A SCIENTIFIC LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Thomas J. Wheeler, Ph.D.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Louisville School of Medicine
ON-LINE READING FOR FEBRUARY 7, 2006
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS; WEIGHT LOSS
* = required reading for students in the course
Dietary supplements - general
* Blendon, R.J. et al. (2001) “Americans’ Views on the Use and Regulation of Dietary Supplements” Arch. Intern. Med. 161, 805-810 [abstract]
FDA, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (2005) Dietary Supplements
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2006) “What’s in the Bottle? An Introduction to Dietary Supplements
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
• “Dietary Supplements: Background Information”
• “Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Fact Sheets” - contains articles on vitamins A, B6, B12, D, E and K; and calcium, chromium, folate, iron, magnesium, selenium, and zinc
International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements database
Hasler, C. M. (1999) “Functional Foods: Their Role in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion”
Miller, K.L. et al. (2004) “Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Biologically Based Approaches” Am. Heart J. 147, 401-411 [abstract]
NCCAM (2006) “Treating Type 2 Diabetes With Dietary Supplements”
Gotay, C.G. and Dumitriu, D. (2000) “Health Food Store Recommendations for Breast Cancer Patients” Arch. Fam. Med. 9, 692-698 [abstract]
Ball, S.D. et al. (2005) “Dietary Supplement Use Is Prevalent Among Children With a Chronic Illness” J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 105, 78-84 [abstract]
Bender, D.A. (2002) “Daily Doses of Multivitamin Tablets” BMJ 325, 173-174 [editorial] (“Regular consumption will probably do you no good, with a few exceptions”)
Deseret News (2005) “Healthy Business: Snake Oil or Cure-All? Nutrition Supplements Are Booming in Utah”
Lichtenstein, A.H. and Russell, R.M. (2005) “Essential Nutrients: Food or Supplements? Where Should the Emphasis Be? ”JAMA 294, 351-358 [abstract]
Dietary supplements, general - critiques
Barrett, S. (2001) "The Mirage of Multilevel Marketing"
MLM Watch site (multilevel marketing)
Palmer, M.E. et al. (2003) “Adverse Events Associated with Dietary Supplements: an Observational Study” Lancet 361, 101-106 [abstract]
Boullata, J. (2005) “Natural Health Product Interactions With Medication” Nutr. Clin. Pract. 20, 33-51 [abstract]
Shermer, M. (2005) “Hope Springs Eternal: Can Nutritional Supplements, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology Help Us Live Forever?” Scientific American, July, 28
Labeling and regulation
* Kurtzweil, P. (1998) "An FDA Guide to Dietary Supplements" FDA Consumer, Sept.-Oct., 28-35
FDA (1995) “Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994"
Kurtzweil, P. (1998) "Staking a Claim to Good Health: FDA and Science Stand Behind Health Claims on Food" FDA Consumer, Nov.-Dec.
FDA Talk Paper (2000) “FDA Finalizes Rules for Claims on Dietary Supplements”
Meadows, M. (2004) “Ensuring the Safety of Dietary Supplements” FDA Consumer, July-Aug.
Barrett, S. (2000) “How the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 Weakened the FDA”
Zeisel, S. (1999) “Regulation of ‘Nutraceuticals’” Science 285, 1853-1855 [abstract]
Stokstad, E. (2004) “IOM Recommends Action on Dietary Supplements” Science 304, 188 [abstract]
Dietary supplements - specific topics (individual trials listed if not covered in journal review articles)
Studies on dietary intake of multiple vitamins and prevention of disease:
• Smith-Warner, S.A. et al. (2001) JAMA 285, 769-776 [abstract] [breast cancer]
• van Gils et al. (2005) JAMA 293, 183-193 [abstract] [breast cancer]
• Muntwyler, J. et al. (2002) Arch. Intern. Med. 162, 1472-1476 [abstract] [heart disease]
• Engelhart et al. (2002) JAMA 287, 3223-3229 [abstract] [Alzheimer’s]
• Morris et al. (2002) JAMA 287, 3230-3237 [abstract] [Alzheimer’s]
• Luchsinger et al. (2003) Arch. Neurol. 60, 203-208 [abstract] [Alzheimer’s]
• Vokó et al. (2003) Neurology 61, 1273-1275 [abstract] [stroke]
Meta-analysis on supplements of multiple vitamins for prevention of cancer: Bjelakovic, G. et al. (2004) Lancet 364, 1219-1228 [abstract] [gastrointestinal cancers]
Editorials and recommendations on supplements of multiple vitamins for prevention of heart disease:
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2003) “Recommendations and Rationale: Routine Vitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease”
• Kuller, L.H. (2001) Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 21, 1253
• Kris-Etherton, P.M. et al. (2004) Circulation 110, 637-641
Meta-analysis on supplements of multiple vitamins for prevention of disease:
• Vivekananthan, D.P. et al. (2003) Lancet 361, 2017-2023 [abstract] [heart disease]
• Etminan, M. et al. (2005) Lancet Neurobiology 4, 362-365 [abstract] [Parkinson’s]
Studies of supplements of multiple vitamins for prevention or progression of diseases:
• Barringer, T.A. et al. (2003) Ann. Intern. Med. 138, 365-371 [abstract with link to free full text (pdf file)] [infection, quality of life]
• Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group (2001) Arch. Ophthalmol. 119, 1417-1436 [abstract] [macular degeneration]
• Masaki, K.H. et al. (2000) Neurology 54, 1265-1272 [abstract] [dementia]
• Zandi, P.P. et al. (2004) Arch. Neurol. 61, 82-88 [abstract] [Alzheimer’s]
• Avenell et al. (2005) BMJ 331, 324-217 [infections in elderly]
“Crackdown on ‘Andro’ Products” FDA Consumer, May-June 2004
Studies of androstenedione:
• Broeder, C.E. et al. (2000) Arch. Intern. Med. 160, 3093-3104 [abstract]
• Beckham, S.G. and Earnest, C.P. (2003) Br. J. Sports Med. 37, 212-218
Barrett, S. (2005) “Antioxidants and Other Phytochemicals”
D’Andrea, G.M. (2005) “Use of Antioxidants During Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Should Be Avoided” CA 55, 319-321
Barrett, S. (1999) “Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, and Propolis”
Studies on ß-carotene and incidence of cancer and heart disease
• Lee, I.-M. et al. (1999) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 91, 2102-2106 [abstract]
• Editorial comment: Marshall, J.R., “ß-Carotene: a Miss for Epidemiology” J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 91. 2068-2069
• Baron, J.A. et al. (2003) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 95, 717-722 [abstract]
Barrett, S. (2003) “Algae: False Claims and Hype”
Barrett, S. (2004) “Be Wary of Coral Calcium and Robert Barefoot”
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements (2004) “Carnitine: The Science Behind a Conditionally Essential Nutrient”
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet “Chromium”
Reviews on chromium:
• Althuis, M.D. et al. (2002)” Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 76, 148-155 [abstract]
• Vincent, J.B. (2003) Sports Med. 33, 213-230 [abstract]
Reviews on coenzyme Q10:
• Bonakdar, R.A. and Guarneri, E. (2005) American Family Physician 72, 1065-1070 [general review]
• Weant, K.A. and Smith, K.M. (2005) Ann. Pharmacother. 39, 1522-1526 [abstract] [heart failure]
Pontolillo, J. (1998) “Colloidal Mineral Supplements: Unnecessary and Potentially Hazardous”
NCCAM Herbs at a Glance (2005) “Cranberry”
Lulinski, B. (1999) “Creatine Supplementation”
Rae, C. et al. (2003) “Oral Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation Improves Brain Performance: a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Trial” Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 270, 2147-2150 [abstract]
Articles on risks of creatine:
• Bailes, J.E. et al. (2002) Neurosurgery 51, 283-288 [abstract]
• Brudnak, M.A. (2004) Toxicol. Lett. 150, 123-130 [abstract]
Lin, A.B. (2005) “DHEA: Super Hormone or Super Hype?” HealthyAging 1(4), 45
Yen, S.S.C. (2001) “Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate and Longevity: New Clues for an Old Friend” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 8167-8169 [commentary]
Studies on DHEA:
• Villareal, D.T. and Holloszy, J.O. (2004) JAMA 292, 2243-2248 [abstract] [abdominal fat, insulin action]
• Schmidt, P.J. et al. (2005) Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 62, 154-162 [abstract] [depression]
Barrett, S. (2003) “Enzyme Deficiency”
Kris-Etherton, P.M. et al. (2002) “AHA Scientific Statement: Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease” Circulation 106, 2747-2757
Articles on omega-3 fatty acids and prevention of coronary artery disease
• Hu et al. (2002) JAMA 287, 1815-1821 [abstract]
• Din, J.N. et al. (2004) BMJ 328, 30-35 [review]
National Institutes of Health (2004) Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: “Folate”
Lucock, M. (2004) “Is Folic Acid the Ultimate Functional Food Component for Disease Prevention?” BMJ 328, 211-214
Nordenberg, T.(2000) “The Death of the Party: All the Rave, GHB’s Hazards Go Unheeded” FDA Consumer, Mar.-Apr., 14-19
Goyal, A. et al. (2005) “A Randomized Multicenter Study of Gamolenic Acid (Efamast) With and Without Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals in the Management of Mastalgia” Breast J. 11, 41-47 [abstract]
Ackermann, R.T. et al. (2001) “Garlic Shows Promise for Improving Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors” Arch. Intern. Med. 161, 813-824 [abstract]
Fleischauer, A.T., Poole, C. and Arab, L. (2000) “Garlic Consumption and Cancer Prevention: Meta-Analyses of Colorectal and Stomach Cancers” Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 72, 1047-1052 [abstract]
Barrett, S. (2002) “Glucosamine for Arthritis”
Reviews on glucosamine and chondroitin:
• Richy, F. et al. (2003) Arch. Intern. Med. 163, 1514-1522 [abstract]
• McAlindon, T. (2003) Rheum. Dis. Clin. North Am. 29, 789-801 [abstract]
• Towheed et al. (2005) Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. [abstract]
Mroz, P.J. and Silbert, J.E. (2003) “Effects of [3H]Glucosamine Concentration on [3H]Chondroitin Sulphate Formation by Cultured Chondrocytes” Biochem. J. 376, 511-515 [abstract] [“We conclude that the cells have excess capacity to form maximal amounts of GlcN from glucose so that exogenous GlcN does not stimulate chondroitin sulphate synthesis.”]
Barrett, S. (1999) “Juicing”
Giovannucci, E. (1999) “Tomatoes, Tomato-Based Products, Lycopene, and Cancer: Review of the Epidemiologic Literature” J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 91, 317-331 [abstract]
Buscemi, N. et al. (2004) “Melatonin for Treatment of Sleep Disorders” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Evidence Report/Technology Assessment Number 108
Lang, K.L. (2001) “Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)”
Stories on nutrigenomics:
• Check, E. (2003) “Consumers Warned That Time is Not Yet Ripe for Nutrition Profiling” Nature 426, 107
• Mutch, D.M. et al. (2005) “Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics: the Emerging Faces of Nutrition” FASEB J. 19, 1602-1616 [abstract]
• Kummer, C. (2005) “Your Genomic Diet” Technology Review, Aug., 54-58
Magkos, F. et al. (2003) “Organic Food: Nutritious Food or Food For Thought? A Review of the Evidence” Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 54, 357-371 [abstract]
American Heart Association “Phytochemicals and Cardiovascular Disease”
Dwyer, J.H. et al. (2004) “Progression of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Plasma Antioxidants: The Los Angeles Atherosclerosis Study” Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 24, 313-319 [phytochemicals]
Krebs, E.E. et al. (2004) “Phytoestrogens for Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review” Obstet. Gynecol. 104, 824-836 [abstract]
Ingram, D., Sanders, K., Kolybaba, M. and Lopez, D. (1997) “Case-Control Study of Phyto-Oestrogens and Breast Cancer” Lancet 350, 990-994 [abstract]
Wanke, C.A. (2001) “Do Probiotics Prevent Childhood Illnesses?” BMJ 322, 1318-1319 [editorial]
Van Niel, C.W. et al. (2002) “Lactobacillus Therapy for Acute Infectious Diarrhea in Children: a Meta-Analysis” Pediatrics 109, 678-684 [probiotics] [abstract]
Reviews on S-adenosylmethionine:
• Fetrow, C.W. and Avila, J.R. (2001) “Efficacy of the Dietary Supplement S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine” Ann. Pharmacother. 35, 1414-1425 [abstract];
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2002) “S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine for Treatment of Depression, Osteoarthritis, and Liver Disease”
Barrett, S. (2004) “Misleading Claims for Seasilver™”
National Institutes of Health (2004) Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: “Selenium”
Longtin, R. (2003) “Selenium for Prevention: Eating Your Way to Better DNA Repair?” J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 95, 98-100
Yoshizawa, K., Willett, W., Morris, S. et al. (1998) “Study of Prediagnostic Selenium Level in Toenails and the Risk of Advanced Prostate Cancer” J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 90, 1219-1224 [abstract]
Schardt, D. (2004) “Sex in a Bottle” Nutrition Action Healthletter, Oct., 8-11 [pdf file]
Reviews of soy products:
• Balk, E. et al. (2005) “Effects of Soy on Health Outcomes” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Evidence Report/Technology Assessment Number 126
• Sacks, F. et al. (2006) “Soy Protein, Isoflavones, and Cardiovascular Health” Circulation 113, in press [abstract with link to full text (pdf file)]
Trials of soy products:
• He, J. et al. (2005) Ann. Intern. Med. 143, 1-9 [abstract with link to free full text (pdf file)] [blood pressure]
• MacGregor, C. et al. (2005) Eur. J. Cancer 41, 708-714 [abstract] [menopausal symptoms]
• Zhang, X. et al. (2005) Arch. Intern. Med. 165, 1890-1895 [abstract] [bone fracture risk]
National Institutes of Health (2003) Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: “Vitamin A and Carotenoids”
Michaëlsson, K. et al. (2003) “Serum Retinol Levels and the Risk of Fracture” New Engl. J. Med. 348, 287-294 [abstract]
Williams, A. et al. (2005) “The Role for Vitamin B-6 as Treatment for Depression: a Systematic Review” Fam. Pract. 22, 522-537 [abstract]
Barrett, S. (2001) “The Dark Side of Linus Pauling’s Legacy” [vitamin C]
Marshall, C.W. (2002) “Vitamin C: Do High Doses Prevent Colds?”
Audera, C. et al. (2001) “Mega-Dose Vitamin C in Treatment of the Common Cold: a Randomised Controlled Trial” MJA 175, 359-362
Levine, M., Rumsey, S., Daruwala, R., Park, J. and Wang, Y. (1999) “Criteria and Recommendations for Vitamin C Intake” JAMA 281, 1415-1423 [abstract]
Khaw, K.-T. et al. (2001) “Relation Between Plasma Ascorbic Acid and Mortality in Men and Women in EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Study: a Prospective Population Study” Lancet 357, 657-663 [abstract]
National Institutes of Health (2004) “Vitamin E”
Ricciarelli, R. et al. (2001) “Vitamin E: Protective Role of a Janus Molecule” FASEB J. 15, 2314-2325 [abstract]
Trials of Vitamin E supplements:
• Meagher, E.A. et al. (2001) JAMA 285, 1178-1182 [abstract] [lipid peroxidation]
• Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation Study Investigators (2000) New Engl. J. Med. 342, 154-160 [abstract] [cardiovascular events]
• Taylor, H.R. et al. (2002) BMJ 325, 11-14 [macular degeneration]
• Bairati, I. et al. (2005) J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 97, 481-488 [abstract] [secondary prevention of cancer]
• Lonn, E. et al. (2005) JAMA 293, 1338-1347 [abstract] [cardiovascular events and cancer]
• Lee, I-M. et al. (2005) JAMA 294, 56-65 [abstract] [cardiovascular disease and cancer]
Miller, E.R. et al. (2005) “Meta-Analysis: High-Dosage Vitamin E Supplementation May Increase All-Cause Mortality” Ann. Intern. Med. 142, 37-46 [abstract with link to free full text (pdf file)]
Ford, E.S. et al. (2005) “Brief Communication: The Prevalence of High Intake of Vitamin E From the Use of Supplements Among U.S. Adults” Ann. Intern. Med. 143, 116-120 [abstract with link to free full text (pdf file)]
Water-Related Pseudoscience, Quackery, and Fantasy [includes pages on “structure-altered” or “clustered” water”; “energized” and “ionized” water; and oxygenated water]
Shermer, M. (2004) “Magic Water and Mencken’s Maxim” Scientific American, April, 43
National Institutes of Health (2002) “Facts About Dietary Supplements”: Zinc
Trials of zinc:
• Macknin, M. et al. (1998) JAMA 279, 1962-1967 [abstract]
• Prasad, A. et al. (2000) Ann. Intern. Med. 133, 245-252 [abstract with link to free full text (pdf file)]
Diets and weight loss (see also “Low carbohydrate diets” below)
* Barrett, S. (2003) “Impossible Weight-Loss Claims: Summary of an FTC Report”
Federal Trade Commission (2002) “FTC Releases Report on Weight-Loss Advertising”
“Lose Money Fast With Dr. Phil’s Pills!”: Nutrition Action Healthletter Rates Diet Books”
Anderson, J.W., Konz, E.C. and Jenkins, D.J.A. (2000) “Health Advantages and Disadvantages of Weight-Reducing Diets: A Computer Analysis and Critical Review” J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 19, 578-590
Pittler, M.H. and Ernst, E. (2004) “Dietary Supplements for Body-Weight Reduction: a Systematic Review” Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 79, 529-536
Dansinger, M.L. et al. (2005) “Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, and Zone Diets for Weight Loss and Heart Disease Risk Reduction: A Randomized Trial” JAMA 293, 43-53 [abstract]
Tsai, A.G. and Wadden, T.A. (2005) “Systematic Review: An Evaluation of Major Commercial Weight Loss Programs in the United States” Ann. Intern. Med. 142, 56-66 [abstract with link to free full text (pdf file)]
Barrett, S. (2000) “‘Cellulite’ Removers”
Barrett, S. (2003) “Is Chitosan a ‘Fat Magnet’?”
Fugh-Berman, A. and Myers, A. (2004) “Citrus aurantium, an Ingredient of Dietary Supplements Marketed for Weight Loss: Current Status of Clinical and Basic Research” Exp. Biol. Med. 229, 698-704 [abstract]
Anon. (2002) “‘Six-Pack Abs’ Electronically?” FDA Consumer, July-Aug., 25-26 [electric muscle stimulators]
Barrett, S. (2004) “Stay Away from FiberWeigh” [glucomannan]
Pittler, M.H. and Ernst, E. (2001) “Guar Gum for Body Weight Reduction: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials” Am. J. Med. 110, 724-730 [abstract]
Wheeler, T.J. (1999) “Hydroxycitrate as a Weight Loss Ingredient”
Greene, M. (2005) “The Maker’s Diet or Faker’s Diet?” BellaOnline
Kurtzweil, P. (1997) “Dieter’s Brews Make Tea Time a Dangerous Affair” FDA Consumer, July/Aug.
Low-carbohydrate diets
* Astrup, A. et al. (2004) “Atkins and Other Low-Carbohydrate Diets: Hoax or an Effective Tool for Weight Loss?” Lancet 364, 897-899
Barrett, S. (2004) “Low-Carbohydrate Diets”
Fumento, M. (2003) “Big Fat Fake: The Atkins Diet Controversies and the Sorry State of Science Journalism”
St. Jeor et al. (2001) “AHA Science Advisory: Dietary Protein and Weight Reduction” Circulation 104, 1869-1874 [abstract]
Trials of low-carbohydrate diets (see also Dansinger et al. in previous section):
• Brehm, B.J. et al. (2003) J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 88, 1617-1623
• Samaha, F.F. et al. (2003) New Engl. J. Med. 348, 2074-2081 [abstract]
• Foster, G.D. et al. (2003) New Engl. J. Med. 348, 2082-2090 [abstract]
• Yancy, W.S. et al. (2004) Ann. Intern. Med. 140, 769-777 [abstract with link to free full text (pdf file)]
• Stern, L. et al. (2004) Ann. Intern. Med. 140, 778-785 [abstract with link to free full text (pdf file)]
•
Reddy, S.T. et al. (2003) “Effect of Low-Carbohydrate High-Protein Diets on Acid-Base Balance, Stone-Forming Propensity, and Calcium Metabolism” Am. J. Kidney Dis. 40, 265-274 [abstract]
Diets and weight loss - promotional
“Eat Right 4 Your Type” [blood type diet]