Preventive Health Care Week: Busting health product myths

Some 'prevention' treatments are gimmicks that don't offer buyers any physical benefits

October 28, 2009|By Julie Deardorff and Judith Graham | Tribune staff reporters

An ounce of prevention ... often adds up to a pound of malarkey. Whether it's a tablet to take with alcohol to prevent a beer belly, or a chocolaty, sweetened breakfast cereal that's fortified to "support" your child's immune system, experts say most preventive health products are of little, if any, value.

"If there were 'prevention' products they'd be bottled and sold by drug companies," said Canadian obesity expert and family medicine physician Yoni Freedhoff. "The only one I know is diet and exercise."

There's no shortage of products where you should think twice before laying out money, but here are 10:


The claim: A natural way to boost energy, mood and libido and prevent menopause symptoms.

Buyer beware: Doctors currently advise against any kind of long-term hormone therapy for menopause. Although marketers allege that plant-derived bio-identical hormones are just like hormones that circulate in women's bodies, there's no way to know if that's true. There's also no independent oversight of their manufacture; most are individually prepared for customers by pharmacies that customize ingredients and doses.

In January 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned seven companies that marketing claims about bio-identical hormones are "unsupported by medical evidence" and "false and misleading." Companies wrongly tout the plant-derived hormones as superior to prescription medications, the FDA said.

"Just because they're natural doesn't mean they're good for you," said Dr. Cora Lewis, professor of preventive medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. "No one has studied these bio-identical products. What's in them, we don't know, and there's no data about safety or efficacy."


The claim: Slows the aging process and may help prevent heart disease and cancer.

Buyer beware: The evidence is mixed on resveratrol, a chemical that is found in grapes, peanuts and blueberries and is abundant in red wine. Though it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties in lab animals, the benefits haven't been proved for humans.

Oddly, the chemical sometimes acts as an estrogen-like agent -- possibly raising the risk of certain cancers -- while at other times it has anti-estrogen properties, according to the University of California at Berkeley's Wellness Letter. Resveratrol also can either protect cells from oxidative stress or harm them, depending on the circumstances.

"It appears, so far, to be safe, but its long-term effects are an open question," wrote Wellness Letter editors. "Until more is known, get your resveratrol from your diet" or a glass of wine.


The claim: Supplements, pills, inhalers, lozenges, vitamins, air sterilizers, ultraviolet lights, etc., ward off swine flu.

Buyer beware: Only two prescription antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, are approved for use in people at risk of contracting swine flu. Some knockoff versions marketed on the Internet lack a crucial active ingredient, oseltamivir, or contain insufficient levels, according to the FDA, which recommends using "extreme care" when buying any purported flu-fighting products online.

The government has warned dozens of Internet outfits to stop selling products that promise to prevent swine flu without any backup proof. Scams will likely continue throughout the flu season, warns the Federal Trade Commission, which is also monitoring the situation.

The best way to ward off swine flu is to be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. Also, avoid contact with sick people, wash your hands frequently and follow healthy practices: Eat well, drink lots of liquids and get plenty of sleep.


The claim: Can help prevent heart disease and cancer.

Buyer beware: Experts no longer believe supplementing diets with Vitamin E might protect against heart disease and cancer after studies failed to show benefits and noted possible harms, such as a slightly higher risk of death.

It's possible that certain subgroups -- for instance, older adults -- may be aided by Vitamin E supplementation, but that isn't clear yet.

For that matter, taking any single vitamin isn't such a good idea, said Linda Van Horn, professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. The body needs a finely tuned balance of vitamins and minerals; taking just one can disrupt the metabolic system and lead to unanticipated health consequences. Of course, people with vitamin deficiencies may need supplementation and should consult their doctors, Van Horn said.


The claim: Flushing warm water -- sometimes infused with herbs, probiotics or coffee -- through the lower bowel removes stagnant, toxic waste and can enhance overall health, preventing a variety of conditions.