"Although natural health products are often seen as low risk, we need to keep in mind that 'low risk' does not mean 'no risk,' and 'natural' does not mean 'safe.'"
A woman's quest to become pregnant resulted in lead poisoning from an Ayurvedic treatment. The case triggered the seizure of pills from an Ontario natural-products clinic and the issuance of government warnings about the risks of products from this business, according to a new report.
The case highlights the need for collaboration between clinicians and public health authorities to address the potential health risks of supplements, including the presence of lead and other metals in Ayurvedic products, according to the report.
"When consumer products may be contaminated with lead, or when lead exposure is linked to sources in the community, involving public health can facilitate broader actions to reduce and prevent exposures to other people at risk," wrote report author Julian Gitelman, MD, MPH, a resident physician at the University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and colleagues.
Their case study was published August 8 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
