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Consumer Health Digest #14-17
May 11, 2014

Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by Stephen Barrett, M.D., with help from William M. London, Ed.D. 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.

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Former Herbalife distributors describe how they were severely harmed

Bill Ackman, who believes that Herbalife is a pyramid scheme, has produced a documentary and a panel discussion in which former Herbalife distributors describe how they suffered significant financial losses. The videos—which are very compelling—can be viewed on Ackman's Facts about Herbalife Web site, which contains detailed financial analyses, court documents, and many other source materials about the company. Although the basic cost of becoming a Herbalife distributor is small, many people are persuaded to invest thousands of dollars stocking up on products, buying sales aids, and attending promotional meetings.

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Prenatal DHA supplementation not found beneficial

Based on assessments over a 4-year period, British researchers have found no objective evidence of improved intellectual function among children whose mothers took supplements of docosahexanoic acid (DHA) during pregnancy. Some people claim that DHA supplementation during pregnancy will enhance development of the fetus's brain, but neither this study nor shorter-term studies support these claims. [Makrides M and others. Four-year follow-up of children born to women in a randomized trial of prenatal DHA supplementation. JAMA 311:1802-1804, 2014]

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Lawrence Stowe sentenced

Lawrence Stowe has been sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to introduce misbranded and unapproved new drugs into interstate commerce. [Illegal sale of stem cell case lands engineer to federal prison. USDOJ news release, May 2, 2014] Restitution of $419,358 was also ordered, to be paid jointly and severally with co-defendant Francisco Morales, who was previously sentenced to 60 months in prison. According to their indictments:

Stowe and Morales distributed and used stem cells produced from umbilical cord blood to treat persons suffering from cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS) and other serious diseases.
Stowe, who sometimes pretended to be a doctor, also operated The Stowe Foundation and Stowe Biotherapy Inc., through which he promoted and marketed stem cells and other unapproved drug and biological products for the treatment of cancer, ALS, MS and Parkinson's disease.
From 2007 to 2010, Morales, who falsely represented that he was a licensed physician in the United States, operated the Rio Valley Medical Clinic in Brownsville, Texas, but would travel to Mexico to perform the stem cell procedures on his patients.
In 2010, CBS's "60 Minutes" aired a hard-hitting undercover report about Stowe's scheme. [21st century snake oil: "60 Minutes" cameras expose medical con men who prey on dying victims. CBS News, April 18, 2010] Stowe and Moralse pleaded guilty in 2012. [Convictions entered in two separate Texas cases involving stem cells. USDOJ news release, Sept 2, 2012]

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Dental Watch posts article about recommended products

Dr. Stephen Barrett has posted information about three dental products that he uses and recommends: Sonicare electric toothbrushes, PHB ultra soft toothbrushes, and Glide Comfort Plus dental tape.

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Continuing request for help from Dr. Barrett

In June 2010, Doctor's Data, Inc. sued Dr. Barrett because it didn't like what he wrote about them on Quackwatch and in this newsletter. The events leading up to the suit are described at
http://www.quackwatch.org/14Legal/dd_suit.html
In November, 2011, about half of the allegations were dismissed, but discovery was permitted for more than a year. The rest of the suit will be ripe for dismissal soon, but the proceedings have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even small donations, if sent by enough subscribers to this newsletter, will be very helpful. Contributions to the defense fund can be made by mail or through
http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/donations.html
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=================================

Stephen Barrett, M.D.
Consumer Advocate
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
http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/chd.html

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