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Consumer Health Digest #07-28
July 24, 2007
Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail
newsletter edited by Stephen Barrett, M.D., and
cosponsored by NCAHF and Quackwatch. It
summarizes scientific reports; legislative
developments; enforcement actions; news reports;
Web site evaluations; recommended and
nonrecommended books; and other information
relevant to consumer protection and consumer
decision-making. Donations to help support this
newsletter can be made conveniently through
PayPal or Amazon via
http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/donations.html###
Cochrane reviews data on vitamin C and the common cold.
The Cochrane Collaboration has updated its review
of studies of vitamin C for preventing and
treating colds. [Douglas RM and others. Vitamin C
for preventing and treating the common cold.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007,
Issue 3. Art. No.: CD000980. DOI:
10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub3]
http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD000980/frame.html The study looked at 30 controlled clinical trials
involving a total of 11,350 participants. The
reviewers concluded:
"Regular ingestion of vitamin C has no effect on
common cold incidence in the ordinary population.
It reduced the duration and severity of common
cold symptoms slightly, although the magnitude of
the effect was so small its clinical usefulness
is doubtful."
###
Saul Green, antiquackery activist, dead at 82.
Saul Green, Ph.D., a board member of the National
Council Against Health Fraud, died on July 1st.
He was a biochemist who did cancer research at
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for 23
years. He had a special interest in evaluating
the proposed mechanisms of action of questionable
methods and consulted on scientific methodology
until a few years before his death. His most
notable publications debunked claims for
chelation therapy, immuno-augmentative therapy,
coffee enemas, and antineoplastons. His chelation
article on Quackwatch was ranked #1 by Google for
more than five years.
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/chelation.html Some of his other writings are archived at
http://saulgreen.blogspot.com.
###
Lorraine Day ordered to stop illegal advertising.
The FDA has ordered Lorraine Day, M.D. to stop
claiming that BetaBeet helps prevent
cardiovascular disease.
http://www.casewatch.org/fdawarning/prod/2007/day.shtml Day's Web site has stated:
"BetaBeet is a soluble powder made form [sic]
the juice of organically-grown beets and contains
a variety of vitamins, minerals, and
phytonutrients including folic acid, iron,
calcium and betaine. Š Like vitamin B6 and folic
acid, betaine helps reduce high blood levels of
the amino acid homocysteine, which can be a risk
factor for arteriosclerosis."
These claims are illegal because (a) the product
is not generally recognized as safe and effective
for reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis and (b)
dietary supplements cannot be legally marketed
with such claims. Day claims to have cured
herself of "terminal" breast cancer through a
combination of prayer, dietary modification, and
various lifestyle changes. Dr. Stephen Barrett,
who does not believe this is true, has posted a
detailed analysis of her story. [Barrett S. Stay
away from D. Lorraine Day. Quackwatch, July 23,
2007]
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/day.html###
Another class action suit filed against USANA.
A lawsuit seeking class action status has been
filed in California State Court on behalf of
thousands of individuals who became "Associates"
(distributors) of USANA Health Sciences Inc. on
or after January 1, 1995 in California. The
plaintiffs accuse USANA and several of its
officers and directors of fraud and deception.
Among other things, the suit alleges USANA (a)
exaggerated the business opportunity, (b) failed
to disclose that 87% of active distributors were
losing money, (c) misrepresented the credentials
of its advisory board, and (d) basically operated
a pyramid scheme requiring a constant churn in
its sales force. The lawsuit seeks damages for
distributors left with thousands of dollars of
losses each after paying for business "kits" and
products they say they couldn't sell. Earlier
this year, similar class-action suits were filed
on behalf of shareholders. The new complaint is
posted at
http://www.casewatch.org/civil/usana/complaint.shtml###
Other issues of the Digest are accessible through
http://www.ncahf.org/digest06/index.html. For
information about the National Council Against
Health Fraud, see
http://www.ncahf.org/about/mission.html. If you
enjoy the newsletter, please recommend it to your
friends.
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Stephen Barrett, M.D.
Board Chairman, Quackwatch, Inc.
Chatham Crossing, Suite 107/208
11312 U.S. 15 501 North
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Telephone: (919) 533-6009
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Editor, Consumer Health Digest
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