The riskiest supplements on store shelves beware the unholy trinity

That bottle in your medicine cabinet may deserve a closer look.Nearly three-quarters of American adults take dietary supplements, with more than half reaching for them regularly.But behind the glossy labels and bold promises, some products aren’t what they seem.Experts say three supplement categories are particularly prone to problems flagged by third-party testing and FDA enforcement, raising questions about their safety, quality and effectiveness for consumers.

Together, they form the supplement world’s “unholy trinity” — but the good news is, you don’t need divine intervention to steer clear of trouble.The trio? Supplements marketed to boost sexual performance, help people lose weight or improve athletic performance.“These categories often promise rapid or dramatic results, which can create stronger incentives for some manufacturers to make claims or formulate products in ways that don’t comply with dietary supplement regulations,” John Travis, senior scientific strategist and advisor for NSF, told The Post at an event hosted by Nutrafol.There’s an important reason consumers may not know what they’re getting. Unlike prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the FDA doesn’t review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they hit store shelves.Instead, manufacturers are responsible for making sure their products comply with federal rules.Third-party organizations like NSF can provide another layer of oversight, independently testing and certifying supplements to check that they contain what they claim, are made in safe facilities and are free of harmful or banned substances.But one of the biggest problems its experts encounter is a simple one: What’s on the label isn’t always what’s in the bottle.“Historically, FDA enforcement has shown that products marketed for sexual enhancement, weight loss, and certain sports performance claims are more likely than other supplement product categories to contain undeclared pharm...