4 replies to this topic

[Wallcrawler]

...the lengths this organization will go!!!!!....

FDA Threatens To Raid Cherry Orchards

snip<As Americans struggle to eat a healthier diet, the FDA has taken draconian steps to suppress information about foods that reduce disease risk.

While various agencies of the federal government encourage us to eat more fruits and vegetables, the FDA has issued an edict that precludes cherry companies from posting scientific data on their websites. This censorship of published peer-reviewed studies denies consumers access to information that could be used to make wiser food choices.>snip

Edited by Wallcrawler, 15 November 2006 - 01:41 PM.

[Rogerdodger]

I bought me a big bag of Cherries last September. Shhh! Don't tell.

Seems like the guberment is influenced by special interest groups with cash.
But I believe that supplement sellers are corporations interested in cash more than truth or health.
Many claims made by such groups including LE, which your article linked to, are not interested in selling cherries but "supplements" which are of questionable benefit and content.

So while I believe there are benefits to eating fresh fruits and vegetables of all types, we will never know for sure what's in that high priced supplement since their lobbyists have been able to "influence" lawmakers to exclude them from the same FDA requirements to which medicines are subject.

Warnings on Alternative and So-Called Natural Remedies
Alternative or natural remedies are not regulated and their quality is not publicly controlled. In addition, any substance that can affect the body's chemistry can, like any drug, produce side effects that may be harmful. Even if studies report positive benefits from herbal remedies, the compounds used in such studies are, in most cases, not what are being marketed to the public. It is unfortunate that promising complementary agents are not being studied with the rigorous methodology used by pharmaceutical companies for prescription drugs.

There have been a number of reported cases of serious and even lethal side effects from herbal products. In addition, some so-called natural remedies were found to contain standard prescription medication. Of specific concern are studies suggesting that up to 30% of herbal patent remedies imported from China having been laced with potent pharmaceuticals such as phenacetin and steroids. Most reported problems occur in herbal remedies imported from Asia, with one study reporting a significant percentage of such remedies containing toxic metals.

Consumer Lab is building a database of natural remedy brands that it tests and rates (www.consumerlab.com). Not all are yet available. The Food and Drug Administration has a program called MEDWATCH for people to report adverse reactions to untested substances, such as herbal remedies and vitamins (call 800-332-1088).

For example many folks THINK they are taking Chondroitin.
But here is what consumerlab found:

• One product, for human use, claimed to contain 500 mg per serving of "Chondroitin sulfate complex" which ConsumerLab.com's testing showed to contain less than 90 mg of chondroitin sulfate — only 18% of the 500 milligrams. ConsumerLab.com has cautioned consumers in the past to be wary of supplements with ingredients that include words such as "complex," "formula," or "blend" when the weight of each component is not listed. While it may be legal for a manufacturer to use these terms, ConsumerLab.com often finds such information misleading to consumers.
• A second product for human use contained less than 85% of its claimed chondroitin sulfate.
• Shockingly, no chondroitin sulfate could be detected in two pet supplements despite each displaying a "guaranteed analysis" showing a significant amount of chondroitin sulfate. [Update — 7/21/04: A new, re-formulated version of one of the pet supplements that did not pass was subsequently tested at the request of manufacturer. It passed testing and is listed below].

Edited by Rogerdodger, 17 November 2006 - 12:35 AM.

[stocks]

IBut I believe that supplement sellers are corporations interested in cash more than truth or health.
Many claims made by such groups including LE, which your article linked to, are not interested in selling cherries but "supplements" which are of questionable benefit and content.

So while I believe there are benefits to eating fresh fruits and vegetables of all types, we will never know for sure what's in that high priced supplement since their lobbyists have been able to "influence" lawmakers to exclude them from the same FDA requirements to which medicines are subject.

Roger,
I completely agree that the supplement industry is full of scam artists, but I strongly disagree
with lumping LE (Life Extension Foundation) in with that group.
I've been using their products for 25 years and couldn't be more impressed with the
quality of their advisors and the research they present in support of their products.
Do you have a specific complaints against them?
If you just believe that there are no supplments worth taking then I understand what you
are saying (and many agree with you).

Anyway, I invite you to visit their website and read a 'health concern' on say, prostate cancer,
and see if you are not impressed.


mike

[Rogerdodger]

I have no complaint with LE specifically.
My point is that the "motive" of corporations is always profit.
Even with government oversight, look at all the corruption we see in business.

Oversight is vital for those who trust such corporations yet the supplement industry lobbyists have managed to pursuade the government that they don't need to be watched.

Let the buyer beware that their 500mg pill may contain less than 90mg as cited in my post above.
Additionally there has been recent news concerning fake pills containing only fillers of all sorts coming from China. As the post above says:

Of specific concern are studies suggesting that up to 30% of herbal patent remedies imported from China having been laced with potent pharmaceuticals such as phenacetin and steroids. Most reported problems occur in herbal remedies imported from Asia, with one study reporting a significant percentage of such remedies containing toxic metals.

Sales of supplements skyrockets when a new "scientific" report touts the benefits of some product.
So we see the food/supplement industry bristle when the government limits their posting of "scientific" research as often this data is bought and paid for by the industry and may conflict with other "scientific" studies.

Also I believe that eating the actual cherry is always going to be better than a freeze dried, crushed, cooked, processed and stored pill of questionable content.

So both the supplement industry and the FDA have their motives and often our best interests are not theirs.

[stocks]

Roger,
I agree with every word of your post. First establish a 'caveat emptor' mindset.

Now comes the next step: identify the rational people on the cutting edge
of "anti-aging", read their arguments, and make your best judgement.

Consider this:

"So how much time should you spend working on optimizing your own health - using what are, frankly, pretty crude tools in the grand scheme of what is possible - versus working to accelerate medical research and bring about healthy life extension more rapidly? This is very personal decision based on a number of factors, and I don't attempt to discuss it at great length at the Longevity Meme. To pick a few:

# Money

Do you have enough money to buy supplements and access to medical technology now with an unknown chance that they will work as advertised? Would you be better off saving most of that money for future healthy life extension procedures that may turn out to be pretty expensive?

# Evaluation

There is no reliable way (right now, in any case) to evaluate the effects of lifestyle and medical choices aimed at prolonging your healthy life span - short of waiting, that is. What do you consider reasonable evidence for a good chance of effectiveness? How effective per dollar expended does a treatment or lifestyle choice have to appear to be before you would adopt it?

Many people obtain great satisfaction from tinkering with supplement regiments and other old school technologies for health. It's much like working on a car - only you don't find out whether you're actually getting that last 10% of extra performance until it's too late to make a difference. I suspect that the lack of cut and dried answers makes it all the more appealing to a certain set of people.

For my money, as I've said before, I suspect that we can't presently do much better than well thought-out calorie restriction, moderate exercise, a good relationship with your physician, and sensible, moderate supplementation - at a cost of at most a few hundred dollars a month, and probably much less, depending on your definition of "sensible, moderate supplementation." You can work a great deal harder and spend a lot more money, but what will you have to show for it? It's a big point to argue, and many people spend a lot of time and effort doing just that."

http://www.fightagin...ives/000294.php