The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found that many bodybuilding (workout) products may contain anabolic steroids or steroid-like substances in their composition. Such ingredients included illegally or not declared by manufacturers may pose serious health risks to consumers, for example, severe liver (hepatic) injury, kidney damage, heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, severe acne, hair loss, irritability, aggressiveness, depression, among others.
These types of products are promoted as concentrates with hormones or substitutes for anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass in a short time; however, they may contain steroids in their composition.
Current Peruvian regulation on bodybuilding supplements
The FDA does not evaluate the efficacy or safety of these products before they reach the consumer market. In addition, they are usually sold online, in gyms, or by catalog, which makes control difficult. In Peru, all dietary products or supplements are rigorously evaluated by the General Directorate of Medicines, Supplies, and Drugs (Digemid) before and after entering the country, through a process called registration, in which the complete composition of the product is declared, and the nutritional or physiological effect of each active ingredient is assessed.
Source: FDA
Peru registration holder