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BlueStreak

(8,377 posts)

94. If you check the top 10 Big Pharma companies, I don't think you will find

Sat Dec 21, 2013, 06:20 PM

Dec 2013

a single one that is in the top 10 producers of vitamins and supplements. Big Pharma wants you to buy pills that cost $3.00 per pill and up. The supplements are more like 20 cents a pill, which gives Big Pharma a very strong incentive for attacking them.

The cited studies are extraordinarily narrow in scope, yet they use that to make a grandiose, categorical conclusion that all supplements are a waste of money/ This isn't science. It is pseudo-science, and if you follow the money, you will find it is from Big Pharma or lackeys in government that are cozy with Big Pharma.

I don't deny that some supplements are grossly oversold and lack a scientific basis for claims of benefits. But that does not justify a categorical conclusion that taking supplement is a waste of money.

For example, how long has aspirin been available? Over 100 years? But it wasn't until a couple of years ago that there were solid studies that showed daily usage of small doses had a huge benefit in longevity related to heart disease and various cancers -- far more than any preventative medicines the Big Pharma industry produces. But who wants to pay for studies about generic compounds that cost a penny a dose?

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Supplements: Flushing your money down the toilet in expensive urine [View all] SidDithers Dec 2013 OP

I haven't had a cold since 2010 Nye Bevan Dec 2013 #1

I take a multivitamin since I do not eat a regularly balanced diet. Rex Dec 2013 #3

Bet you routinely wash you hands, too Brother Buzz Dec 2013 #5

Yes. And the other thing I do, is that when someone shakes my hand, Nye Bevan Dec 2013 #6

I routinely wash my hands when I come into the house from shopping or wherever... CTyankee Dec 2013 #15

but you no longer need to use hot water to do that job...cold water hand washing saves energy! VanillaRhapsody Dec 2013 #34

I choose to wash my hands with warm water in the winter Brother Buzz Dec 2013 #46

and wasting electricity! VanillaRhapsody Dec 2013 #47

Yes, I choose to wash my hands in light Brother Buzz Dec 2013 #51

Not only coincidental, but anecdotal. longship Dec 2013 #11

A lot of pipi_k Dec 2013 #84

A big mistake here. longship Dec 2013 #88

Well said...nt SidDithers Dec 2013 #91

I don't think all supplements are useless. But the majority most likely are. nomorenomore08 Dec 2013 #24

Same here with the C - whole family takes it... fadedrose Dec 2013 #93

Gorski is great. As an academic he knows the research. longship Dec 2013 #2

Gorski rips Mike "The Health Ranger" Adams a new one in the Orac blog linked above... SidDithers Dec 2013 #4

Mike Adams is a common source for woo on DU. MineralMan Dec 2013 #7

Will read it. longship Dec 2013 #12

Adams is a young RWNJ. People think they are dying out. Wrong, they're recruiting youth. freshwest Dec 2013 #65

I agree alarimer Dec 2013 #83

I have not had a cold in about 10 years or more. RebelOne Dec 2013 #8

Taking actual vitamins - B-12, Vitamin E, etc. - is probably harmless at worst, helpful at best. nomorenomore08 Dec 2013 #25

I take Vitamin B-12 for protein because I am a vegetarian. RebelOne Dec 2013 #54

I believe that. Especially the B-12. I'm not a vegetarian but I respect the choice not to eat meat nomorenomore08 Dec 2013 #60

After developing a variety of symptoms from too high prescribed doses of simvastatin HereSince1628 Dec 2013 #9

Right. And the industry works hard to suppress the accumulation of anecdotal evidence BlueStreak Dec 2013 #100

"If you eat a well-rounded diet..." cbdo2007 Dec 2013 #10

Exactly. Rex Dec 2013 #13

Special pleading. longship Dec 2013 #14

As Michael Pollan says, "Eat food, mostly plants, and not too much." CTyankee Dec 2013 #16

Our overall level of obesity in this country? Our easy access to fast food, etc.. Rex Dec 2013 #17

So the obese are lacking in supplements? longship Dec 2013 #18

You asked about proof of American having bad eating habits, nothing about supplements. Rex Dec 2013 #19

Ahem! The OP is about supplements. longship Dec 2013 #20

Yes but your question was not. Rex Dec 2013 #21

My question was "So the obese are lacking in supplements?" longship Dec 2013 #23

Seems like FUD in the OP, but have at it. Rex Dec 2013 #49

Science is like that. longship Dec 2013 #58

FUD is what it is, but you know that already. Rex Dec 2013 #59

Anecdotes are by definition FUD. longship Dec 2013 #69

Aren't fertile women "normal" people? Funny, I thought we were. pnwmom Dec 2013 #22

Just folic acid. longship Dec 2013 #29

The CDC is still recommending a multivitamin containing folic acid. pnwmom Dec 2013 #30

The main thing is folic acid. longship Dec 2013 #41

No, a folic acid supplement is necessary for ALL women who pnwmom Dec 2013 #43

LOL! Good show! Rex Dec 2013 #53

... SidDithers Dec 2013 #61

Without vitamins the body would die, but you keep pushing your FUD. Rex Dec 2013 #62

Well I agree with you. longship Dec 2013 #73

Are you a doctor? gollygee Dec 2013 #68

So you mean they didn't kill millions while healing via placebo? NoOneMan Dec 2013 #26

Awww, what is it, Sid? Jamastiene Dec 2013 #27

Proponent of woo? bitchkitty Dec 2013 #28

The CDC is a proponent of woo, also, because they advocate pnwmom Dec 2013 #31

Hey, what does the Center for Disease Control know? bitchkitty Dec 2013 #33

Oh boy! longship Dec 2013 #52

Don't believe the hype. If you aren't getting enough of something, DO take supplements. JaneyVee Dec 2013 #32

And if you're a fertile female, DO follow the CDC advice -- take a daily multivitamin pnwmom Dec 2013 #36

Yup, I still take prenatal vitamins 2 years after giving birth. JaneyVee Dec 2013 #38

Exactly! BuddhaGirl Dec 2013 #44

I do and will 840high Dec 2013 #81

What of medically prescribed vitamins? Pre-natal, Vitamin D and Vitamin C? freshwest Dec 2013 #35

Not to mention women Aerows Dec 2013 #55

Well. Thank goodness THAT's finally been put to rest. tjwash Dec 2013 #37

so why is Vitamin D encouraged along with fish oil if they do nothing? VanillaRhapsody Dec 2013 #39

Many people, especially darker skinned people in northern latitudes, pnwmom Dec 2013 #42

Your surgeon may "know his shit" but he's forgotten -- assuming he ever knew -- pnwmom Dec 2013 #40

He's a breast cancer researcher and surgeon... SidDithers Dec 2013 #48

He has forgotten women when he says that vitamin supplements are unnecessary pnwmom Dec 2013 #50

This debate is so stupid, the body cannot produce vitamins and without a proper diet Rex Dec 2013 #63

They think it is a simple matter for all people to get all of the vitamins pnwmom Dec 2013 #67

Yes it is a great thing to be telling people to get a balanced meal every day. Rex Dec 2013 #79

"Orac knows his shit," etherealtruth Dec 2013 #45

The studies he cites are extraordinarily narrow BlueStreak Dec 2013 #87

Big Pharma does NOT want you to stop taking supplements etherealtruth Dec 2013 #89

If you check the top 10 Big Pharma companies, I don't think you will find BlueStreak Dec 2013 #94

I think if you check further you will find many are wholly owned subsidiaries of Big Pharma etherealtruth Dec 2013 #95

Please name some names BlueStreak Dec 2013 #96

Pfizer, the Carlysle Group, Johnson and Johnson, Merck ... to name an additonal few etherealtruth Dec 2013 #97

Add DuPont to the list ... jeeze it is even worse than I had imagined etherealtruth Dec 2013 #99

None of these are in the top 10 of vitamin/supplement companies, are they? BlueStreak Dec 2013 #101

you are very invested in not believeing this is a huge industry etherealtruth Dec 2013 #103

Every Pharma company has been through a bunch of nmergers and acquisitions. BlueStreak Dec 2013 #106

I will Herbalife is right up there etherealtruth Dec 2013 #104

2nd reply (didn't want to edit to add) etherealtruth Dec 2013 #90

You can't have a narrow study and a gradiose conclusion and call it science BlueStreak Dec 2013 #98

Did you read the article and follow the links? etherealtruth Dec 2013 #102

The headline is "Supplements: Flushing your money down the toilet in expensive urine" BlueStreak Dec 2013 #105

Yeah don't take supplements lordsummerisle Dec 2013 #56

Why would you think that was even implied by the OP? etherealtruth Dec 2013 #57

Because lordsummerisle Dec 2013 #70

The supplement industry is a 30-40 BILLION/ year industry etherealtruth Dec 2013 #74

... Rex Dec 2013 #64

What is IKR?... n/t lordsummerisle Dec 2013 #71

I know, right etherealtruth Dec 2013 #92

+1 whatchamacallit Dec 2013 #72

oh lordsummerisle Dec 2013 #75

? whatchamacallit Dec 2013 #82

That loon looks like he is balancing a little loon on his head. lol Just being silly. Auntie Bush Dec 2013 #66

calcium is not a vitamin.... mike_c Dec 2013 #86

He might "know his shit," but he doesn't know his urine. ... JEFF9K Dec 2013 #76

How many of this Dr's patients have died under his treatment? brentspeak Dec 2013 #77

But doctors don't know anything! Only mothers do! Vashta Nerada Dec 2013 #78

My personal experience BlueToTheBone Dec 2013 #80

there are serious health consequences of vitamin deficiency.... mike_c Dec 2013 #85