Gossypium herbaceum seeds contain pectin and the root bark and seeds contain gossypol. Gossypium is a purported galactogogue, and it may increase the complement C3 and C4 content of breastmilk. However, clinical trials supporting these uses are small and inadequate to validate its efficacy. Gossypol has caused hypokalemia, mild leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, fatigue, dry mouth, dry skin, and gastrointestinal upset. Galactogogues should never replace evaluation and counseling on modifiable factors that affect milk production.[1,2]
Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information about dietary supplements is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.