The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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  • Recent Comments

    Lack of support for dietary supplements to prevent or treat heart disease

    A literature review published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found 15 supplements that had been studied for their benefits in preventing or treating coronary heart disease.

    According to the researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle…

    • “Most had little data available and most of the data were of poor quality.

    They continued,

    • “The supplements with the most supporting data were policosanol and garlic, both for hyperlipidemia.”

    Of course, neither of these supplements are predictably effective as summarized here and here.

    The Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism came to similar conclusions following its review of preventive therapy in 2004.

    • “The scientific evidence supports recommending consumption of a diet high in food sources of antioxidants and other cardioprotective nutrients, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts, instead of antioxidant supplements to reduce risk of CVD [cardiovascular disease].”
    • “It does not support the use of antioxidant vitamin supplements.”
    • “No consistent data suggest that consuming micronutrients at levels exceeding those provided by a dietary pattern consistent with AHA Dietary Guidelines will confer additional benefit with regard to CVD risk reduction.”

    One exception is omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in selected individuals when taken at the correct daily dose.

    4/28/07 16:53 JR

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