| Posted 30 March 2026 William Meller, MD Skeptic Magazine On February 27, 2026, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast and announced that the FDA is preparing to move approximately 14 experimental peptide compounds off its restricted list and back into the hands of compounding pharmacies. He called himself a “big fan” of peptides. He said he expected the announcement “within a couple of weeks.” One industry executive responded with what he called a prediction: “We’re about to unleash one of the biggest medical experiments in the history of America onto Americans as the test subjects.” He meant it as a good thing. In response, first let me tell you about a patient of mine. Two weeks before I wrote this, a 40-year-old man came into my clinic in acute distress. He was intelligent, fit, and successful—and he was terrified. His throat was swelling. Hives covered his body. … Read the rest Posted 16 March 2026 If there is one claim that should irritate any nutritionist who values scientific evidence, it is the promise that hydrolyzed collagen can reduce wrinkles and visibly improve the skin. This opinion concludes: “When it comes to collagen supplementation, reported benefits generally appear mainly in small, weakly designed, or stakeholder-funded studies. As methodological rigor improves and conflicts of interest lessen, the observed effects tend to decrease and often vanish.” Read the article at the American Council on Science and Health website In the event the article is not available, it is reproduced here: Collagen for Skin Health: Science or Marketing?By Mauro Proença — Mar 12, 2026 At first glance, the idea sounds persuasive. However, after ingestion, the body breaks down collagen, like any other protein, into amino acids and peptides. These compounds enter the bloodstream and support the body’s broader metabolic needs. This fact alone doesn’t … Read the rest Posted 27 February 2026 BBC Michelle Roberts Digital health editor Taking daily collagen supplements can rejuvenate the skin by boosting elasticity and hydration or moisture – but it won’t stop wrinkles, says a new scientific review. Experts looked at the available evidence and say they are highly confident that collagen pills or powder provide “some legitimate” skin gains if taken over time but are no quick fix. The supplements may also ease wear and tear, arthritis joint pain and stiffness, according to the results from 113 trials involving nearly 8,000 people. Collagen is a type of protein made naturally in the body but that declines with age. It supports and strengthens skin, nails, bones and connective tissues, including tendons and cartilage. ‘Collagen is not a cure-all’From early adulthood onwards, the body produces less collagen and existing collagen breaks down at a slightly faster rate. Smoking and sun damage make … Read the rest Posted 29 October 2025 Story by Daryl Austin, USA TODAY Many of today’s most popular supplements can trace their roots to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where plants and fungi were used for healing long before modern wellness trends emerged. So if you’ve ever taken ginseng for stamina, ginger to aid circulation or ginkgo biloba to sharpen focus, you’re doing so thanks to a practice that was first developed thousands of years ago. Here’s what the science actually shows about this intriguing fungus – and why moderation and caution still matter. What is lion’s… Read the rest Posted 05 December 2024 For healthy people, pills, patches and gummies just create ‘expensive urine’. But for those with nutrient deficiencies, vitamin supplements have clear benefits The Guardian Donna Lu Wed 4 Dec 2024 14.00 GMT Supplements are no cottage industry: an estimated third to nearly half of Australians regularly take vitamins or minerals. Hawked by the likes of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, vitamin gummies have in recent years found popularity among millennials and zoomers, who are more receptive to supplements in the form of “powders, liquids and gummies” than older generations. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop – no stranger to dubious health trends – sells its own line of such supplements. On TikTok, influencers who shill multivitamin gummies – and more recently, vitamin patches resembling cutesy, colourful stickers or fine line tattoos – promise glowing skin, lush locks, energy boosts and better sleep. But if it’s real health benefits you’re after, you’re … Read the rest Posted 02 October 2024 Many sellers claim vitamin C supercharges immunity and is useful for preventing or treating diseases other than scurvy. Immunologist and microbiologist Andrea Love, PhD, looked at the issue in an effort to distinguish science from pseudoscience. Excess amounts of vitamin C can lead to serious gastrointestinal issues and “interfere with muscle recovery after exercise or other important immune-related processes,” she writes. Love A. Vitamin C: Scurvy savior or immune overdose? More of a good thing isn’t always better. Skeptical Inquirer, Sept 16, 2024 Dr. Love concluded: While legitimate vitamin C deficiency can impact your health, there’s a big difference between that and claims that excess vitamin C is advantageous. Vitamin C deficiency is uncommon, especially in developed nations. Unfortunately, the wellness industry exploits people’s desire to take control over their health with clever marketing and vague science-adjacent statements. Even in the case of an … Read the rest Posted 19 September 2024 Extract: “Dr. Cohen said no supplement currently on the market can lead to significant weight loss. “It just doesn’t exist,” he said. “If it existed, if it was also safe, it would be widely used and purchased.” Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School who studies supplements. Kourtney Kardashian’s new “GLP-1 Daily” pill is the latest product to capitalize on the weight loss drug craze. By Dani Blum Sept. 17, 2024 New York Times There’s a long list of products that companies and influencers claim can deliver quick and dramatic weight loss, just like Ozempic. There are gummies filled with fruit extract, neon yellow berberine tablets, green teas, even jars of oatmeal and rice steeped in lime water. The latest addition to that list: a weight loss pill released this week by Lemme, Kourtney Kardashian’s supplement company. Weight loss hacks have been around … Read the rest Posted 01 August 2024 Scott Gavura, B.Sc.Phm., M.B.A., RPh. has noted that supplement products of collagen, the major component of connective tissue in the body and the most abundant protein, have been increasingly promoted for the health of skin and hair, and for longevity. Reference: Gavura, S. Collagen supplementation: Hype and hope. Science-Based Medicine, June 6, 2024] He concluded: Based on what collagen is, how it’s absorbed, and how we know collagen is actually synthesized in the body, it’s highly implausible that the tiny amounts of additional protein consumed in most collagen peptide supplements consumed daily will have any meaningful therapeutic effects. Moreover, there is no evidence that if you take a collagen supplement, it will definitively end up in your skin, hair, or joints. Collagen peptides and other forms of collagen are sources of protein that are absorbed and used by the body. But there is no compelling … Read the rest Posted 30 June 2024 Science Alert If only living longer was as easy as popping a pill or two each day. While vitamin supplements might give some individuals the edge against select conditions, in general they’re unlikely to help anybody see any extra birthdays. New research finds that multivitamins won’t help extend your life, although evidence from other studies suggests they may have some health benefits that help people live better in their older years. Researchers at the US National Institute of Health (NIH) pooled data from three large studies surveying more than 390,000 adults about their diet and health to look at multivitamin use and health outcomes over nearly three decades. “Many US adults report using multivitamins to maintain or improve health,” NIH epidemiologist Erikka Loftfield and colleagues write in their published paper. But whether promises of better health translate to a longer life is another question. … Read the rest Posted 29 January 2024 … Read the rest | |