Herbal Food Supplements: Trends, Classification, Safety Concerns, and Regulatory Perspectives on Weight Management and Athletic Performance

The global demand for dietary supplements has surged in response to growing public interest in preventive health strategies, nutritional optimization, and enhanced physical performance. This review critically examines the definition, classification, and physiological mechanisms of action of food supplements, with emphasis on herbal products used for weight control and athletic enhancement. It also explores emerging safety concerns related to product adulteration with synthetic pharmacological agents, including anorectics, diuretics, anabolic steroids, and stimulants, many of which are undeclared and banned due to severe health risks. Regulatory frameworks across different jurisdictions are compared, highlighting the dichotomy between the European Union’s precautionary model and the United States’ market-liberal approach. Post-marketing surveillance systems—including Nutri vigilance and RASFF—are assessed for their roles in monitoring adverse events and ensuring consumer safety. The study concludes with recommendations for harmonized testing protocols, mandatory transparency measures, and expanded public health education to mitigate risks and guide responsible use. Despite their popularity, concerns persist regarding efficacy, safety, and regulatory oversight. This review synthesizes recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and case reports, with a focus on global regulatory frameworks—particularly in the Asia-Pacific and Australia. A novel classification system is proposed, and conflicting evidence is discussed. The study fills a critical gap by integrating athlete-specific safety data, doping control implications, and regional regulatory comparisons.