HSA alerts public to three illegal products with potent ingredients

SINGAPORE — Three illegal health products used for the treatment of pain contain undeclared potent western medicinal ingredients, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a media release issued today (July 31).

The products are “Joint-Soft”, “Kebigutaijiaonang” and “Pil Raja Urat Asli”. The HSA said it found the presence of potent steroids and painkillers in the products. The steroids should only be used under strict medical supervision, as long-term unsupervised use can cause medical complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cataracts, the authority warned, while unsupervised used of the painkillers can lead to gastric bleeding, heart attack and stroke.

These products were bought overseas and are not known to be available locally. The HSA warns that such illegal health products from illegitimate or unknown sources are generally produced under poor manufacturing conditions with no quality control, and the contents can vary significantly with each batch.

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The HSA said a patient in his 60s who had consumed “Joint-Soft” was hospitalised after he experienced bleeding. Another patient in her 50s gained weight and experienced a worsening of her diabetic condition after consuming “Kebigutaijiaonang”. A third patient in her 60s gained over 8kg after taking “Pil Raja Urat Asli”.

Members of the public who are consuming these products are advised to:

• Consult a doctor as soon as possible before stopping their consumption of the products. Sudden discontinuation of steroids without proper medical supervision can cause serious withdrawal symptoms, such as weakness, fatigue, confusion and low blood pressure.

• Be wary of complementary health products, such as traditional medicines and health supplements, which claim to provide unexpected rapid relief of pain symptoms. Consumers should exercise discretion in their purchase of these complementary health products, and obtain them from reliable and reputable sources locally.

• Seek appropriate medical treatment for acute and chronic medical symptoms and conditions, such as arthritis and rheumatism, and do not self-medicate.

The HSA said it will take strong enforcement actions against those who engage in the sale and supply of health products containing undeclared potent medicinal ingredients. Anyone found to contravene the Poisons Act faces a penalty of up to S$10,000 or imprisonment for a period of up to two years or both.

Members of the public who have any information on the sale and supply of these three illegal products, or other illegal products, may contact HSA’s Enforcement Branch at 6866-3485 during office hours (Monday to Friday) or email: hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg. Thye are also encouraged to visit www.healthdangers.sg to learn more about the dangers of buying illegal health products from dubious sources. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

Original article are posted here: http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/hsa-alerts-public-three-illegal-products-potent-ingredients

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Top source of Vitamin C

Before we talk about the other source of vitamin C, let us understand first what is vitamin C and what are their benefits. Vitamin C also known as Ascorbic Acid is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. It is known to be a powerful antioxidant in the body.


Vitamin C is a water-soluble essential vitamin that is quickly lost from your body, so daily intake is vital. Having a not enough vitamin C on humans body is very crucial, cell growth and circulatory health can be compromised. In fact, those who are people with less intake of Vitamin C are those experiencing different symptoms such as Fatigue, weight loss, muscle and joint pains and easily get bruises.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it's recommended that adult men consume 90 mg of vitamin C daily and that adult women obtain 75 mg daily. The amount varies depending on age, gender and other factors such as if a person is pregnant or breastfeeding.

Foods rich in vitamin C While an orange is likely the first food to come to mind as the go-to vitamin C source, there are other foods that top its levels of the nutrient. For example, one navel orange has about 83 mg of it, but a small papaya has 96 mg of vitamin C.

Additionally, papaya has other health benefits including the fact that it's high in fiber and foliate. Broccoli is another food with a high vitamin C content; one serving has about 132 mg of the nutrient.

According to The World's Healthiest Foods website, "Amongst all of the commonly consumed cruciferous vegetables, broccoli stands out as the most concentrated source of a premiere antioxidant nutrient--vitamin C." Strawberries also contain high levels of vitamin C. One serving has nearly 87 mg of it, and consumption of them has also been linked to reductions in cognitive decline. Cauliflower, with nearly 128 mg of vitamin C in a head that's about 4 inches in diameter, is another source of the nutrient.

The World's Healthiest Foods also touts this food as an "excellent" vitamin C source that does wonders for fighting damaging free radicals in the body and acting as an anti-inflammatory.

Eating these foods on a regular basis can increase vitamin C levels and boost overall health. As always, choose fresh, organic options.

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