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The Dangers of Dietary Supplements

January 17, 2007 5:00 pm 7 comments

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Here are some frightening numbers: In 2005, the American Association of Poison Control Centers was told of 125,595 incidents related to vitamins, minerals,
essential oils, herbs and other supplements. In the past 23 years, the association has received more than 1.6 million reports of adverse
reactions to such products, including 251,799 that were serious enough
to require hospitalization. From 1983 to 2004 there were 230 reported
deaths from supplements, with the yearly numbers rising from 4 in 1994,
the year the supplement bill passed, to a record 27 in 2005.
All of the numbers above come from a New York Times article on the dangers of dietary supplements, which do not require the rigorous scientific trials that all drugs must pass through before entering the market. The Times piece, a must read by anyone who swallows these things, is written by Dan Hurley, author of “Natural Causes: Death, Lies
and Politics in America’s Vitamin and Herbal Supplement Industry”
(Broadway Books).

7 Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 18, 2007
    1:29 pm

    This Times article says absolutely nothing…

    Reply
  • ChicagoJoe
    January 19, 2007
    4:11 pm

    Folks,
    Interesting stuff.
    http://www.knowledgeofhealth.com/report.asp?story=Beware%20Of%20The%20Unfolding%20Anti-Dietary%20Supplement%20Propaganda%20Campaign&catagory=CODEX,%20Vitamins%20Other,
    Big pharmas sponsoring the nightly news … and guess who’s got an anti-supplement new story soon … CBS! And a negative book out too by DAN HURLEY. All back by the big pharmas!
    It’s called tinkling on your leg and telling you that it’s raining!
    A FEW QUOTES:
    “And did you notice who the major sponsor of evening TV news is now — American Pharmaceutical Companies. The newsrooms at these TV stations know how to beat the drum for their advertising clients, and make it sound like unbiased news.”
    “Since then Big Pharma has donated money to Senator Hatch and bought his support for legislation that requires adverse events associated with dietary supplements to be reported. The top two industries supporting Hatch since 1989 are lawyers/law Firms ($1,139,713) and pharmaceuticals/health products ($1,062,593) [Source: OpenSecrets.org]”
    “And why is all this happening? Americans need to recognize that drug patents are expiring. Between 2001 and 2005 patents on over 200 drugs expired, representing $30 billion of sales. About $21.4 billion worth of branded drugs came off patent in 2006, and another $17.7 billion will come off patent in 2007. In Europe, supplements like ginkgo biloba, kava kava, bilberry and even a citrus fruit extract for hemorrhoids, are all prescription drugs. “

    Reply
  • ChicagoJoe
    January 19, 2007
    4:16 pm

    Funny thing, in the past year or two, Vioxx, the pain-relieving anti-inflammatory drug, which could be acquired by doctor’s prescription only, was reported to have killed up to 20,000-50,000 Americans due to blood clots and subsequent heart attacks. But recent news reports are making it sound like vitamin pills pose mortal side effects, and as long as Vioxx has a block-box warning, it’s back on the prescription list after being voluntarily recalled by its manufacturer.

    Reply
  • ChicagoJoe
    January 19, 2007
    4:17 pm

    Why the negative spin on vitamin pills?
    So why all the negative spin about vitamin supplements? It’s clear that drug makers don’t want consumers discovering they can take dietary supplements with far greater safety and effectiveness and at far less cost. In the wake of the Vioxx scandal, consumers are backing away from prescription drugs. In the third quarter of 2005, United States sales of prescription drugs fell 3 percent at Bristol-Myers Squibb, 4.5 percent at Johnson & Johnson, 2 percent at Merck and 15 percent at Pfizer. A 2005 poll shows that only 9 percent of Americans believe drug companies are generally honest, down from 14 percent in 2004. [New York Times November 14, 2005]
    The only way the drug companies are going to be able to prop up their stock value is to increase prices, prompt retirees to sign up for the new Medicare prescription program, and conduct television and other advertising directly to consumers, which is precisely what is underway. –Copyright 2006 Bill Sardi, Knowledge of Health, Inc.

    Reply
  • Harry Notowitz
    January 20, 2007
    5:14 pm

    Really can’t find any reason to disagree with ChicagoJoe. However, it still makes sense to try to use the best tested and safest products available. IMHO, after using them for quite a few years, (shameless promotion) these are found here- http://www.shaklee.net/healthy-choice/aboutMain“

    Reply
  • diet suppliments
    December 31, 2008
    7:38 am

    Nice to see your post!.Not only features not good ours ,but also knownig of dangers important for us.But my suggestion is, taking 4 meals a day at limited quantities, including all nutrients such as fat, carbs, and proteins is the best diet. Thank you!

    Reply
  • remove wrinkles
    February 17, 2010
    8:28 am

    A good read, definitely worth a cut and paste. Thanks!

    Reply

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