Consider This: Are dietary supplements safe?

Dietary supplement use among Americans is on the rise, according to a 2011 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But while many people are ingesting these pills, liquids, and tablets in pursuit of improved physical health or sexual performance, federal officials are concerned that some of these supplements may include extra ingredients.

Last month, the head of the FDA’s division of Dietary Supplement Programs said that around 70 percent of U.S. supplement companies have broken FDA regulations in the last five years. Problems have ranged from unsanitary manufacturing to unapproved pharmaceuticals within the ingredient list.

Dietary supplements made up more than half of the "Class I" drug recalls issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2004 to 2012, according to a study released in April by St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. The "Class I" designation indicates the potential for serious health issues or death, and 40 percent of the drugs recalled during this period were marketed as sexual enhancement products.

Recent examples of dietary supplement recalls include:

August 16: The Herbal Give Care company in Texas recalled its Esbelder Man capsules, Esbelder Fem capsules, and Esbelder Siloutte capsules, after FDA officials found these supplements contained sibutramine, an appetite suppressant that was taken off the U.S. market in 2010 due to its link to increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

August 12: The Jack Rabbit dietary supplement was recalled after the FDA classified it as an unapproved drug after finding that it contained several substances prescribed for erectile dysfunction.

July 31: Healthy Life Chemistry By Purity First B-50, a Vitamin B supplement which is made on Long Island, New York, was recalled after FDA officials learned that it contained anabolic steroids, which are linked to serious liver problems and other health issues.

Does the regulation of dietary supplements need improvement? Consider This host Antonio Mora will discuss this issue tonight at 10 ET/7PT.