Someone's howling in Health about a basic FDA standard

[Orrex]

You know, that bit about "such-and-such snakeoil is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease."

To hear him tell it, this is another part of the FDA's decades-long effort to keep people sickly and impoverished.

I posted a quick refutation of that sentiment in one particular thread, but I wonder what made him come up with it all of a sudden. I've seen him expound upon it at length in at least two separate threads.

[lizerdbits]

1. The same shit about it being illegal for doctors to recommend supplements

Funny considering I've heard over and over that post menopausal women should either eat more dairy or take calcium pills. I guess all those doctors are in jail. :eyes:

It's just an anti evidence person stretching the law prohibiting the statement about cures and treatments that aren't proven into 'it's illegal to talk about supplements.' If I had scurvy I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be illegal for my doctor to say "go take a vitamin C pill or eat some oranges." Some people just need to be outraged about how their unsupported claims are being suppressed causing mass suffering. I've seen it before by that person, it's not all of a sudden.

[LeftishBrit]

3. I get calcium/vitamin D pills on prescription, because I have risk factors for osteoporosis

And folic acid supplements are medically recommended for expectant mothers in the UK, because they've been shown to reduce the risk of spina bifida.

The idea that doctors can't prescribe vitamins is a load of crap; the idea that they never give lifestyle or nutritional advice, even more so.

[lizerdbits]

4. They started fortifying cereals with folic acid here

for that same reason. By the time a woman figures out she's pregnant it may be too late to prevent it if she then starts taking supplements.

Your system is different but I don't know if prescription supplements like calcium are more expensive than buying a supplement here. I'd suspect without insurance they would be. Since non prescription supplements aren't regulated, if you get the prescription you know how much you're getting. If I was in your situation where I was at risk I'd probably opt for the prescription type so I'd be sure I was taking in what the bottle said I was getting. I know there was a problem once with a supplement here (it was vitamin D or something fat soluble where excess isn't excreted) where it contained a much larger amount than stated on the label and a couple people wound up hospitalized from an overdose. I think the issue for the woos is that they would subsequently be buying from a pharmaceutical company which they abhor. And we all know unregulated supplement makers sell things out of the goodness of their hearts.

[Orrex]

6. I think this is the first time I've seen this particular complaint from him

But you're right--his posts and arguments are uniformly free of evidence.

[TZ]

2. I know that idiot..another Dr. Google

There are two threads discussing the FDA's attempts to keep the snake oil claims under control, which promted this poster to go off.
This particular person throws out a LOT of technobabble without really understanding it. Also beleives they have an expertise in clinical trial design..You know all the doctors are ignoring the REAL facts and are biased agaisnt supplements! In reality this person has NO CLUE how clinical trials or experimental design works or how the FDA and pharmaceutical regulations work. Also a hypocrite of the worst sort..Thinks the FDA is in bed with pharmaceuticals and just rubber stamps any and every study but totally objects when the FDA tries to regulate vitamins and supplements..when that happens its they are banning mah snake oil.
Really, a psuedointellectual of the WORST sort because they actually seem to believe that they are MORE knowledgable than any and all scientific professionals...including now..veterinarians!!

[Warpy]

5. My own response was downright snotty

and I'm rather proud of it.

[Orrex]

7. Au contraire!

Not snotty enough, IMO!

:rofl: