As the academic year starts and young generations of athletes prepare for competition on school sports teams, federal regulators warn against claims that products can cure concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

The United States Food and Drug Administration advises consumers to avoid purported dietary supplements carrying claims they can prevent, treat or even cure concussions and TBIs, because such assertions are not backed up with scientific evidence that the products in question are effective or even safe for those types of purposes, according to a news release.

Products like those mentioned are currently sold on the Internet and at various retail outlets, as well as marketed to consumers through social media, including Facebook and Twitter.

One common but misleading claim, states the regulatory agency, is that using a particular dietary supplement promotes faster healing after a concussion or other types of TBIs.

A concussion, explains the news release, "is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head or by a violent shaking of the head and upper body. Concussions and other TBIs are serious medical conditions that require proper diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring by a health care professional. The long-term impact of concussions on professional athletes and children who play contact sports has recently been the subject of highly publicized discussions."

A growing body of scientific evidence indicates if concussion victims soon after their injuries resume strenuous activities -- such as football, soccer or hockey -- they risk a greater chance of suffering another concussion. That said, repeat concussions can have a cumulative effect on the brain, with sometimes serious consequences that could include brain swelling, permanent brain damage, long-term disability and even death.

"There is simply no scientific evidence to support the use of any dietary supplement for the prevention of concussions or the reduction of post-concussion symptoms that would allow athletes to return to play sooner," said Charlotte Christin, acting director of FDA's Division of Dietary Supplement Programs.

The USFDA assures the public it's continually monitoring the marketplace and taking appropriate enforcement actions, such as issuing warning letters to firms -- the typical first step in dealing with products labeled as dietary supplements but accompanied with claims they can be used to cure, mitigate, treat or prevent of disease.

However, "with more than 85,000 dietary supplements on the market and no product registration, products making false claims can slip through, at least for a time," said the agency.

Even if a particular supplement contains no harmful ingredients, making such a claim alone can prove dangerous, Gary Coody, the USFDA's national health fraud coordinator, said in a statement.

"We're very concerned that false assurances of faster recovery will convince athletes of all ages, coaches and even parents that someone suffering from a concussion is ready to resume activities before they are really ready," Coody said. "Also, watch for claims that these products can prevent or lessen the severity of concussions or TBIs."

Bottom line, he said, the agency can't guarantee consumers won't come across a claim about TBIs, "but we can promise you this: There is no dietary supplement that has been shown to prevent or treat them."

"If someone offers you a product and suggests otherwise," Coody said, "walk away."