Dear Editor,
After reading the Conservative MP reports mailed to us this year, I see Marc Dalton and Rob Morrison, BC MPs, have promoted natural health products as "crucial," "beneficial," "informed," and "improving public health."
Incredibly, the natural health product (NHP) industry is the largest unregulated business for consumers.
Some of the products have been found to have mislabeled contents, undocumented benefits and risks, and incompatibility with prescription medication.
For example, I have participated in the (U.S.) Harvard-based Cosmos study now in its eighth year. They have been comparing the health effects of taking a multivitamin and/or cocoa (a mild anticoagulant) vs. placebo.
To date they have found no health benefits of these nutrients except for a few individuals who had poor diets.
Specifically many studies have failed to show benefits of taking vitamin D supplements (See review in January's Scientific American).
Also probiotics have been found to have a fleeting presence in the gut. After four hours they are washed out by incoming food and water.
I will admit that I gave fluoride drops to my young children for their teeth because I was satisfied with the research on its effect and safety.
Unfortunately, some NHPs have been found to interfere with prescription medications, and doctors are often unaware of their patient's use of them. Patients can be reluctant to mention their NHPs use because they fear they might lose their doctor's trust.
I am curious about why Conservative MPs are so strongly promoting unproven NHPs.
Are they needing the revenue from this business?
Are they unwilling to bear the costs of product consumer safety and proof of benefits?
Consider that some of the costs saved would be in reducing the costs of unneeded health care and harm of unneeded malpractice.
NHPs cannot be protected just by tradition, considering the long tradition of consuming alcohol, asbestos, tobacco and opiates.
Consider the past cost of these traditional products in health care and social losses.
Claudia Peters MD (retired), Maple Ridge