Bonnie and Steve responds to NY Times' article "Dietary Supplement Safety: Some Disquieting Data"

The article was written by Dan Hurley, who just happens to have a new book that came out December 26th entitled, Natural Causes: Death, Lies and Politics in America's Vitamin and Herbal Supplement Industry.

The entire NY Times article can be read at nytimes.com's health section.

The main point of emphasis in Mr. Hurley's piece is a report published by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. The AAPCC has kept statistics on reports of poisonings for every type of substance, including dietary supplements. Mr. Hurley twists these statistics to his benefit, leaving out very important details. For example:

• In 2005, 125,595 incidents were reported related to vitamins, minerals, essential oils, herbs, and other supplements. This is by no means an insignificant number. However, when you compare it to Analgesics' 283,253 incidents alone, it pales in comparison. Vitamins do not even crack the top 15 of substances most frequently involved in human exposures. Mr. Hurley fails to mention this.
  

• Mr. Hurley refers to deaths related to dietary supplements. Of the top 23 categories associated with largest number of reported deaths, dietary supplements are not among them. Mr. Hurley fails to mention this. 15 of the top 23 categories are medications however.

Let's look deeper into the 2005 deaths attributed to dietary supplements that Mr. Hurley singles out:

• Melatonin - intentional suicide attributed to an overdose of Pine Oil, Isopropyl Alcohol, and Melatonin; does one really believe that Melatonin was to blame?

• Chinese Herbal - intentional suicide

• St. John's Wort - no mention of reason for death

• Glucosamine - intentional suicide attributed to an overdose of Naproxen and glucosamine; are we to believe Glucosamine was the culprit?

• Minerals - intentional suicide attributed to an overdose of iron; the other death was unintentional misuse of sodium bicarbonate

Aside from the St. John's Wort and Sodium Bicarbonate, one can see how facts can be twisted to favor one's journalistic slant if one leave's out the fine print..

Note that in 2005 there were no deaths attributed to vitamins.

In no way, shape, or form are we indemnifying dietary supplements from blame. The statistics that Mr. Hurley shows with related to number incidents should be taken seriously. However, we cannot sit back and let Mr. Hurley twist the facts. Many of us do not have the time to read the fine print of a report like the AAPPC's. That is why we are here.

Mr. Hurley also failed to mention that late last year the government passed into law The Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act, which requires marketers of dietary supplements and OTC drugs to inform the FDA if they receive reports of serious adverse events associated with their products. See our response:

http://nutritionalconcepts.blogspot.com/2006/12/nutritionist-applauds-passing-of.html

We have said from the beginning that dietary supplements should be treated with caution and should always be prescribed in conjunction with a health professional, if possible. It is particularly important for those taking medication, if elderly, if very young, or if pregnant/nursing.

When misused, dietary supplements can have adverse effects. When used properly, dietary supplements have an unquestioned safety record. We have 25 years of in-office clinical data to prove it. When comparing the adverse effects and deaths of dietary supplements to pharmaceuticals, it is not even close.

Have a happy, healthy day.

Bonnie and Steve