Example of noncredible website: NaturalNews.com

                Today’s blog is a follow up from last week. I was introduced to what I think is the worst article and natural website I have ever encountered. The original article is linked below. The website is called NaturalNews.com and the article is entitled “Alzheimer’s is really just ‘type-3’ diabetes, new research shows.”

                First, we will analyze the website using the tips I suggested in an earlier blog post on how to check the credibility of an internet site.  On the home page of the site, there is a recording, which is also linked below, talking about the man who runs NaturalNews and the website’s mission. I must say that I was extremely appalled by the allegations that he makes in this recording. However, I am going to evaluate the information without emotion because science is based on facts and evidence, not on opinions and emotions.

                NaturalNews is a website designed to offer people information on non-medicinal therapies and cures for different diseases as well as encouraging a natural, healthy lifestyle in general. Mike Adams is the editor of the website, and he claims that until eleven years ago, he was in very poor health but has since turned that all around and is completely healthy. He claims to be able to cure diabetes in 4 days, which we know in the medical field is impossible. He claims to be able to cure cancer with herbs and sunlight, which we also know to be impossible. The most crushing allegation that he makes in this post is about the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer research. If someone had a cure for cancer, they would share it, right? No. He says that 99% of the money the Komen foundation raises is to conduct mammograms, which emit radiation and actually cause cancer in the women they screen, only causing them to be able to collect more money. This is a very painful statement. (Adams)

According to this man, the FDA is trying to ruin our health by passing safety bills, and the government is trying to take away health freedom by passing health care reforms.  Pasteurization and irradiation can kill people, and we shouldn’t do it, he claims. However, there are many harmful bacteria present in raw milk that cause diseases such as dysentery and cholera that are eliminated by pasteurization. (CDC) He claims to expose the true agenda of the USDA, FDA, DEA, and the government “which does not want you to be healthy.” This way, they can make money! He claims that medications and vaccinations are poison that the government gives us to shorten the longevity of our population because the elderly cost the government money and don’t pay taxes. However, the human life expectancy in the United States, when compared to third world countries that do not vaccinate and compared with the United States a hundred years ago, is much longer.  (Adams)

                His final statement exemplifies the incredibility of his site. “You don’t have to agree with 100% of what is posted, no one agrees 100% on everything.” (Adams) The problem is that everyone agrees 100% with truth – facts that are evidence based and can be proven and replicated. This statement shows that not all that he posts is true scientific fact. He posts subjective opinions, which contribute to the lowest strength recommendation that doctors use. Doctors rely on evidence and proof to treat their patients, not opinion.  (Andre)

                The next check for credibility also fails. The website is .com and there is no HONcode or URAC accreditation listed. There are incredible advertisements that overtake most of the page on each page of the site. When in an article, it’s hard to tell the advertisements from the content of the article because they are so prevalent. One of the ads is for making colloidal silver in your home, to ingest and treat all of your ailments. Colloidal silver was banned from OTC products in 1996 due to serious adverse effects from consumers taking it to treat certain conditions. Dietary supplements were still allowed, provided that no health claims were made for its use. (Barrett) I am not going to trust this site.

                Let’s move on to the article. The author is listed as well as the references. When I see references, I expect to see primary literature, which consists of studies that have proven information. The resources for this article are a hospital’s webpage and a news website. The news website was a mirror image of NaturalNews.com and was also summarizing the hospital webpage. The hospital webpage was summarizing the original study. So the article posted on NaturalNews.com could be considered a tertiary source, which is much less reliable than the original information. However, the article does seem to summarize the hospital’s webpage correctly.

                Of course, they follow this up with their own recommendations which are not validated by references at all, and are complete advertisements as they link to other pages on the website and products that are advertised on the side of the page. The second part of the article is entitled “Eating more healthy saturated fats like coconut oil can help prevent, cure Alzheimer’s.” The original study says nothing about this and absolutely does not validate this statement. This part of the article is the author’s opinion. If it is backed up by scientific evidence, he did not cite is reference and therefore cannot be checked by readers.

                This is a perfect example of a website that cannot be trusted. Although some of the information is true and credible, is too much to ask to have to sort through everything to find what is right and what is not. Please refer to the previous blog post about credible sources for information, including NaturalStandard.com which provides true, complete information about natural products.

Alexis Ireland, PharmD Candidate 2014

http://www.naturalnews.com/036708_Alzheimers_type-3_diabetes_brain_disease.html

References

Adams, Mike. “Welcome to NaturalNews!” NaturalNews. Mp3.

Andre, FE, et. al. “Vaccination greatly reduces disease, disability, death and inequity worldwide.” Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 86:2. Feb 2008.

Barrett, Stephen MD. “Colloidal Silver: Risk Without Benefit.” Quackwatch. 17 Aug. 2005.

Benson, Jonathan. "Alzheimer's Is Really Just 'type-3' Diabetes, New Research Shows."NaturalNews.  6 Aug. 2012.

“Raw (Unpasteurized) Milk.” CDC. 25 Feb. 2013.

Natural and Herbal Products

                Today’s blog is going to focus on natural medicine. This is a topic that I find very important, but I don’t think that the general population is educated enough about it. I hear from many patients that they are taking something herbal for their memory, energy level, or fertility. Their rationalization is that it’s natural, so it can’t be bad for them. Arsenic is natural. Just because something is a natural product or herb doesn’t mean that it’s safe and good for you. This blog will go over how to get information on natural and herbal products that is credible, accurate, and complete.

                Natural products and herbs are not regulated by the FDA. This is what makes selecting a product so hard. You might notice that on the back of the box or bottle of a natural product, it states what it is intended to do. “Promotes heart health” or “increases energy” are common statements. However, each of these statements is always followed by an asterisk, which correlates to a statement near the bottom of the box in small print that says “These claims have not been substantiated by the FDA.” Companies that make natural products are allowed to state that their product “supports the structure and function of the body, but can’t claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Their manufacturing plants also aren’t regulated, so it’s hard to tell if they use good manufacturing processes or if they monitor how much of the natural product goes into each dosage form. Some companies choose to go through a process to gain certification from the USP Dietary Supplement Verification Program. This is voluntary, but it ensures the quality of the product. USP Verified products contain the ingredients listed on the label in the listed strength, do not contain levels of contaminants that could be harmful, and are made according to the FDA’s good manufacturing processes. These products have a stamp on them to show that they are quality. See the end of the blog for a sample stamp.

                The biggest issues with natural products are of quality, safety, and efficacy. The composition of the products can vary between different manufacturers, and even between different lots from the same manufacturer. It’s also hard to tell if what’s in the bottle is what it says it is. Contaminants are another concern. Are there pesticides, metals, or other organisms in the product? Side effects and interactions aren’t written on the bottle, and people seldom ask a pharmacist if it is safe to take with their medications. There aren’t many studies on these products, and use of these can sometimes delay important medical procedures.

                So where does one look for information on natural products? Usually it’s a family member, a friend, or Google. Getting information from a family member can be dangerous because they might not have all the important information about the product. Also, the things that were used routinely when grandma was younger but aren’t used anymore aren’t used for a reason. We found them unsafe, ineffective, or less effective than another treatment that is used now. Information coming from a friend is often going to be one-sided and biased, because your friend has an opinion on the product. Whether he/she thinks it’s a great product or an awful product, it’s based on experience and subjective information, not on evidence. Google is full of even more old, biased, opinionated “facts” on herbal and natural products, so it can’t be any more trusted than the first two sources. There are, however, good sources to find information.

                Natural Standard is a company that was founded to provide accurate and complete evidence-based information for health care practitioners and patients. It is a very comprehensive source for all natural products and alternative medicine therapies. The information included is peer-reviewed and evidence-based. They have different monographs for different levels of information. There are monographs for professionals that include all the information in scientific terms, and then there are monographs in easier-to-understand language that also include all the information. This allows patients to get information they can understand and know that they have all the information available. The monographs include information on effectiveness, side effects, drug interactions, dosing, use in pregnancy and breastfeeding, historic background, and safety. This encompasses all of the information you would need to know.

                Natural Standard has five different databases to help search for information: Herbs & Supplements, Condition Center, Alternative Modalities, Dictionary, and Patient Information. In Patient Information, the database includes background, evidence, usage, dosing, safety, and interactions, as well as the monographs listed above. You can search by condition if there is something you are looking to treat, and the site offers all therapy options ranging from pharmaceutical to natural products to alternative medicine such as acupuncture. This site is definitely comprehensive in including all necessary information.

                If you are using or planning to use natural products, it is essential for you to get all of the information on the specific product you are considering. It is also important to ask your pharmacist if you can take it while you are on your other medications, even if the other medicines you take are not prescriptions. To get more information, there are databases online that can help provide complete and accurate information for patients. Naturalstandard.com is one of those sites. Please be safe when selecting therapies and always do your research!

Alexis Ireland, PharmD Candidate 2014

References 

FDA. www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements.

Mani, Nandita MLIS. Natural Standard. J Med Libr Assoc. 2005 October; 93(4): 507–509.

Natural Standard. www.naturalstandard.com

U.S. Pharmacopeia. www.usp.org/USPVerified.