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From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner)
Newsgroups: net.med,net.consumers
Subject: Re: Re: Warning are sought on Vitamin Supplements
Message-ID: <2312@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Mar-86 22:34:34 EST
Article-I.D.: aecom.2312
Posted: Mon Mar 10 22:34:34 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Mar-86 04:23:49 EST
References: <239@bu-cs.UUCP>
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 39
Xref: watmath net.med:3564 net.consumers:4504

> 
> >	"The FDA should initiate consumer protection measures, including a
> >printed caution on all supplement labels and packaging, warning consumers
> >that vitamins and minerals won't prevent disease and that the long term
> >consequences of long-term frequent use are unknown," Dr. Heber said.
> 
> The article quoted almost sounds reasonable, then you hit a paragraph like
> this. Of course vitamins prevent disease (scurvy, rickets, beri-beri),
> they just don't prevent some diseases. 

	Before the nit-picking starts, I'd like to explain a few things about
the source, American Medical News.  It is not a refereed journal.  It is
prepared by journalists, and is of a quality somewhat less than the New York
Times.  Any given quote from AMN is there more because it sounds good than its
intrinisic content (as long as all factual information is correct). 

	But "they just don't prevent some diseases" is just as facile.  
Vitamins don't prevent MOST diseases, or "Disease" with a capital D. Each
Vitamin is such because its absence produces a set defined disease state or
states.  Any claims to the contrary are just that, "claims."

	Going further, I don't think the ideas of pamphlets will work. Try
convincing 'General Nutrition' to put pamphlets on its counter whose net
effect would be to discourage 95% of its business.
	On a related subject, have you ever noticed in such stores all the
books are away from the Vitamins and supplements.  There is a reason for that.
Vitamin companies (many publish these books) are allowed to lie, to exagerate,
to present completely one sided opinions that border on blatant advertising
or fraud,  AS LONG AS THEY DON'T DO IT ON THE LABEL.  Hence, they publish
the books.  However, it was ruled that a book sold along with the vitamin it
promotes counts as a "label" and after several successful prosecutions, the
trade journal for "health food" stores warned about keeping the books and
the vitamins within arms reached.
	(A good account of this is in Victor Herbert's book.)
-- 

				Craig Werner
				!philabs!aecom!werner
                     "Well that's my story, not that it matters..."