The largely unregulated world of dietary supplements is like the Wild West. Dramatic claims abound, most of them unsupported by evidence, and it’s hard to know if any of them can be trusted. Supplement manufacturers claim their products cure cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and more. They promise miraculous weight loss results, nebulous “boosting” of your immune system, and anti-aging benefits.
Once in a while, though, they get caught. In mid-November, the United States cracked down hard on several of the more egregious offenders, announcing indictments against half a dozen supplement makers, including criminal charges against one.