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.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    No convincing evidence for vitamins A, C, E or selenium in treating arthritis

    That’s the conclusion from Professor Ernst and colleagues from the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth in the UK.

    First, the details.

    • 20 unique studies were considered well designed and worth evaluating — 11 in inflammatory arthritis and 9 in osteoarthritis.

    And, the results.
    Inflammatory arthritis

    • 2 studies suggested superiority of vitamin E vs placebo.
    • 3 studies reported equivalence between vitamin E and diclofenac (Diovan).
    • Negative results for selenium, vitamin A, and a combination product.

    Osteoarthritis

    • 2 shorter-term studies were positive for vitamin E vs placebo.
    • 2 longer-term studies were negative for vitamin E vs placebo.
    • 2 suggested equivalence between vitamin E and diclofenac.
    • Negative results for vitamin A, and a combination product.
    • A positive result for vitamin C was considered of doubtful clinical significance.

    The bottom line?
    The authors concluded that these contradictory findings are probably the result of poorly designed studies. It leaves us with little of value and a waste of time for the researchers and their patients.

    We all deserve better.

    7/25/07 20:26 JR

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