NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013 NEWS

November 3 - O’Connor published an article Article entitled “Herbal Supplements Are Often Not What They Seem.” The article describes a Paper by Newmaster and others (BMC Medicine 11, 222 (2013), which used the technique of “DNA barcoding.” This “uses state-of-the art biotechnology to help identify plant material based on short, standardized gene sequences…” The authors examined 44 herbal products being sold in stores or available for mail order. There were high levels of materials not listed on the labels, including substitution for the supposed active ingredient, reduction of its level with “fillers,” and hazardous contaminants.

November 4 - A meta-analysis by Onakpoya and others (Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 54, 17-23 (2013) Abstract) concluded that “The evidence from randomized clinical trials does not convincingly show that pyruvate is efficacious in reducing body weight.”

November 12 - Yang and others reviewed the relationship between long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (found in fish oil) and asthma (PLoS One 8, e80048 (2013) Paper). For adults, there was little correlation. For children, the results indicate that the fatty acids “may be beneficial to prevent asthma.”

November 17 - Stephen Barrett has published “A Skeptical Look at the OligoScan” on Device Watch. This “is a hand-held spectrophotometry device that is claimed to offer ‘instant intra-tissue mineral and toxic metal testing.’” Barrett found no evidence that the device can make meaningful measurements or is useful for guiding treatment.

November 18 - Yet another Critique of the cancer therapy of Stanlislaw Burzynski has been provided by L. Szabo, in an article entitled “Doctor Accused of Selling False Hope to Families.”

November 28 - Fritz and others published a review of soy, red clover, and isoflavones for breast cancer patients (PLoS One 8, e81968 (2013) Paper). Trials of soy for hot flashes showed no effect. “Soy intake consistent with that of a traditional Japanese diet...may be protective against breast cancer and recurrence.” Evidence concerning red clover is limited. “While there is no clear evidence of harm, better evidence confirming safety is required before high dose (≥ 100 mg) isoflavones can be recommended for breast cancer patients.”

November 29 - A Cochrane Review (CD010063 (2013)) found “no current reliable evidence to inform firm decisions about the efficacy and safety of CrP [chromium picolinate] supplements in overweight or obese adults.”

December - Ruha published “Recommendations for Provoked Challenge Urine Testing” (J. Med. Toxicol. 9, 318-325 (2013) Abstract). The method is used by advocates of chelation therapy to test for heavy metal toxicity prior to recommendations for treatment. The author concludes, “Current evidence does not support the use of DMPS, DMSA, or other chelation challenge tests for the diagnosis of metal toxicity. Since there are no established reference ranges for provoked urine samples in healthy subjects, no reliable evidence to support a diagnostic value for the tests, and potential harm, these tests should not be utilized.”

December - A review by Sung and others (JAMA Pediatr. 167, 1150-1157 (2013) Abstract) concluded that “Although L. reuteri may be effective as treatment for crying in exclusively breastfed infants with colic, there is still insufficient evidence to support probiotic use to manage colic, especially in formula-fed infants.”

December 4 – In another paper dealing with probiotics, Azad and others found “no evidence to support a protective association between perinatal use of probiotics and doctor diagnosed asthma or childhood wheeze. Randomised controlled trials to date have not yielded sufficient evidence to recommend probiotics for the primary prevention of these disorders.” (BMJ 347, f6471 (2013) Paper) An editorial by Osborn and Sinn (347, f7138) discusses the findings.

December 10 – A Cochrane Review (CD001395) found that “No conclusive evidence shows that phytoestrogen supplements effectively reduce the frequency or severity of hot flushes and night sweats in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women, although benefits derived from concentrates of genistein should be further investigated.”

December 12 – Zhang and others (Neuroepidemiology 42, 50-58 (2014) Paper) concluded that “The available evidence suggests that acupuncture may be effective for treating poststroke neurological impairment and dysfunction such as dysphagia, although these reported benefits should be verified in large, well-controlled studies. On the other hand, the available evidence does not clearly indicate that acupuncture can help prevent poststroke death or disability, or ameliorate other aspects of stroke recovery, such as poststroke motor dysfunction.”

December 16 – According to a Story by K. Kelland, “Scientists derided research published on Tuesday that suggested ear acupuncture may help people lose weight, saying the study's design was flawed and its conclusions highly implausible.” Flaws include small sample size, short duration, high drop-out rate, and “questionable statistics.”

December 17 – A set of three papers, plus an editorial, in Annals of Internal Medicine argued against the idea that vitamin and mineral supplements are beneficial in the prevention of disease in individuals without known nutritional deficiencies Story. Lamas and others (159, 797-804 (2013) Abstract) reported effects of high-dose oral multivitamins and multiminerals on patients who had had myocardial infarctions (this was part of the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy). They found that the supplements “did not statistically significantly reduce cardiovascular events in patients after MI who received standard medications. However, this conclusion is tempered by the nonadherence rate.” As part of the Physicians’ Health Study II, Grodstein and others followed the effect of multivitamin supplementation on cognitive function over a 12-year period (159, 806-814 (2013) Abstract). They found no benefit. Fortmann and others reviewed studies of supplements in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer (159, 824-834 (2013) Paper). They concluded that “Limited evidence supports any benefit from vitamin and mineral supplementation for the prevention of cancer or CVD. Two trials found a small, borderline-significant benefit from multivitamin supplements on cancer in men only and no effect on CVD.” An Editorial by Gualler et al. (159, 850-851 (2013)), discussing the three papers, was entitled “Enough Is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements.” Several letters commenting on the Fortmann paper, as well as a response from the authors, appeared in the May 6 issue (160, 654-656 (2014)).

December 17 – A review of acupuncture for fibromyalgia (Cao et al., Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med. 2013, 362831 (2013) Paper) concluded that “Acupoint stimulation appears to be effective in treating fibromyalgia compared with medications. However, further large, rigorously designed trials are warranted due to insufficient methodological rigor in the included trials.” Acupuncture was no more effective than sham acupuncture, indicating that benefits are placebo effects.

December 21 – A Story by A. O’Connor was entitled “Spike in Harm to Liver Is Tied to Dietary Aids.” Among the dangerous products noted were “fat burners,” including green tea extract.

December 30 – The Healthy Weight Network announced its 2013 "Slim Chance Award" Winners, for the “most questionable weight loss products, plans, claims & gimmicks.” Among them were:

The “Special K Challenge,” which claims that “a weight loss of up to 6 pounds in 14 days will occur” (the rapid weight loss could lead to a “yo-yo diet cycle,” and the heavy content of processed grain products “may even contribute to chronic inflammation”).

Non-Invasive Body Contouring Procedures (such as liposuction lasers), which “feed body dissatisfaction and encourage unhealthy behaviors,” and disappointment when results aren’t as good as hoped for.

The Cotton Ball Diet, in which cotton balls dipped in juice are eaten to provide a feeling of fullness. “Risks include a blockage in the digestive system, which could result in surgery.”

The Tongue Patch Diet, in which a plastic mesh fitted to the tongue makes chewing painful. This is not a healthy approach to weight loss.