I was reading stale newspaper from days, maybe even a week old. Flipping through headlines, reading excerpts, scanning articles and a ‘Health Supplement’ capsule ad took a quarter page. It got my attention as it was selling a product that claims to be proven to increase brain memory functions.
Hmm… I took a pause. Read the entire ad from big fonts to fine print. There was no sign of a FDA logo nor an approval. I suppose that since its a considered a ‘health supplement’ compared to ‘over-the-counter’ and ‘prescription’ medications, the FDA requirement are much less stringent. However, the key-points of this ad says that it’s ‘clinically’ proven with a ‘large’ pool of tested subjects vs. placebo, in an ‘extended’ length of period. That’s all great with the scientifically parameters to be tested as ‘safe’ for consumption.
I’m not trying to be a jerk or a pain in the ass. When even contraceptive inserts in a woman’s body are now being investigated that after years of clinical trials that there is a percentage of women experiencing more than minor problems – to further find out that some of the clinical trial reports are somewhat done haphazardly without thoroughness…
Then, to me, I question the claims of the supplement advertisement, not so much on the scientific methods to be using the word ‘clinically proven’, but who are the subjects in the pool? Randomized selection of subjects from a larger pool of patients? What were the measures and tests to prove that the subjects have truly improved their health – in the SHORT TERM? AND, in the LONG TERM? Were the subjects interviewed and tested again through an X-period of time to prove its efficacy?
- Should there be more restrictive measures on health supplements?
- What about the difference between herbal, all natural, organic compared to a chemical compound (or mixed)?
- We go into any health store now these days and the number of health supplement bottles on the rack, it feels to me that I went into a ‘Jelly Bean’ candy store. Other than reading from magazines, through word of mouth, TV shows – who knows what’s best for me?
- Do I need a ‘one-day complete’, or do I need a ‘specific’ herbal and/or vitamin combo?
- If my family Doctor says I’m ok, does it mean that I don’t need any? But my reliable pharmacist says that it’s no harm to take an herbal/health supplement? Who knows?
- Should Doctors, Physicians work along with Nutritionists and Pharmacists to come up with the most tailored supplement necessary for my lifestyle? For my needs – that enhances my energy levels? Immune system? Preventive measures because of genetic make-up that cholesterol or diabetes runs in the family?
I mumbled to myself for a bit longer. It got me to think further on some of the medications TV/magazine ads that require a Physician/Doctor ‘prescription’. For a 30-second TV ad-space, the first 10-seconds says how good it is to cure a certain illness and/or symptoms. Then for the rest of the ad is all the ‘DON’Ts’ and ‘NOTs’, ‘CANNOTs’ be taken with, etc… If a medication comes with a whole list of these, it sounds more like ‘complications’ than ‘proven’ to be effective, at least in my point of view. Besides, it sounds like my life is going to go down the tubes where my lifestyle has to be completely be altered to a point where it doesn’t sound that I can enjoy my time, no?
Don’t get me wrong. I do see that it’s great that pharmaceuticals are trying as hard as they could with bio-chemistists to come up with new solutions, new breakthroughs to cure illnesses that we’ve never dreamt that it would be possible. But are we really coming up with medications that are positively helping patients – in the long run?
Thanks to FDA that we’re protected with anything that we can possibly put in our mouths and through the digestive system. However, times have changed through the years, the way we approach ‘medications’ along with ‘health supplements’ are different. Before one of these bottles of ‘Jelly Beans’ in the long run is actually causing abnormalities in human cells reproductions that may or may not cause cancer; a pricey class-action lawsuit that damages not only patients on good health that no compensation can be paid for with money – but also damaging our nation’s standard on being the forefront in medical/health field. Should there be someway to monitor the progress on ‘prescriptions’ vs. ‘health supplements’?
The thing is it may seem that it’s a step forward. What if the step forward is only for the short term? After the short term to discover that you may have to walk two steps back and realize that you are in actually worse health condition than before you took the step… So, is it all worthwhile after all?
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Thoughts from Arnold 