"Nutriceuticals": Don't Believe the Hype

I rarely discuss medical issues in my posts, which is somewhat odd since apparently in the near future I’ll have DO attached to the end of my name.

But, as I was reading different treatment options for Parkinson’s Disease, I came across the use of Vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin with known anti-oxidant properties. Then later in the evening I saw an infomercial with Kevin Trudeau promoting his new book entitled something like, Natural Cures “They” Don’t Want You to Know About.” “They” encompasses the entire medical field from practicing physicians, to research physicians all the way to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

One of Trudeau’s claims is that he has a cure for diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Interestingly he does not clarify what type of diabetes nor does he detail his magical cure (perhaps it is in his book). A statement that there is a cure for diabetes type II could have some validity that is there certainly are preventive measures one could take to avoid acquiring insulin resistance. For instance, eating a healthy diet void of foods high in processed sugar, drinking water instead of soda and regular exercise can, in an extremely loose usage of the word, “cure” diabetes.

However, the notion that type I diabetes mellitus, a hypothesized autoimmune disease in which one’s own body destroys pancreatic beta cells leaving the individual with no insulin, is curable is insulting.

Trudeau continued to make several other outrageous claims. In fact in 2003 he settled a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission due to his erroneous claims. As a result of this lawsuit he was banned from promoting any of his books or products. (So why am I watching him? Chris help me out!)

Are “nutriceuticals” more effective and safer than traditional pharmacological treatments? Yes and no. On a case-to-case basis, perhaps supplements help more. However, no large scale, controlled, randomized, double blind study has verified that supplements are safer or more effective than medications.

For example, Vitamin E was thought to be protective against stroke, heart attack and cancer. In the Mediterranean Diet study, Vitamin was not found to be preventive of any of these primary end-points, even after adjustments were made for age, sex, medical history, etc. It has not been shown to be an effective treatment in Parkison's Disease either.

Furthermore, the FDA does not regulate the administration of herbal and vitamin remedies. Therefore, doses may vary between different brand names. This is particularly dangerous if the patient takes supplements and medications concomitantly. For instance, St. John’s Wort is thought to help alleviate depression. It also inhibits the metabolism of warfarin (a blood thinner), which leads to elevated warfarin levels and increases the risk of hemorrhage.

Individuals should be encouraged to take certain supplements. Females of child-bearing age who are thinking about conceiving should begin taking folic acid, because folic acid has been shown to decrease neural tube defects, i.e., spina bifida in neonates. Perimenopausal females should take calcium and Vitamin D supplements to avoid bone loss and osteoporosis. Finally, chondroitin gluconate has been shown to help reduce the progression of cartilage loss in osteoarthritis.

Don’t buy into people who say pharmaceuticals are inferior to “nutriceuticals”, like Kevin Trudeau. However, do not discard supplements as unsafe or less effective than traditional medications. Discuss the use of any supplements with your physician before beginning a regular “nutriceutical” regimen.