Therapeutic Research

Abstract

Objective：This study aimed to clarify the health problems related to claimed “health foods”that advertise the ability to increase fertility, and evaluated related conflicts between those foods and their sellers and consumers, using two prominent databases. 　　Methods：A keyword search was conducted between May 21 and June 2, 2021, using the Accident Information Databank System operated by the Consumer Affairs Agency, and the information system from the National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition that monitors safety and effectiveness of health foods and related health problems. 　　Results：A total of 19 cases of health problems related to health foods were reported, with the highest number（15 cases, 79％）for dietary supplement forms（products in capsules, tablets, powders, and granules with concentrated ingredients）. The age of consumers （reporters）affected ranged from the 20’s to 50’s, and all cases except one were presumed to be female. Trade names of products included‘Fertility Supplement’, ‘Fertility Treatment Supplement’‘, Special Supplement for Fertility’, and other names. Folic acid was a main ingredient in products used in three cases（16％）, while factors such as product ingredients and processing methods were unknown for the other cases. Digestive disorders were the most common health problems with 10 cases（53％）, followed by skin disorders in three cases（15％）and other problems in six cases（32％）. Four cases（21％）were examined by a medical doctor, and 12 cases（63％）were not examined. A common non‒health problem shared by many cases was that even after a request for product cancellation, the full amount was not refunded. 　　Conclusions：This study identified health problem repor ts during the use of claimed health foods, especially dietary supplements that intend to promote pregnancy. Although signs and symptoms of the health problems were considered to be relatively mild, it can be assumed that there were many unreported cases. Henceforth, it is necessary to 1）identify companies that sell health foods to individuals trying to conceive, through searches of the Internet, infertility magazines, and social media information in order to provide a more complete picture of health foods, 2）investigate the evidence （effectiveness and safety）related to products for which a public relation campaign is promoted by catchphrases that are ambiguous or possibly illegal, and 3）identify behaviors of consumers who are trying to conceive that make them more prone to such health food claims.