Wed Sep 3 12:24:59 2003 Pacific Time
Herbal Weight-Loss Product Information Can Be
Misleading: Johns Hopkins Internist Available for Interviews
BALTIMORE, Sept. 3 (AScribe Newswire) -- Many Internet sites
marketing and advertising dietary supplements containing the herb
ephedra are posting false or misleading information, a Johns Hopkins
University study demonstrates.
Internists at Johns Hopkins searched the Internet for sites
selling herbal weight-loss products including ephedra, then
evaluated the information posted on those sites for medical
accuracy. Their report appears in a recent issue of Mayo Clinic
Proceedings.
Of the 32 Web sites analyzed, 13 (41 percent) failed to disclose
potential adverse health effects, and 17 (53 percent) did not reveal
the recommended dosage. More importantly, researchers said, 11 sites
(34 percent) contained incorrect or misleading statements, some of
which could directly result in serious harm to consumers.
In addition, several sites incorrectly compared ephedra to sinus
medications, and two sites claimed falsely that ephedra could be
used to treat diseases such as asthma or bronchitis, a promotion
that is not allowed under the Dietary Supplement Health and
Education Act of 1994.
Serious side effects include heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmias,
increased blood pressure and heart palpitations, according to lead
study author Bimal H. Ashar, M.D., an assistant professor of
medicine. It's important that consumers understand the substances
are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, he says.
Most clinical studies examining ephedra for weight loss have
documented adverse effects in 20 percent to 60 percent of patients.
"Basically, if it reads like it's too good to be true, it probably
is," Ashar says. "If you're really interested in taking any of these
supplements based on what you read, first print out the information
and take it to your doctor for review."
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