Those dietary supplements you take could be the source of your next major health problem.

If you think that’s an alarmist statement, consider this: In the United States, supplements such as vitamins, herbal products and other items used to boost nutrition, increase energy or promote weight loss are not regulated as heavily as medications or medical devices. Safety testing is not mandatory, for instance. And unlike for medications and devices, there is little information available about negative incidents related to supplements.

To help shed light on safety concerns surrounding supplements, researchers from several institutions teamed up to study emergency department visits linked to supplements. Their study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. They looked at data from 63 hospitals, covering a 10-year period. The scientists found nearly 3,700 emergency room visits associated with supplements. Visits tied to food or beverages, such as energy drinks, were excluded.

Four hundred people were hospitalized during their trips to the E.R. In adults between 20 and 34, common complaints included heart symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat and chest pain. These were linked to weight-loss or energy boosters.

Vitamins and minerals caused many senior adults to choke, have throat pain or have trouble swallowing.

The last major category was for children who had taken supplements without adult supervision.

Based on the data, the researchers estimated the number of supplement-related visits to emergency departments nationwide each year. They put the number around 23,000, with about 2,100 hospitalizations.

This proves the need for caution when it comes to supplements. For safety’s sake, check with a doctor before you start taking a new one. And keep them where kids can’t get them.