Vitamin Retailer : Off the Cuff — Everything in Moderation [May 08]

Off the Cuff — Answering the Call © VR

A new study (actually an updated meta-analysis) published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews by scientists affiliated with Copenhagen University has been receiving a lot of attention in the media, primarily due to its conclusion that “there is no evidence to support antioxidant supplements for…prevention of mortality.” Worse yet, the study also found that “vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin E may in fact increase mortality.” To say the report is flawed is an understatement. When the authors first published similar meta-analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Feb. 2007) and the Lancet (Sept. 2004), it was met with heavy criticism. They gave it another go and, thankfully, the industry isn’t sitting idly by and taking it. As the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) pointed out, “An extensive body of scientific research has shown that taking antioxidant supplements, including vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc and selenium, consistently over long terms can play a role in reducing the risk of chronic disease.” In fact, noted CRN, the Danish researchers themselves identified nearly 750 clinical trials on antioxidant supplements that could have been included in their meta-analysis; however, the authors chose to exclude all but 67 of these studies from their literature review (less than nine percent of the published research). Why limit the meta-analysis to such a small pool of the available research? The study “appears to be a systematic attempt by the authors to publish work that supports their own pre-determined conclusions about antioxidants and the way they should be regulated,” CRN charged. Even with its obvious flaws, this study spread in the mass media like wildfire, producing sensational headlines like “Vitamin Pills: Friends or Foes?” (The Times online) and, my personal favorite, “Vitamins May Increase Risk of Death” (CNN). Now, I’m not a doctor or a medical expert in any way, but I know yellow journalism when I read it. It seems these other “journalists” prefer to prey on the public with sensational, unethical and unprofessional practices. And because it’s yellow journalism, it leaves these news sectors as “not quite libel,” which is the biggest crime of all—they spread fear and panic and have no worry of being held accountable for their actions. The public is left with no choice but to eat it up, regardless if the source is shoddy at best. Newsworthy? Elliott Balbert, president of the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance (DSEA), shared in the “Tribute to Charitable Organizations” (see p. 26) that the organization has been making significant strides breaking down barriers against dietary supplements at senate hearings and bipartisan caucuses. In sharing the Health Impact of Dietary Supplements studies (done originally in 2005 and updated in 2007), it showed that through the use of just four dietary supplements the US could save $25 billion over five years in healthcare costs. “To say nothing, of course, on increasing American’s quality of life,” said Balbert. But that’s not what makes the news. “While the study has been distributed widely and picked up by lobbying groups, it didn’t get a lot of traction in the general media,” added Balbert. “This information goes a long way to show this industry isn’t made up of snake oil salesmen, but there’s a significant savings by utilizing our products.” We, Americans, are a country of excess, believing that too much is never enough. If that line of thinking is used in the choice to take dietary supplements, then I think it’s safe to say we’re a nation of idiots. But when taken as part of a healthy diet and excercise program, dietary supplements can actually be the potential life prolongers that they are, rather than failing at being the lifesavers they’ve never tried to be. And going back to the bunk antioxidant study, Andrew Shao, PhD, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at CRN, said, “Antioxidant supplements are certainly not meant to be magic bullets and should not realistically be expected to undo a lifetime of unhealthy habits. However, when used properly, in combination with eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, not smoking, etc., antioxidant supplements can play an important role in maintaining and promoting overall health.” It’s not as sexy as “Vitamins May Kill You,” but I think that’s something consumers would want to know about. Kate Quackenbush Editor-in-Chief

Off the Cuff — Answering the Call © VR

A new study (actually an updated meta-analysis) published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews by scientists affiliated with Copenhagen University has been receiving a lot of attention in the media, primarily due to its conclusion that “there is no evidence to support antioxidant supplements for…prevention of mortality.”

Worse yet, the study also found that “vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin E may in fact increase mortality.”

To say the report is flawed is an understatement. When the authors first published similar meta-analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Feb. 2007) and the Lancet (Sept. 2004), it was met with heavy criticism. They gave it another go and, thankfully, the industry isn’t sitting idly by and taking it.

As the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) pointed out, “An extensive body of scientific research has shown that taking antioxidant supplements, including vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc and selenium, consistently over long terms can play a role in reducing the risk of chronic disease.”
In fact, noted CRN, the Danish researchers themselves identified nearly 750 clinical trials on antioxidant supplements that could have been included in their meta-analysis; however, the authors chose to exclude all but 67 of these studies from their literature review (less than nine percent of the published research).

Why limit the meta-analysis to such a small pool of the available research? The study “appears to be a systematic attempt by the authors to publish work that supports their own pre-determined conclusions about antioxidants and the way they should be regulated,” CRN charged.

Even with its obvious flaws, this study spread in the mass media like wildfire, producing sensational headlines like “Vitamin Pills: Friends or Foes?” (The Times online) and, my personal favorite, “Vitamins May Increase Risk of Death” (CNN).

Now, I’m not a doctor or a medical expert in any way, but I know yellow journalism when I read it. It seems these other “journalists” prefer to prey on the public with sensational, unethical and unprofessional practices. And because it’s yellow journalism, it leaves these news sectors as “not quite libel,” which is the biggest crime of all—they spread fear and panic and have no worry of being held accountable for their actions. The public is left with no choice but to eat it up, regardless if the source is shoddy at best.

Newsworthy?
Elliott Balbert, president of the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance (DSEA), shared in the “Tribute to Charitable Organizations” (see p. 26) that the organization has been making significant strides breaking down barriers against dietary supplements at senate hearings and bipartisan caucuses. In sharing the Health Impact of Dietary Supplements studies (done originally in 2005 and updated in 2007), it showed that through the use of just four dietary supplements the US could save $25 billion over five years in healthcare costs. “To say nothing, of course, on increasing American’s quality of life,” said Balbert.
But that’s not what makes the news.

“While the study has been distributed widely and picked up by lobbying groups, it didn’t get a lot of traction in the general media,” added Balbert. “This information goes a long way to show this industry isn’t made up of snake oil salesmen, but there’s a significant savings by utilizing our products.”
We, Americans, are a country of excess, believing that too much is never enough. If that line of thinking is used in the choice to take dietary supplements, then I think it’s safe to say we’re a nation of idiots. But when taken as part of a healthy diet and excercise program, dietary supplements can actually be the potential life prolongers that they are, rather than failing at being the lifesavers they’ve never tried to be.

And going back to the bunk antioxidant study, Andrew Shao, PhD, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at CRN, said, “Antioxidant supplements are certainly not meant to be magic bullets and should not realistically be expected to undo a lifetime of unhealthy habits. However, when used properly, in combination with eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, not smoking, etc., antioxidant supplements can play an important role in maintaining and promoting overall health.”
It’s not as sexy as “Vitamins May Kill You,” but I think that’s something consumers would want to know about.

Kate Quackenbush
Editor-in-Chief