and any symptoms you experience (moderate confidence). Talk to your healthcare provider before starting new natural health products, especially if you take other medications (high confidence). Support efforts to improve safety monitoring of natural health products in your community (moderate confidence).

This research matters for: people who use vitamins, herbs, or other natural health products; doctors and healthcare providers who recommend these products; companies that make natural health products; government agencies that regulate these products; and anyone interested in consumer safety. This is especially important for people with chronic health conditions or those taking multiple medications, as natural products can sometimes interact with other treatments.

Improvements in safety monitoring would likely take several years to implement, as it requires changes to how companies collect data and how regulators oversee the process. However, you can start reporting side effects immediately if you experience them. Changes to monitoring systems might be visible within 2-5 years as new research and regulations are put in place.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track all natural health products you take (name, dose, frequency) and any symptoms or side effects you notice within 24 hours of taking them. Rate symptom severity on a scale of 1-10 and note whether symptoms improve when you stop taking the product.
  • Use the app to set reminders to report any unusual side effects to your healthcare provider or the product company. Create a list of all supplements and herbs you’re taking to share with your doctor at appointments. Set a weekly check-in to review whether you’re experiencing any new or ongoing symptoms.
  • Maintain a 3-month rolling log of all natural health products and any side effects. Review this log monthly with your healthcare provider. If you notice patterns (like symptoms always appearing after taking a specific product), share this information with both your doctor and the product company. Track changes over time to see if side effects improve, stay the same, or get worse.

This review summarizes published research about how natural health product companies track safety, but it does not evaluate whether specific natural health products are safe or effective. Natural health products are not regulated as strictly as prescription medications in many countries. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any natural health product, especially if you have existing health conditions or take other medications. If you experience side effects from a natural health product, report them to your doctor and consider reporting them to your country’s health authority or the product manufacturer. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.