Vitamins, Herbs, Supplements and Health

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Drug News and Health Blog of Doug Bremner, MD.

Blog Postings and excerpts from Before You Take That Pill on vitamins, supplements, herbs and alternatives to prescription medications

May 12, 2008.
Vitamins That Kill!
I was watching public TV a couple of years ago when a researcher was being interviewed
about the Beta Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET), in which 18,314 smokers took either
beta carotene and Vitamin A or a placebo. He embarrassedly stated that the
antioxidant vitamins, Vitamin A, beta carotene and vitamin E did not prevent heart disease
and reduce mortality. In fact, they were even associated with an increase... [more]

January 7, 2008.
TOP TEN MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS OF 2007? VEH!
I almost threw away my Time magazine in disgust after reading about the “Top 10 Medical
Breakthroughs of 2007”. Well since 7/10 were directly related to a
product created by the Medical Industrial Complex, most of the gushing is going
to be in the form of profits for their manufacturers. [full article]

November 11, 2007.
Calcium and Vitamin D are not Necessary for Bone Health
Yesterday on National Public Radio (NPR) I heard the announcer tell us on behalf of Kaiser Permanente that
laughter is good for your health, so why not laugh a little? They also have a lot of other
idiotic advice on calcium and bone health... [full article]

October 2, 2007.
Blueberries Do Not Prevent Alzheimer's Disease.
I was driving in my car today when I heard an ad on NPR from the Alzheimer's Foundation that proper
diet, including low fat and a diet high in anti-oxidants may prevent Alzheimer's Disease. "So eat some blueberries,"
was the cheerful claim...[more]

Articles and book Excerps

Vitamin A Supplementation Increases the Risk of Osteoporosis and Fractures
We've all been told to take more vitamins. But are there hidden risks? Most people don't know that vitamin A in excess amounts
leads to an increase in osteoporotic fractures, which led European countries to ban vitamin fortified cereals from the US. [FULL ARTICLE]

Herbs and Supplements for Gastrointestinal Problems
Gastrointestinal problems affect one out of four Americans, and many are looking to alternatives to prescription medications for problems like
diarrhea, ulcers, GERD, IBS and constipation. But do herbs and supplements work? [FULL ARTICLE]

Ginkgo for the Prevention of Memory Loss
Ginkgo biloba is a supplement derived from the ancient Ginkgo tree of China that has long been proposed to
increase memory, energy and concentration. But is there really any evidence that it works. Studies of patients
with Alzheimer's Disease have shown mixed results for its effects on memory, and overall quality of life was
not impacted by taking Ginkgo. No studies have shown Ginkgo to prevent memory loss with
aging or sharpen your thinking if you don't have dementia. [FULL ARTICLE]

Calcium And Vitamin D For Bone Health - Is It Really Useful?
You hear the public service announcements all the time. Take calcium and vitamin d for bone strength
and to prevent osteoporosis. But does it really help and do the benefits outweigh the risks? [FULL ARTICLE]

Does Vitamin C Really Prevent Colds?
We've all heard that vitamin c prevents colds, but is that really true? If you take Vitamin C all the time
it might have some benefit for colds, but won't help if you take it after you develop cold symptoms. [FULL ARTICLE]

Is Echinacea An Effective Treatment For Colds?
Echinacea is an herb originally used by the American Indians for the treatment of the common cold that is still
promoted as a natural alternative for the cold. But is there any evidence that Echinacea actually works?
Although animal studies have shown anti-inflammatory properties... [FULL ARTICLE]

Do We Really Need to Take Vitamins for Our Health? You don't eat on a regular basis, you're afraid that you aren't getting enough nutrients. But
do you really need to take supplemental mulitvitamins on a daily basis? [FULL ARTICLE]

Natural Remedies For The Prevention Of Heart Disease - Is There Any Evidence of Benefit?
A number of herbs and supplements are promoted for the prevention of heart attacks. But is there any
scientific evidence that herbs and supplements are effective in preventing heart attacks and heart disease?
[FULL ARTICLE]

Are Natural Herbs A Safe and Effective Way to Lose Weight?
Seventy percent of Americans use non-prescription diet aids. You can go to the gas station and pick up a packet of
Ma Huang or other natural herb or supplement to help you lose weight. But is it safe? [FULL ARTICLE]

Herbs and Supplements for Menopausal Symptoms - Is there Any Evidence of Benefit?
With publicity about the dangers of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) getting so much publicity,
a lot of women are turning to herbs and supplements for hot flashes and other symptoms
associated with menopause. But do they work? [FULL ARTICLE]

Herbs and Supplements For the Promotion of Sleep - What is the Evidence?
We'd rather not take prescription medications for insomnia because we are worried
about addiction and side effects. But have natural herbs and supplements been shown to work for insomnia
and help you sleep, and are they safe?[FULL ARTICLE]

Herbs and Supplements for the Treatment of Depression
Prescription medications for depression have side effects and it isn't clear that they work all that effectively.
How about natural remedies including herbs and supplements like St John's wort, kava, SAMe, omega 3 fatty acids and
valerian for the treatment of depression? Do they work and are there any serious side effects? [FULL ARTICLE] Does Saw Palmetto Help Enlarged Prostate (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy)?
Saw Palmetto is a supplement derived from the fruit of Serenoa repens or Sabal serrulatum, or the American
Dwarf Palm, native to the Southeast US. Saw Palmetto is marketed for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH),
a hardening of the prostate gland that is associated with problems with urination. But does it really work? [FULL ARTICLE]

Doug Bremner, MD, is a physician and researcher in Atlanta GA and author of Before You Take That Pill:
Why the Drug Industry May be Bad for Your Health: Risks and Side Effects You Won't Find on the Label of
Commonly Prescribed Drugs, Vitamins and Supplements

Doug Bremner, MD, is a physician
and researcher in Atlanta GA
and author of Before You Take That Pill:
Why the Drug Industry May be
Bad for Your Health

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Archives 2008

Archives 2007

Topics

Accutane (1)
Actos (1)
Alzheimer's Disease (5)
Antibiotics (9)
Antidepressants (6)
Antidepressants & Suicide (1)
Arthritis & Joint Health (7)
Asthma Medication and Prevention (5)
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) (3)
Avandia (1)
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (4)
Bird Flu (2)
Birth Control Pills (4)
Bisphosphonates (5)
Blogging Doctors (2)
Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Testing (4)
Breast Cancer (1)
Calcium (2)
Cancer (3)
Capital Punishment (1)
Celebrex (1)
Cholesterol (11)
Cipro (2)
Cold Medicines & Children (1)
Cox-2 Inhibitors (3)
Depression & Medication (5)
Diabetes Medications & Prevention(8)
Dieting & Diet Medications (4)
Drought (2)
Enlarged Prostate
Ezetimibe (2)
FDA (1)
Fibromyalgia (3)
Flu Shots (1)
Fosamax (1)
Gardasil (1)
Gastrointestinal Conditions & Medication (6)
Glitazones (5)
Healthcare Politics (4)
Heart Disease Prevention & Treatment (9)
Heart Disease Prevention & Treatment (9)
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) (1)
Hospitals (1)
Hypertension Prevention and Treatment (4)
Insomnia
Insurance (2)
Levaquinn (1)
Lice
Malaria (1)
Meditation (1)
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) (1)
Mindfulness (1)
Mormons (1)
Osteoporosis (5)
Overmedicated Nation (7)
Pravachol (1)
Prayer & Religion (3)
Reality (1)
Ritalin (1)
Sexuality and Reproduction (3)
Singulair (2)
Insurance (2)
Sports Injuries (1)
Statins (5)
Stimulants (1)
Stress Reduction (1)
Tamiflu (2)
Vaccines (3)
Viagra and Erectile Dysfunction Drugs (1)
Vitamins, Herbs & Supplements (3)
Vytorin (2)
Women's Health (3)
Yoga (1)
Zetia (2)

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List of related books.

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