(For more news, see Dr. Stephen Barrett’s Consumer Health Digest)

September-October, 2009

September – Marcus and McCullough published an article entitled “An Evaluation of the Evidence in ‘Evidence-Based’ Integrative Medicine Programs” (Acad. Med. 84, 1229-1234 (2009) Abstract).  The authors examined web sites for 14 health professions schools that had received education grants from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).  The authors found that the sites were “strongly biased in favor of CAM,” giving references to out-of-date and poor quality clinical trials.  In general, the curricula of these programs appear to “fail to meet the generally accepted standards of evidence-based medicine.”

September – The North American Menopause Society has issued a warning against so-called “bioidentical hormones.”  While many of these are “commercially available in well-tested, FDA-approved brand-name prescription drugs,” others are custom compounded (“prepared by a pharmacist for a specific patient”).  The article notes, “There is no scientific evidence about the effects of these compounded medications on the body – either good or bad.”  Moreover, “salivary and blood testing used by custom compounders to ‘assess’ your hormone levels are meaningless for midlife women because our hormone levels vary from day to day and even from hour to hour.”

September – A review of the “Nutritional quality of organic foods” (Dangour et al., Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 90, 680-685 (2009) Abstract) concluded that “there is no evidence of a difference between organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs. The small differences in nutrient content detected are biologically plausible and mostly relate to differences in production methods” News story.

September – Smith and Cochrane (Birth 36, 246-252 (2009) Abstract) reviewed trials of acupuncture as an adjunct treatment during pregnancy.  They found that there is “a small but growing body of acupuncture research, with some evidence suggesting a benefit from acupuncture to treat nausea in pregnancy…However, definitive conclusions about its effectiveness cannot be reached…”

September 1 – A review of acupuncture for pain has been published (Kelly, Am. Fam. Physician 80, 484-484 (2009) Abstract).  The review concluded, “acupuncture is most likely to benefit patients with low back pain, neck pain, chronic idiopathic or tension headache, migraine, and knee osteoarthritis.  Promising but less definitive data exist for shoulder pain, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint pain, and postoperative pain.  Acupuncture has not been proven to improve pain from rheumatoid arthritis.  For other pain conditions, there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions.”

September 3 – Hulda Clark died.  In a Quackwatch article, Dr. Stephen Barrett wrote, “Clark claimed that all cancers and many other diseases are caused by ‘parasites, toxins, and pollutants’ and can be cured by killing the parasites and ridding the body of environmental chemicals.”  She promoted a device, the Synchrometer, which supposedly diagnosed diseases and “toxins,” and another device, the Zapper, which supposedly provided treatment.

September 21 – Stephen Barrett, M.D., has updated a Quackwatch article on resveratrol.  It has been proposed that this compound, found in red wine, has anti-aging and other health benefits.  Drugs based on the molecular actions of resveratrol are in development.  However, Barrett cautions, “only human clinical trials can determine whether supplementation is useful for humans.  Resveratrol has not been tested in clinical trials, and most clinical trials of other antioxidants have failed to demonstrate the benefits suggested by preliminary studies.”

September 22 – The Center for Inquiry has issued a Report entitled “A Fracture in our Health Care: Paying for Non-Evidence Based Medicine,” by physicist Eugenie Mielczarek.  The report attacks various forms of “energy medicine” and “distant healing,” such as therapeutic touch.  In particular, it is shown that claims of a “biomagnetic” human energy field are inconsistent with our knowledge of physics and biology.

October – A controlled trial by Richmond and others (Complement. Ther. Med. 17, 249-256 (2009) Abstract) has shown that magnetic wrist straps and copper bracelets are ineffective in dealing with osteoarthritis News story.

October 7 – Stephen Barrett, M.D., has posted a Quackwatch article on Sanum therapy (a set of “remedies” manufactured by a German company).  They are based on discredited ideas about microorganisms proposed by Enderlein in the 19^th century.  Remedies may be chosen using unscientific diagnostic methods such as applied kinesiology or EAV devices.  There appears to be no good scientific evidence showing that they effective, and their marketing in the U.S. may be illegal.

October 7 – A Cochrane Collaboration Review, by Grant and others, examined Chinese herbal medicine for treatment of people at risk for diabetes Abstract  News story.  The authors found some evidence that the herbal treatments could help with high blood glucose.  However, the evidence was not strong enough to allow them to recommend this approach.

October 19 – A Story in Wired profiles pediatrician Paul Offit, who has led the defense of childhood vaccinations against unscientific attacks.  Critics have claimed that vaccinations have caused autism and other diseases.  However, as shown by numerous scientific studies described in these news pages, there is no such connection.

October 29 – Whelan and others have published “Herbs, Vitamins, and Minerals in the Treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome: A Systematic Review” (Can. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 16, e407-e429 Abstract with link to free full text (pdf file).  The authors concluded, “Data supports the use of calcium for PMS, and suggests that chasteberry and vitamin B6 may be effective. Preliminary data shows some benefit with ginkgo, magnesium pyrrolidone, saffron, St. John’s Wort, soy and vitamin E. No evidence of benefit with evening primrose oil or magnesium oxide was found.”

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