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We’ve got some surprising skeptical wins this week.
Jeff found some good reporting at Oprah’s O Magazine, debunking the myth that megadosing on vitamin C is good for your immune system. And he said the January print magazine had some other good articles as well. We also heard that the Skepdoc, Harriet Hall is writing in O Magazine. Oprah has been a pariah to the skeptic community by promoting a lot of dangerous and unscientific health advice. Seeing articles like this gives me some hope that there is someone at O Magazine who is interested in real the real science when it comes to health.
I also wanted to call out this article at Maclean’s on the possible link between abortion and breast cancer. This is obviously a hot-button issue, and many articles out there focused on the possible ramifications these findings could have without really looking at what the study means. Colby Cosh does a great job of scrutinizing the evidence.
As for skeptical fails, Nicole sent in this link from Toronto’s CP24 news network.
Their health expert is a homeopath “functional medicine nutritionist”. His bio describes him as “Known as one of Canada's leading alternative health experts, Bryce Wylde is a highly knowledgeable and respected homeopathic doctor and functional medicine nutritionist. The director of The Vaughan Medical Centre, a 6000 square foot medical facility in Ontario, the centre integrates conventional medicine with natural medicine and physical therapies. “ Hmm. I didn’t know square footage was a qualification for giving medical advice.
Perusing the episodes, you can find Deepok Chopra telling you that you can change your genes by thinking good thoughts, or why you should get your mercury fillings out, or even how a good diet, including “prostate support” vitamins and herbs, will prevent prostate cancer.
The webpage embeds their videos and I couldn’t find a way to link to specific episodes, so you’ll just have to browse to see what he is spewing. While a lot of the stuff he’s promoting is only harmful to your bank account, claiming something as serious as prostate cancer can be prevented with herbs is getting into very dangerous territory. And on top of this, every episode is selling something. From books, to vitamins, to expensive treatments, this guy has made his show a forum for peddling all forms of unproven alt-med.
After seeing some of these episodes, I couldn’t help but hit the “Contact Us” link on CP24’s website and give them a piece of my mind. I would encourage you all to do the same. Thanks Nicole for bringing this guy to our attention.
24 comments:
Here's another win. On this week's episode of Dragons' Den on CBC, some lunatic came on asking for a $10 million investment for a spray of distilled water with silver. At first the Dragons were laughing, but when he started insisting it cured everything -- including cancer -- the Dragons quickly put him in his place. "You disgust me" and "Get out of here" were a couple of lines. One Dragon called him a snake oil salesman. Skepticism broadcast on a public network is a win!
Thanks Bruce, I'll have to look for a video of that.
Bruce, Thanks for the heads up, I just watched it now. For everyone else, the video can be found here, and the segment starts at around the 26 minute mark.
That's surprising! I saw an episode of Dragon's Den where a guru came on and got $5000 from one of them. He specifically talked about healing crystals and curing cancer.
I wrote in a complaint to CP24. I sugest everyone who reads this article does the same.
Shatner wins, twice:
Koik asks John Edwards if he's psychotic
Koik calls it all woo
As an MD who watches this show, I must say that Bryce Wylde is providing good and legit advice for the most part. As much good science there is in the industry to back up his claims, I would suggest to you that he notes it. I've done due diligence with him for other reasons and he's not tied in or affiliated with any company or product and therefore not "selling" anything. It is good to see that nobody is self-serving here though (see top right of this and front page) under "editor's note" where "Daniel Loxton's new book is out and available for sale" - buy it now! lol
Confused. How does promoting a book separate from the blog count as self-serving? We make no money from its sales.
Purely analogous. It shouldnt be too confusing. ie. Nor does Wylde make any money by promoting books on his show. But the implication that he does is inherent to the mention that everything on the show is about peddling unproven 'alt-meds'. What is really confusing is why there would be reference in the above mention of his bio to implicate he was suggesting that square footage at his practice has anything to do with his professional credentials?? Where I appreciate good skepticism, I deplore unsupported defamation of character or slander WITHOUT proof. Thats what half of this forum has become: Polar opinion without any substantiation of to the opposite. Furthermore, what tv show - "The Doctors", "Dr Oz", "Dr Phil" etc - ISN'T selling something! (either during the show or very obviously positioned commercials). Even more pathetic, are those commercials that are pharmaceutical "ask your doctor for it by name"!
If you want some proof on prostate cancer and prevention using natural substances, you don't have to look too far in the literature... I'll post some below.
This 'guy', Wylde, has probably helped more people in one show than you or anyone else will in a lifetime of "doubting Thomas" skeptic posts.
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care (CURR OPIN CLIN NUTR METABOLIC CARE), 2009 Nov; 12(6): 640-5
SUMMARY: Although epidemiological studies have shown mixed results, the experimental data strongly suggest a protective role of zinc in the prostate. More in-vivo studies on the effects of zinc on prostate functions are necessary to more clearly delineate the interaction between zinc and prostate function. In humans, sensitive and specific zinc biomarkers significantly impair the ability to design and interpret clinical studies and should be a priority area of research.
PURPOSE OF THE ABOVE: To summarize the recent findings related to the functions of zinc in prostate cancer prevention. RECENT FINDINGS: The prostate contains the highest concentration of zinc of all the soft tissues, but concentrations decrease significantly during prostate cancer. A growing body of experimental evidence supports the notion that high zinc levels are essential for prostate health and may limit prostate cancer development. The possible mechanisms include the effects of zinc on the inhibition of terminal oxidation, induction of mitochondrial apoptogenesis and suppression of NF-kappaB activity. Zinc may also play an important role in the maintenance of DNA integrity in normal prostate epithelial cells by modulating DNA repair and damage response proteins, especially p53. In addition, recent findings support the role of zinc transporters as tumor suppressors in the prostate.
Here are a few more references of papers or studies showing effective use of natural remedies in prostate cancer or prostatitis... go nuts!
Can you tell that I'm in favour of natural medicine?! lol...
1. Willet, W. Estimates of cancer deaths avoidable by dietary change. J Natl Cancer Instit., 1996; 86, 14:
948
2. Shimizu, H., et al. Cancers of the breast and prostate among Japanese and white immigrants in Los
Angeles County. Br J Cancer, 1991; 63: 963-966
3. Mitchell, J., et al. Effects of phytoestrogens on growth and DNA integrity in human prostate tumor cell
lines: PC-3 and LNCaP. Nutr and Cancer, 2000; 38, 2: 223-228
4. Hennenfront, B., et al. American Prostate Society Quarterly, 1995; 3:9
5. Murray, M. The Healing Power of herbs (2nd edit.) Prima Publishing. 1995: 306-313
6. Pollard, M., et al. Influence of isoflavones in soy protein isolates on development of induced prostaterelated
cancers in L-W rats. Nutr and Cancer, 1997; 28, 1: 41-45
7. Pollard, M., et al. Prevention and treatment of experimental prostate cancer in Lobund-Wister rats:
Effects of estradiol, dihydrotestosterone and castration. Prostate, 1989, 15: 95-103
8. Small, E.J., et al. Prospective trial of the herbal supplement PC-SPES in patients with progressive
prostate cancer. J Clinical Oncology, 20000; 18, 21: 3595-3603
9. Thompson, J.M. et al: Chemoprevention of prostate cancer. Semin Urol 1995;13:122-9
10. Sultan, C. et al: Inhibition of androgen metabolism and binding by a liposterolic extract of Serenoa
repens B in human foreskin fibroblasts. J Steroid Biochem 20, 515-519, 1984
11. Di Silverio, E. et al: Evidence that Serenoa repens extract displays antiestrogenic activity in prostatic
tissue of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Eur Urol 21, 309-314, 1992
12. Boccafoschi and Annosica, S: Comparison of Serenoa repens extract with placebo by controlled clinical
trial in patients with prostatic adenomatosis. Urologia, 50, 1257-1268, 1983.
13. Mattei, F.M., Capone, M. and Acconcia, A.: Serenoa repens extract in the medical treatment of benign
prostatic hypertrophy. Urologia 55, 547-552, 1988
14. Braeckman, J.: The extract of Serenoa repens in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A multicenter
open study. Curr Ther Res 55, 776-785, 1984.
15. Pansadoro, V. and Benincasa, A.: Prostatic hypertrophy: Results obtained with Pygeum africanum
extract. Minerva Med 11, 119-144, 1972.
16. Dufour, B. and Choquenet, C.: Trial controlling the effects of Pygeum africanum extract on the functional
symptoms of prostatic adenoma. Ann Urol 18, 193-195, 1984
17. Menchini-Fabris, G.F., et al: New perspectives of treatment of prostato-vesicular pathologies with
Pygeum africanum. Arch Int Urol 60, 313-322, 1988
18. Wilt T. J. et al: Beta-sitosterol for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review. Br
J Urol Jun; 83 (a): 976-83, 1999.
19. Berges R.R. et al: Treatment of sympotomatic benign prostaic hyperplasia with beta-sitosterol: an 18
month follow-up. Br J Urol, May;85 (7): 842-46, 2000.
20. Dreikorn K. et al: Status of phyto therapeutic drugs in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia
[German] Urologe A. 1995;34(2):119-29.
21. Buck A. Phyto therapy for the Prostate. Br J Urol, 1996;78: 325-336.
22. Hartmann R. et al. Inhibition of 5 alpha reductase and aromatase by PHL-00801, a combination of
pygeum africanum and urtica dioica extracts. Phytomedicine, 1996;3 (2): 121-128.
23. McCaleb R. Synergistic action of pygeum and nettle root extracts in prostate disease. Herbalgram,
1996;40:18.
24. Peterson G. et al. Genistein and biochanin A. Inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells but not
epidermal growth factor receptor auto phosphorylation. Prostate 1993;22:335-45.
25. Naik H.R. et al. An in vitro and in vivo study of anti-tumor effects of genistein on hormone refractory
prostate cancer. Anticancer Res. 1994;14:2617-20.
26. Kyle E. et al. Genistein-induced apoptosis of prostate cancer cells is preceded by a specific decrease in
focal adhesion kinase activity. Mol Pharmacol 1997; 51:193-200.
27. Evans B.A.J. et al. Inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase in genital skin fibroblasts and prostate tissue by
dietary lignans and isoflavonoids. J. Endocrinology 1995; 147:295-302.
28. Lu L. et al. Effects of one-month soya consumption on circulating steroids in men: Pro. Am. Assoc.
Cancer Research 1996; 37:220 (abstr.).
29. Messina M. Legumes and soybeans: an overview of their nutritional profiles and health effects. AM J
Clin Nutr. 1999; 70 (Suppl): 439-50.
30. Giovanncci et al: Intake of carotenoids and retinol in relation to risk of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer
Inst 1995; 87; 23:1767-76
31. Heinonen, O.P. et al: Prostate cancer and supplementation with Alpha-Tocopheral and Beta-Carotene:
Incidence and mortality in a controlled trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 1998; 90; 6:440-446
32. Olson, K.B. et al. Vitamins A and E: Further clues for prostate cancer prevention. J Natl Cancer Inst.
1998; 90; 6: 414-415
33. Linehan, W.M. Inhibition of prostate cancer metastasis: A critical challenge ahead. J Natl Cancer Inst.
1995; 87; 5:331-332
34. Rao, V.A., et al: Serum and Tissue Lycopene and Biomarkers of Oxidation in Prostate Cancer Patients:
A Case-Control Study. Nutrition and Cancer, 1999. 33(2), 159-164.
35. Gann, P.H., et al. Lower prostate cancer risk in men with elevated lycopene levels: results of a
prospective analysis. Cancer Res, 1999; 59, 6: 1225-1230
36. Clark, L.C., et al. Effects of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention in patients with carcinoma
of the skin. A randomized-controlled trial. Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Study Group. JAMA; 1996,
276 (24): 1957-1963
Ah, no - you're moving the goalposts and comparing apples to oranges.
Also, I don't think you know what slander is.
Pig, have you read all of these studies? I just started with the last one, and was going to work my way up. The last study actually found selenium INeffective.
#36, reading the results say: After a total follow-up of 8271 person-years, selenium treatment did not significantly affect the incidence of basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer.
I gave you the benefit of the doubt and kept reading.... The next few articles I could not find on the net, I could only find the reference to them from this page:
http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=10442
Tell me, did you actually read these yourself and verify that they were properly executed, peer reviewed studies that represent the current data on this topic? Or did you just cut and paste from that site and assume everything it says was true?
If you want to pick a specific article to discuss, feel free. But from what I started to look at, you haven't posted anything compelling.
@pig:
Firstly, Daniel Loxton is a friend to this site, and I'm honored to do my part in helping his book (which teaches science to children) get as much exposure as it can. Skeptic North was not involved in the production of the book, and no one in our organization makes a dime from its sales.
Secondly, "This 'guy', Wylde, has probably helped more people in one show than you or anyone else will in a lifetime of "doubting Thomas" skeptic posts."
watch it. Civil discussion is welcome here, personal insults are not.
Kimberly - I don't think so, but maybe. And, I certainly do know what slander is. It is what is between the lines and throughout the intention but very infrequently what is written or said outright. (The latter is quite oftn from innocent ignorance or by mistake)
Melany - I didn't have time to read all of those studies, but when I went back to the website where the show segments are posted, I saw James Meschino was the one he had on discussing Prostate cancer and decided to post (or yes, 'cut and paste') his references. It was him wans't it?
Steve - I LIKE Daniel Loxton. That is so beside the point. The point was it was equivalent to the comment made by Melany about how "every episode is about selling something" and I found that comment quite ironic.
However, if anyone here finds that insulting, then I am surely big enough to appologize. That was not the intent. Sorry.
but "this guy" is selling something.
his "medical expertese" from his 6000ft2 "medical clinic" to patients that fall for the authority of: the letters after his name; use, and tarnishing, of the word doctor; his obvious $ucce$$.
this blog is primarily aboot discussing things that are sometimes of import, like healthcare. they make some income on the side and sometimes from their articles. hardly the same thing.
how is it helpful to convince people that sugarpills are efficacious for anything, much less a possibly deadly flu? oh, i know the magic duck pills start out with several grams of heart and liver. I also know they dilute it out of existance and wash it all down the drain, leaving only water and the agents required to make a pill no different from the placebo of the RCT i'm in.
the arguments and evidence in support of what this guy sells do not hold water, or a candle to those against.
completely OT, but the preview seems useless
i don't seem to be able to edit the preview to fix tags and going back makes it disappear
expertese? facepalm
"Here are a few more references of papers or studies showing effective use of natural remedies in prostate cancer or prostatitis... go nuts!"
Typical. Sorry, not for us to do and you apparently didn't even bother. However, being curious types, us doubting tommies can't help but look. Quelle surprise, the first study examined finds against your claims.
All so typical of the $CAM industry and its acolytes - list hordes of unexamined studies, regardless of quality or outcome, knowing that most people will not bother to read and defer to the implied authority.
Ya, I can tell
"this blog is primarily aboot discussing things that are sometimes of import, like healthcare. they make some income on the side and sometimes from their articles. hardly the same thing."
We don't make income from our articles and the only money we make "on the side" is with our day jobs.
oh, my mistake
you really don't have any click-through stuff (not an issue anyway as it is not even remotely similar to what that guy on CP24 IS selling)
curious though. Nat Post didn't pay for the articles they published?
No Skeptic North author nor the editorial staff has ever received any payment for any content produced here, or re-produced elsewhere.
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