The Most Popular Supplements: Do They Work?
Posted June 8, 2009 12:11 PM
Posted in echinacea, fish oil, flaxseed oil, garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, glucosamine, omega-3, supplements, vitamins
Here is a look at some of the most popular supplements and what scientific studies show regarding their safety and effectiveness:
Fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids
Source: Fatty fish, such as bluefish, halibut, mackerel provide 2 of 3 fatty acids; the third comes from walnuts, olive oil and flaxseed oil.
Health claim: Mainly prevention of heart disease and related problems.
Does it work?
Several studies offer evidence fish oil reduces heart disease. Evidence is mostly lacking for treatment or prevention of numerous other conditions, such as cancer, mental decline and dementia and arthritis relief.
Some health organizations encourage omega-3 consumption from specific foods or supplements.
Children should not take fish oil capsules.
Side effects: Minimal to none. However, high doses can cause bleeding, especially if used with aspirin and warfarin.
Source material: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality and NIH Medline Plus
Source: , Associated Press
Comments
Have something to say? Share your thoughts.
Posted June 21, 2009 1:10 PM
Has anyone heard anything about alkaline antioxidant water? I was told it helped cleanse cells of toxic wastes and that it really works for migraine headaches among a list of other ailments. I was wondering because I have tried looking it up on several sites and can't find any info on it.
Posted June 10, 2009 3:26 PM
This shows such disdain for supplements, it must have been written by a physician, a drug company executive or a relative of one. Almost every one of the supplements mentioned works for people who understand such treatments and obtain good quality products. If one reads the article carefully one quickly discovers that it mostly cautions against reactions to pharmacuetical drugs that people are taking by a doctor's decree. Perhaps if people would take these gentle supplements INSTEAD of drugs they would do a lot better. All of these have NO side effects, while the drugs often have more side effects than the disease they are supposed to help has symptoms.
Posted June 9, 2009 10:08 PM
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is a USA goverment agency. I do not believe the test results because these agencys are funded by private companys (drug manafactures). The private companies do not want us to take low cost meds. Their main function is this life is to make money for the stockholders that is why RX drugs are so costly.
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