From the panel "Assessing claims of functional foods and nutritional supplements" at Health Journalism 2010.
Marilynn Marchione, AP Medical Writer
mmarchione@ap.org, 414-347-0767
DO:
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Give details on the herb or substance you are writing about: dose, formulation (pill or extract), manufacturer, cost.
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Clearly state what science has shown about its effectiveness, and describe whether these are test-tube, animal or human studies AND their size. I have seen stories based on results from fewer than a dozen rodents, without telling the reader how small the sample really was.
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Accurately describe the benefit being claimed (do not allow someone to make a disease claim) and point out any risks, known and unknown, or side effects of the treatment.
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Ask and disclose whether the substance is unsafe for anyone: pregnant women, people taking warfarin or other blood thinners, for example.
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Disclose a study's funding, or any financial interest in someone purporting a supplement or food's benefits. Likewise, be aware of any critic's conflicts that might bias his or her remarks.
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Include outside comment from qualified and unbiased scientists, nutritionists or other such experts as opposed to marketing people, others in same industry, a lobbyist or trade group, or other vested interests.
DON'T:
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Rely on testimonials or overwrite anecdotes. This is the weakest form of evidence.
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Allow non-scientists to make scientific claims.
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Overstate the evidence or expand the claim beyond the proof. For example, write: "In lab tests, XXX increased the number of infection-fighting white cells," as opposed to: "Research shows XXX helps the immune system fight infection." That's just not fair to readers.
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Imply or state that something is safe or effective when it has not been shown to be.
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Be wary of the term "natural." It does not mean safe or effective; most supplements lack proof of that. Asked to take a drug under those terms, "most of us would say 'no,'" says Kathy Allen, a dietitian at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. "When it says 'natural,' the perception is there is no harm. And that is just not true."
SOURCES AND RESOURCES
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Media: 301-496-7790 and nccampress@mail.nih.gov
Toll-free clearinghouse for the public: 1-888-644-6226
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
PR 301-496-4819
National Cancer Institute's Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Quackwatch and the National Council Against Health Fraud
Stephen Barrett 919-533-6009 and 978-532-9383 sbinfo@quackwatch.org
Consumerlab.com, a Consumer Reports-like independent testing service:
tod.cooperman@consumerlab.com
914-722-9149 or Toll Free: 888-502-5100
Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer group: 202-332-9110
Nutrition Business Journal, which tracks industry trends: Patrick Rea, prea@nutritionbusiness.com or 303-998-9229
National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus
212-705-0129
American Botanical Council: executive director Mark Blumenthal
mark@herbalgram.org or 512-926-4900 or 800-373-7105
Council for Responsible Nutrition, a Washington-based trade association
202-204-7700 PR 202-204-7680 or 202-204-7970.
American Herbal Products Association: 310-745-8401
Government advice on supplements: http://tinyurl.com/alpr98 and http://tinyurl.com/kngv35
FDA on cancer cures:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/news/fakecancercures.htm
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/cancerfraud061708.html
Placebos: http://tinyurl.com/ycb6zx4 and http://tinyurl.com/ybhtgaw
