At least half of Americans (maybe as many as 2/3) take dietary supplements. They assume the government will guarantee safety, efficacy, and truthful advertising. They couldn’t be more wrong. The very term dietary supplement is based on a fiction. Dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA but the regulations are… read more "Dietary Supplements and Deception"
Rightful for Pain: Deceptive Advertising and a Dangerous Ingredient
Rightful is an herbal supplement mixture offering pain relief and much more. Its claims are deceptive and not backed by good science. Not only that, but one of its ingredients is contraindicated. Would you rather choose a pain remedy based on art or science? How are mixtures of herbal remedies… read more "Rightful for Pain: Deceptive Advertising and a Dangerous Ingredient"
“Healthy Directions” Is a Double Misnomer
Healthy Directions sells dietary supplements without scientific evidence. A better name would be Misdirections that Won’t Make You Healthy. Historical examples of patent medicines. Healthy Directions similarly offers untested products without scientific evidence of efficacy. The Healthy Directions website says it is “A Better Way to Better Health.” There’s no reason to… read more "“Healthy Directions” Is a Double Misnomer"
Supplements with Multiple Ingredients, Many with No Apparent Rationale
Dietary supplements frequently have multiple ingredients, often mixtures of vitamins, minerals, and herbs. The rationale for including each ingredient is questionable, to say the least. Whenever I evaluate the evidence for a dietary supplement, one of my first questions is “What is it?” I remember many years ago, when I… read more "Supplements with Multiple Ingredients, Many with No Apparent Rationale"
Don’t Believe The Ads: Dietary Supplements Don’t Cure Tinnitus
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is a hallucination. The sounds can’t be heard by anyone else; they are illusory sensations produced by the brain. For some, it is only a minor annoyance; for others, it interferes with sleep and quality of life and sometimes causes severe suffering. There is… read more "Don’t Believe The Ads: Dietary Supplements Don’t Cure Tinnitus"
Herbalife or Herbadeath?
A case of fatal liver failure in India was attributed to Herbalife products, adding to many other reports from around the world. Analysis showed Herbalife products contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The products have not been scientifically tested, and in the absence of evidence of benefit to human health,… read more "Herbalife or Herbadeath?"
National Geographic Book Is A ‘Natural’ Disaster
Nature’s Best Remedies: Top Medicinal Herbs, Spices, and Foods for Health and Well Being, by Nancy J. Hajeski. National Geographic. 318 pp. $35.00. The National Geographic store proclaims, “This authoritative guide to the foods, herbs, spices, essential oils, and other natural substances that alleviate common ailments will enhance your life—from… read more "National Geographic Book Is A ‘Natural’ Disaster"
Vitamin D and Diabetes: Another Case Where Supplementation Sounded Like a Good Idea But Wasn’t
A new study shows vitamin D supplements don’t prevent diabetes. But there are still unanswered questions. This cartoon shows vitamin D killing cancer. It doesn’t. It doesn’t prevent diabetes either. Low vitamin D levels appear to be a risk factor for diabetes. Observational studies have found a correlation between a… read more "Vitamin D and Diabetes: Another Case Where Supplementation Sounded Like a Good Idea But Wasn’t"
Announcing: Video Lecture Course on Science-Based Medicine
A couple of years ago, the James Randi Educational Foundation commissioned me to develop a series of 10 video lectures on Science-Based Medicine. After a lot of work and many vicissitudes, it is now available. The lecture titles are: Science-Based Medicine vs. Evidence-Based Medicine What Is CAM? Chiropractic Acupuncture Homeopathy Naturopathy and… read more "Announcing: Video Lecture Course on Science-Based Medicine"
Protandim Update: New Studies and an FDA Warning Letter
Multilevel distributors of the dietary supplement Protandim think that evidence from scientific studies supports their claims for their product. The FDA disagrees. The FDA identifies mislabeling and false claims On April 17, 2017, the FDA sent a warning letter to the LifeVantage Corporation advising them that their product Protandim NRF2… read more "Protandim Update: New Studies and an FDA Warning Letter"