Vitamins & Supplements - Sept 2012 Consumer Reports Investigates

Vitamins & Supplements - Consumer Reports Investigates

UPDATE: New Website Selling Miracle Mineral Solution Sodium Chlorite Solution Not Authorized for Oral Consumption by Humans

 Blogger's Note: the website is still active as of the date of this positing

UPDATE: New Website Selling Miracle Mineral Solution Sodium Chlorite Solution Not Authorized for Oral Consumption by Humans

Information Update
2012-74
May 18, 2012
For immediate release
OTTAWA - Further to our previous communications, Health Canada is advising Canadians that a new website has been identified selling "MMS", also known as Miracle Mineral Solution or Miracle Mineral Supplement. The website is http://www.buymms.biz
When new websites or retailers are identified, Health Canada will continue to update our current list of MMS products. Canadians are advised to monitor this list of affected products for any possible updates.
Health Canada continues to remind Canadians that there are no therapeutic products containing sodium chlorite authorized for oral consumption by humans. MMS may cause serious health problems that include poisoning, kidney failure and harm to red blood cells that reduces the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. Additional health problems may also include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Consumers should consult their health care practitioner if they have used or are using MMS products and report any adverse reaction to Health Canada.
Health Canada has notified distributors identified to date that the sale of sodium chlorite for human consumption is in contravention of the Food and Drugs Act. We have also requested that identified distributors remove product from the Canadian market. As such, this website (http://www.buymms.biz) may or may not be operational. (Blogger's Note: is active)

paywalled: Dietary Supplements and Cancer Prevention: Balancing Potential Benefits Against Proven Harms

Dietary Supplements and Cancer Prevention: Balancing Potential Benefits Against Proven Harms

Abstract

Nutritional supplementation is now a multibillion-dollar industry, and about half of all US adults take supplements. Supplement use is fueled in part by the belief that nutritional supplements can ward off chronic disease, including cancer, although several expert committees and organizations have concluded that there is little to no scientific evidence that supplements reduce cancer risk. To the contrary, there is now evidence that high doses of some supplements increase cancer risk. Despite this evidence, marketing claims by the supplement industry continue to imply anticancer benefits. Insufficient government regulation of the marketing of dietary supplement products may continue to result in unsound advice to consumers. Both the scientific community and government regulators need to provide clear guidance to the public about the use of dietary supplements to lower cancer risk.

blog: Supplements: Not mystical anticancer magic [Respectful Insolence]

Supplements: Not mystical anticancer magic [Respectful Insolence]:

It's no secret that over the years I've been very critical of a law passed nearly 20 years ago, commonly referred to as the DSHEA of 1994. The abbreviation DSHEA stands for about as Orwellian a name for a law as I can imagine: the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. Of course, as we've pointed out time and time again, the DSHEA is not about health, and it's certainly not about education. Indeed, perhaps my favorite description of this law comes from blog bud and all around awesome internist Dr. Peter Lipson, who refers to it as a "travesty of a mockery of a sham." Rather, it's about allowing supplement manufacturers and promoters of so-called "complementary and alternative medicine" (CAM, with or without a preceding "s," depending on your taste) who do not want pesky things like government laws and regulations to interfere with their selling of pseudoscience to market various compounds as "dietary supplements" with near-impunity. As Harriet Hall once put it so accurately, the DSHEA is "a stealth weapon that allows the sale of unproven medicines just as long as you pretend they are not medicines."
The DSHEA accomplishes this by making a seemingly reasonable distinction between food and medicine and twisting it in such a way that allows manufacturers to label all sorts of botanicals and various other compounds, many of which have substances in them with pharmacological activity, and sell them as "supplements" without prior approval by the FDA before marketing.

press release: Risks of mixing drugs and herbal supplements: What doctors and patients need to know

Risks of mixing drugs and herbal supplements: What doctors and patients need to know

Supplements and cancer prevention: A cautionary tale - Journal of National Cancer Institute - press release

Supplements and cancer prevention: A cautionary tale

Public release date: 25-Apr-2012
Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Supplements and cancer prevention: A cautionary tale

Government regulators and the scientific community should work to ensure that they give clear guidance to the public about dietary supplements and cancer risk, according to a commentary published April 25 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Evidence from animal, in vitro and observational studies has suggested that taking dietary supplements may lower cancer risk. However, the small number of randomized controlled studies, the gold standard in evidence-based medicine, has not confirmed this—and some studies have actually shown that supplements may increase cancer risk. Still, the supplement industry is booming, with estimated annual sales at $30 billion in the U.S.

To examine the potential role of dietary supplements and cancer risk, Maria Elena Martinez, Ph.D., of the University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center and colleagues, looked at observational studies of several supplements, including anti-oxidants, folic acid, vitamin D, and calcium. Several observational studies found that diets high in fruits and vegetables were associated with lower risk of certain cancers, including respiratory and gastrointestinal. Specifically, with respect to anti-oxidant supplements, the authors found that: "The importance of oxidative stress for carcinogenesis does not establish that the administration of supplemental antioxidants will protect against the carcinogenesis that oxidative stress may induce." Furthermore, they write, "Supplementation by exogenous antioxidants may well be a two-edged sword; these compounds could, in vivo, serve as pro-oxidants or interfere with any of a number of protective processes such as apoptosis induction." Indeed, several antioxidant trials the researchers examined reported increased cancer risks with supplementation. They looked at trials with supplements using folic acid, vitamin D and calcium, among other compounds.

The researchers caution against taking dietary supplements for cancer prevention, adding that many expert committees and organizations have concluded that nutritional supplements have little or no benefit in cancer prevention. They say that more randomized control trials—spanning many years instead of just a few—are needed to verify the effect of nutritional supplementation in cancer risk. 

Meanwhile, people continue to take supplements, spurred by manufacturers' suggestions that supplements are healthy at best and harmless at worst. Furthermore, believers in supplements assume that they are well regulated, the authors write. "These beliefs underscore the need for efforts by scientists and government officials to encourage the public to make prudent decisions based on sound evidence with respect to use of dietary supplements for cancer prevention."

Potentially Dangerous Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use by Ovarian Cancer Patients | Abstract

Potentially Dangerous Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use by Ovarian Cancer Patients

Abstract

Objective: 

The use of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) has increased greatly over the last decade. Although many CAM activities are unlikely to increase a patient's risk for adverse events with conventional treatment for cancer, this is not necessarily true of ingestible CAM treatments such as herbal remedies, teas, and other supplements. This study surveyed women with ovarian cancer in order to evaluate the use of herbs and supplements that might place them at increased risk at the time of their surgery for ovarian cancer.  

Methods: 

A total of 219 women with ovarian cancer, who had received care from one of two participating oncology practices, were surveyed. 

Results: 

Of the women who reported having had surgery to treat their ovarian cancer (n=209), 65 (31%) reporting using one or more herbs or supplements that have been hypothesized to increase their risk for adverse outcomes. In almost all cases the risks associated with these substances were elevated risks for excessive bleeding.  

Conclusions: 

The use of herbs and supplements that might increase risks associated with excessive bleeding during gynecologic cancer surgery is common. Further research is needed to better understand the risks associated with use of herbs and supplements among women approaching surgery

. (J GYNECOL SURG 28:1)

Leading Provider of Doctor-Formulated Nutritional Supplements Gets America Moving in a Healthy... -- POTOMAC, Md., April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Leading Provider of Doctor-Formulated Nutritional Supplements Gets America Moving in a Healthy... -- POTOMAC, Md., April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases - The Cochrane Library ((beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium)

Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases - The Cochrane Library

 Abstract

"The increased risk of mortality was associated with beta-carotene and possibly vitamin E and vitamin A, but was not associated with the use of vitamin C or selenium. The current evidence does not support the use of antioxidant supplements in the general population or in patients with various diseases."

Background

Our systematic review has demonstrated that antioxidant supplements may increase mortality. We have now updated this review.

Objectives

To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in adults.

UPDATE: Additional Web sites Selling MMS Sodium Chlorite Solution Not Authorized for Oral Consumption by Humans - Health Canada Advisory 2012-02-23

......Health Canada would also like to remind Canadians that there are no therapeutic products containing sodium chlorite authorized for oral consumption by humans. MMS may cause serious health problems that include poisoning, kidney failure and harm to red blood cells that reduces the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. Additional health problems may also include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Consumers should consult their health care practitioner if they have used or are using MMS products and report any adverse reaction to Health Canada.

Health Canada has notified distributors identified to date that the sale of sodium chlorite for human consumption is in contravention of the Food and Drugs Act. We have also requested that identified distributors remove product from the Canadian market. As such, the websites (www.miracle-mineral-supplement.com and www.mms1.ca) may or may not be operational. (Blogger's Note: the first website is still operational, the second website 'not found' - updated 11:14pm Feb 25th)

Drugs, Herbs and Supplements: MedlinePlus (alpha list)

abstract: Long-Term Follow-Up for Mortality and Cancer in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Vitamin D3 and/or Calcium (RECORD Trial)

Conclusions:
Daily vitamin D or calcium supplementation did not affect mortality, vascular disease, cancer mortality, or cancer incidence.

Cancer Causes and Control - Dietary calcium and magnesium intake in relation to cancer incidence and mortality in a German prospective cohort

"This prospective cohort study provides no strong evidence to support that high dietary calcium and magnesium intake in the intake range observed in a German population may reduce cancer incidence or mortality."

abstract: Vitamin/mineral supplementation and cancer, cardiovascular, and all-cause mortality in a German prospective cohort (EPIC-Heidelberg)

free full access: Calcium supplements with/without vitamin D and risk of cardiovascular events: reanalysis of the Women’s Health Initiative - bmj.com (including responses)

Abstract/Conclusions:
Calcium supplements with or without vitamin D modestly increase the risk of cardiovascular events, especially myocardial infarction, a finding obscured in the WHI CaD Study by the widespread use of personal calcium supplements. A reassessment of the role of calcium supplements in osteoporosis management is warranted.

excerpt (from full text):

"...An important question that arises is whether co-administered calcium and vitamin D affects cardiovascular risk. The Women’s Health Initiative reported no adverse effect of calcium and vitamin D (1 g calcium/400 IU vitamin D daily) on any cardiovascular end point in their large (n=36 282), seven year, randomised, placebo controlled trial.3 4 However, 54% of the participants were taking personal (non-protocol) calcium supplements at randomisation and 47% were taking personal vitamin D supplements, effectively rendering this trial a comparison of higher dose and lower dose calcium and vitamin D for most of the participants.

Allowing clinical trial participants free access to the intervention being studied is unusual and has the potential to obscure both adverse and beneficial effects..."

podcast/text: Benefits and Dangers of Vitamin Supplements for Cancer Patients - Cancerwise | Cancer blog from MD Anderson Cancer Center

Note: includes discussion regarding cardiovascular risks

Reputable online resources
Through online resources, patients can check into the efficacy and safety of herbal or natural supplements. MD Anderson has several online articles and web pages that provide information about supplements and nutrition. The Learning Center at MD Anderson can also provide information on other reputable online resources.

Herbs and Supplements: special section MedlinePlus

Role of Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Aspirin Use in Cancer Survivors — JCO

Note: a recent study indicated a beneficial effect of aspirin use in Lynch Syndrome patients but not in colon cancer patients (those w/o a mutation), search blog for further information on this specific issue "The potential beneficial or adverse effects of dietary supplements and aspirin in survivors of cancer warrant further study."

Role of Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Aspirin Use in Cancer Survivors (abstract)

Note: abstract does not reference ovarian cancer "The potential beneficial or adverse effects of dietary supplements and aspirin in survivors of cancer warrant further study."

Antioxidant Supplements and Cancer-Medscape article