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Drug-related liver injury: call for better regulation of supplements

By on 26 July, 2021 in Garcinia
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Posted 26 July 2021

Medical Journal Australia – InSight 

DOCTORS at a Sydney liver transplant centre have raised concerns about the rising rate of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) cases linked to herbal and dietary supplements, warning these cases are often at the severest end of the spectrum.

Paracetamol remains the drug most commonly linked to DILI, a study of DILI cases at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre found.

There were 115 paracetamol-related cases and 69 non-paracetamol related cases at the centre over the 12 years to 2020. Of the non-paracetamol DILI cases, antibiotics and antifungals were the most commonly implicated medicines (19 cases). However, the proportion of cases linked with herbal and dietary supplements (15 cases) grew steadily over the period, from 15% to 47% of the non-paracetamol cases.

Cases linked with herbal or dietary supplements had especially poor prognoses, the study found, with 90-day … Read the rest

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UK ASA Ruling on Yorktest Laboratories Ltd / IgG Food Intolerance testing

By on 12 July, 2021 in ASA (UK) Rulings, IgG Test, ImuPro
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Posted 12 July 2021

Three complainants challenged whether the claim “YorkTest define Food Intolerance as a food-specific IgG reaction”, and the overall impression of both ads that the test would inform consumers if they had a food intolerance, was misleading and could be substantiated. Another complainant challenged whether the efficacy claims about migraines in both ads and depression in ad (b) were misleading and could be substantiated.

The UK ASA concluded the evidence was insufficient to support the claims.

Similar companies in South Africa make the same unfair claims, .e.g., ImuPro.

ASA Ruling on YorkTest Laboratories Ltd

  • 23 June 2021 ASA

Background

Summary of Council decision:

Two issues were investigated, both of which were upheld.

Ad description

A TV ad and website for YorkTest:

a. The TV ad, seen on 29 January 2018, featured a woman described in on-screen text as a “Nutritionist YorkTest Laboratories” standing in a kitchen in

… Read the rest
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UK ASA Ruling on Bio-Medical Research Ltd t/a Slendertone

By on 12 July, 2021 in ASA (UK) Rulings, Slendertone
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Posted 12 July 2021

An UK TV ad for Slendertone, a toning belt, seen in January and February 2019. A voice-over stated, “Meet Slendertone, your personal body toner, who firms and tones your abs, helps shape your waistline and easily fits in with your lifestyle. Clinically proven with results from four weeks. Look and feel amazing.” This product is similar to the advert shown on DSTV for Neotex Hot Belt.

The UK ASA concluded: “We concluded that the impression given by the ad, that the product was able to affect the size of the waist by visibly firming and toning the abdominal muscles, had not been substantiated and that the ad was therefore misleading.”

ASA Ruling on Bio-Medical Research Ltd t/a Slendertone

  • 10 March 2021 ASA

Background

Summary of Council decision:

Two issues were investigated, one of which was Upheld. The other was informally resolved after the advertiser agreed to

… Read the rest
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UK ASA Ruling on DNAfit Life Sciences Ltd t/a DNAfit

By on 12 July, 2021 in ASA (UK) Rulings, DNA
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Posted 12 July 2021

Similar to the South African company, DNA Analysis, who claims that they are able to create a diet based on your DNA, this UK company made similar claims. The UK ASA found insufficient evidence to support their claims.

ASA Ruling on DNAfit Life Sciences Ltd t/a DNAfit

  • 31 March 2021 ASA

A paid-for ad on Instagram for DNAfit, seen on 29 September 2019, featured an animated double helix and captions that stated “We’re DNA. We know all about your body. Fast twitch muscle fibres give you power. Slow give you endurance. And that’s not all we can tell you. Order your kit now at DNAfit.com”. A caption under the animation stated “Unlock the secret to your ideal diet, vitamin need and exercise response”.

Issue

The complainant, who believed DNA testing could not be used to determine an individual’s diet, vitamin and exercise needs, challenged

… Read the rest
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Evidence lacking for “alternative” weight-loss therapies

By on 7 July, 2021 in Evaluating evidence, Other
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Posted 07 July 2021

A systematic review of published research evaluating the efficacy of dietary supplements and “alternative therapies” for weight loss among people at least 18 years of age has found that supportive evidence is weak. Many clinical trials were also hampered by a significant risk of bias due to inconsistent testing methods. Problems with studies include small sample sizes, short follow-up periods, and poor study designs.
Reference: Batsis JA. A systematic review of dietary supplements and alternative therapies for weight loss. Obesity, June 23, 2021

Key findings included:

  • Out of 315 randomized controlled trials included in the review, 52 were classified as having a low risk of bias, of which 16 demonstrated significant weight changes for tested therapies compared to placebo.
  • No high-quality evidence supported acupuncture, calcium-vitamin D supplementation, chocolate/cocoa, phenylpropanolamine, guar gum, Phaseolus vulgaris, pyruvate, and mind-body interventions as weight-loss
… Read the rest
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Companies warned about misleading “FDA registration certificates.”

By on 7 July, 2021 in Evaluating evidence
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Posted 07 July 2021

The FDA has ordered 25 companies to stop issuing documents that state that a medical device has been registered with the FDA. The certificates often look like official government documents, and many display the FDA logo. The agency believes that the certificates falsely imply that a device has been evaluated, cleared, or approved as effective for its intended purposes. The FDA does not issue any type of device registration certificate, and registration does not denote approval or clearance of a manufacturer or its devices. It merely means that certain information has been provided to the FDA.
Reference: Barrett S. FDA orders 25 companies to stop issuing misleading “FDA registration certificates.” Device Watch, July 4, 2021

The marketers of Healy bioresonance devices are using a certificate which states that their device has been cleared. Although the recent FDA action concerned registration certificates, the same principles … Read the rest

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Evidence for claims in weight-loss ads is slimmer than you’ll be

By on 5 July, 2021 in Herbex
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Posted 05 July 2021

Was Pinterest right to ban advertising for diet products on its platform?

Wendy Knowler TimesLive 04 July 2021

Pinterest has banned all weight loss ads on its platform, as part of its policy not to support body shaming advertising.

It will no longer allow ads containing testimonials about losing weight, references to body mass indexes, or those that “idealise or denigrate” certain body types.

The company is the first major tech platform to prohibit weight loss ads.

Apparently the US National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) advised Pinterest on the policy change.

“NEDA is encouraged by this necessary step in prioritising the mental health and wellbeing of Pinners, especially those affected by diet culture, body shaming and eating disorders,” said Elizabeth Thompson, interim CEO for the association, in the release.

“We are hopeful this global policy will encourage other organisations and companies to reflect on potentially harmful

… Read the rest
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South America’s bitter divide over a toxic ‘Covid cure’ (MMS)

By on 1 July, 2021 in Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS)
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Posted 01 July 2021

“The protest was organized by an organisation called Comusav, a Spanish acronym for ‘Global Coalition for Health and Life’. They said they were defending their rights to life and health, but their true cause was demanding their government accept a toxic chemical as a treatment for Covid-19.

Chlorine dioxide, the apparent cure they were clamouring for, is not only ineffective against Covid-19, but it can cause life-threatening dehydration and acute liver failure. It is considered hazardous for human consumption by health authorities all over the world, including those in Peru. Its promoters have had face-offs with doctors and have even been prosecuted by authorities for years, but the coronavirus pandemic gave them their biggest showcase so far.”

This article on the BBC’s website, examines how Chlorine dioxide (MMS)(Miracle Mineral Solution) is being promoted in South America with false claims that it is effective for Covid.

Continue … Read the rest

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