Pain & Stress Center Products Newsletter         May 15, 2007

The Pain & Stress Center is dedicated to researching natural health remedies to provide you with information and educational resources on natural therapies.  There are links to our web site if you need additional information on our products. Whether or not you use our products, we believe the information we are giving will be helpful to you in making informed decisions about your and your loved ones' health. Read newsletter archives >

Heartburn | Cholesterol | Ginger | Antioxidant Study |  Pill Bags  | FAQ
 

Alarming antioxidant trials soundly discredited
by nutrition experts

An analysis of supplemental antioxidants published earlier this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association has been criticized as flawed by several health and nutrition experts.

The study has drawn criticism from both inside and outside the dietary supplements industry concerning the methodology applied, and the conclusions drawn. The diverse nature of several studies pooled for the analysis was described by one industry expert as comparing "apples to oranges."

Likewise, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, who was not connected to the antioxidant study, told the Associated Press that the studies reviewed were too different to be able to pool them together. "This study does not advance our understanding, and could easily lead to misinterpretation of the data," Stampfer told the Associated Press.

. . . if a true mortality risk had been apparent
in any of these clinical studies using antioxidants,
the study would have been halted, but none were

Bill Sardi, consumer advocate and president of Knowledge of Health, Inc., San Dimas, Calif. commented on the flawed studies saying,

“These researchers are mistakenly frightening the public away from antioxidant vitamin supplements while ignoring the drawbacks of the drug therapies they so frequently prescribe.”

Reviewers of the study who interviewed industry leaders reported "Most trials investigated the effects of supplements administered at higher doses than those commonly found in a balanced diet, and some of the trials used doses well above the recommended daily allowances and even above the tolerable upper intake level."

The study has been slammed by the US-based Council for Responsible Nutrition, that states the researchers' "misuse[d] meta-analysis methods to create generalized conclusions that may inappropriately confuse and alarm consumers who can benefit from supplementing with antioxidants."

Moreover, Andrew Shao, Ph.D., CRN's vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs said that the combined studies were far too diverse and different in terms of dosage, duration, study population and nutrients tested that the results of the analysis were "compromised". Dr. Shao states that "Combining secondary prevention and primary prevention trials and then making conclusions for the entire population is an unsound scientific approach."

Daniel Fabricant, vice president of scientific affairs for Natural Products Association (NPA), another US-based trade association, supported this view, stating that the criteria for the study "is wrong on many levels." Fabricant also stated that if a true mortality risk had been apparent in any of these clinical studies using antioxidants, the study would have been halted, but none were.

References: Excerpt: nutraingredients-usa.com "Study links antioxidant supplements to increased mortality" Source: Journal of the American Medical Association February 28 2007, Volume 297, Pages 842-857 "Mortality in Randomized Trials of Antioxidant Supplements for Primary and Secondary Prevention: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" Authors: G. Bjelakovic; D. Nikolova; L. Lotte Gluud; R.G. Simonetti; C. Gluud Excerpt: Leslie Beck, R.D. at www.lesiebeck.com

How to Reach Us

 To order products: 1-800-669-2256
Website: www.painstresscenter.com
Email Address: news@painstresscenter.com
For questions about how to use Pain & Stress Center Products: 210-614-7246

This newsletter is sent to you because your address is on the Pain & Stress Center mailing list. We apologize if you have received this message in error. If you do not wish to receive further editions of the special offers from us, click here to UNSUBSCRIBE: unsubscribe@painstresscenter.com

This mailing has been performed by The Pain & Stress Center, 5282 Medical Dr. #160, San Antonio, TX 78229 USA. We comply with all rules and regulations included in the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003.