Many Americans have resolved to lose weight in 2025, often turning to weight loss supplements for support. While certain botanical ingredients may aid appetite control, metabolism, and health goals, experts advise caution when choosing supplements. Dr. Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk, assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and CEO and co-founder of Canomiks—a company leveraging AI-driven genomics technology to verify supplement efficacy—shares key tips to help consumers make informed choices.
According to Dr. Pradhan-Nabzdyk, here are a few key ways consumers can ensure trust and confidence in their weight loss supplements this year.
1. Talk to your doctor: The first step anyone should take before starting a new supplement is to consult a doctor. While many assume that "natural" supplements are inherently safe, numerous botanical ingredients can have contraindications with certain medical conditions or medications.
2. Check for preclinical and clinical trials information: Preclinical studies, typically conducted in laboratories, evaluate the safety and biological activity of ingredients before they are tested in humans. Clinical trials, however, demonstrate a product's efficacy through testing on human participants. It's important to note that terms like "clinically proven," "science-backed," or "scientifically proven" may not always refer to studies on the exact supplement being marketed. Instead, these ‘borrowed’ claims might be based on research involving similar ingredients or products. To verify, review the details provided on the product's website.
3. Look for recalls: To ensure a dietary supplement is trustworthy, check if the company selling it has faced product recalls. Recalls can signal potential issues with the company’s integrity regarding ingredient sourcing, product development, or manufacturing practices that may fall short of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) standards. Recall information for specific products is available on the FDA website, which also includes notices about dietary supplements, such as a list of tainted weight loss products. Additionally, the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP), a non-profit organization, publishes detailed bulletins investigating adulteration in specific botanical ingredients.
4. Bogus claims: Avoid products that make bogus claims, such as promises of rapid, effortless instant weight loss without diet or exercise. Be cautious of products that promise "miracle" results. These products may lack scientific backing, so always look for evidence to support their claims. Don’t trust a product solely because a celebrity or influencer promotes it. These endorsements are often paid and not based on personal use or evidence. For example, if a supplement claims to be "doctor-approved," check who the doctor is and verify their credentials.
5. Look for Ingredient Efficacy Certifications: In 2025, Dr. Pradhan-Nabzdyk's company will launch the CanTRUST™ seal of approval. Canomiks received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to create a program that certifies batch-by-batch ingredient efficacy using AI and genomics technology. You can also look for other certification seals from trusted third-party organizations. These seals ensure the product has undergone the FDA-required testing confirming its identity, potency and is free from harmful contaminants.
“Each person’s weight loss journey is different. While a healthy diet and lifestyle is the foundation of wellness, dietary supplements can serve as a helpful support to fill nutritional gaps and support your health goals. Supplements can enhance our efforts to nourish the body, but it's important to be careful when selecting them, as not all products are created equal. When chosen wisely, they can be a beneficial addition to a balanced approach to health”, says Dr. Pradhan-Nabzdyk.
Dr. Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk is co-founder and CEO of Canomiks (described in the next paragraph), and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School since 2005. Over the years, she has successfully developed alliances between industry and academia, developing and leading multi-disciplinary research and development projects in the fields of diabetes, cardiovascular and allied areas.
Canomiks is a life sciences company that is a pioneer in the future of dietary supplements, functional food and beverage and skincare industries with its groundbreaking genomics, bioinformatics, and AI-based solutions. The company’s cutting-edge technology can innovate new formulations and validate, test, and certify the biological efficacy and safety of functional ingredients and formulations. The company's vision, "Making Food as Medicine a Reality®," drives its mission to improve community health and sustainability. Formulations certified CanTRUST by Canomiks™ bear a seal of approval that differentiates products in a way that boosts consumer trust (for more information, visit www.canomiks.com).
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