Hello FDA (the one we know, not the one we'd wish: Food and Diet Administration :) Is every diet pill a drug?

No Sir. Listen please, the difference is.. FDA explaining.

..Yes.. But.. So.. Aha.. No.. Now, I got it.. Okay then, thanks medical folk. I said

..Goodness, and I thought I knew that before!

Ephedra Diet Pill to get the point.

Suppose you want to market a new product called "Best Dietum Pillz Ever" having a drug label as status, then before going any further and dealing with the potential consumers, you should get an approval from The Food and Drug Administration. But to get approved, you have to prove that "Best Dietum Pillz Ever" is safe. So the proof burden is on you, as manufacturer.

Here is the second element of our comparison

History flash: Dietary supplements is a substance class created in 1994 by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. Briefly, if a product belongs to the dietary supplements category, then it is not considered as a drug but as food. Hence, less restriction than those implied on "conventional drugs ".

Now again, suppose you want to put a new product called "Best Dietum Pillz Ever" on the market but this time as dietary supplements product, then don't look around, go further and jump on your potential consumers. Forget about The Food and Drug Administration. You don't even have to register it. If the FDA desires any restriction about your "Best Dietum Pillz Ever" product. Just say: Burden on you, FDA. Prove that my "Best Dietum Pillz Ever" is Not safe!

Ha! A bit strange! Right. This is why some are calling for a more restrictive law revision concerning this category.

Realizing such and such, we can understand why Ephedra as a drug is banned because of the cardiovascular effects it may cause due to its active ingredient ephedrine. But those dietary supplements containing the same ephedrine ingredient are generally still being marketed. (Except in some states)

Redistributing roles, it comes out this way:

When it comes to drugs, you may feel safer, because The Food and Drug Administration is more restrictive as every new drug is subject to pre-approval and safety proofs before being thrown on me and you. But once, face to face with dietary supplements, FDA is on stand-by unless critical reports of some unsafe experiences while using them are reported to it. Congratulations, the burden is ours!

Finally, the point is: the more information you do gather about dieting methods, the best choice you may do and the less risks you may encounter.

Till next time, take care of your cells :)