Scanners to determine antioxidant levels

Houndmommy

A friend has invited me to have my antioxidant levels checked using some scanner she has access to.  It is free but I am suspicious of this type of thing.  I am sure my antioxidants will come back low and they will try to sell me supplements.  Anyway, anyone heard of this?  Does it really work?  I tried to google it but couldn't really find any critical reviews.

Thanks!

Raili

I've had this done - it was a biophotonic laser scanner.  You put your palm against this plastic thing for 90 seconds while a blue light shines on your hand.  Yes, they will probably try and sell you supplements. 

 I must say, I don't care so much anymore about increasing my antioxidant levels, because you know what?  When I was tested, at a holistic health clinic, I scored so high in the "optimal" range that I had the HIGHEST SCORE out of approximately 250 other patients that had been scanned... then 2 years later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  When I called my father to tell him the news, he swore, then blurted out, "But that's impossible!  You can't have cancer when your antioxidant levels are through the roof!"  Apparently you can.  And ever since, I've been cynical about the importance of high antioxidant levels.  (On the other hand, my tumor was a slow-growing, stage 1, mucinous tumor... I suppose it's possible that if my antioxidant levels had been low, the cancer would be more aggressive?  Who knows?)

Houndmommy

Thanks Raili.  My results came back as moderately high and yes, they want to sell me vitamins (outrageously expensive vitamins!)  Thanks for the feedback.

AnneW

I used Pharmanex supplements for a while and they gave access to the biophotonic scanner. It's a big part of their marketing regime. It shows the level of caratenoids in your skin. The Pharmanex products were all about the antioxidants. My "numbers" did rise dramatically from pre-Pharmanex levels. And Pharmanex always gets a good rating from supplement.com, but I stopped using them when I realized I didn't want to be a distributor, and I had amassed way more product than I could use during its shelf life...or my life time, whichever came first!

Houndmommy

AnneW - thanks for posting.  Pharmanex is the company that was represented when I had my scan.  When they were telling me about which vitamin(s) I should take they mentioned that since the vitamin I needed was going to cost $xyz/month and that all I needed to be a distributor was sales of $xyz/month that I should be a distributor as well.  I made it clear that it was unlikely I would ever sell to anyone.  I think I read they are an MLM company.  Interesting that they get a good rating from supplement.com  I am still on the fence as to whether to buy the vitamins as the ones I currently take are quite expensive too. Naturally the only vitamin I can take is the most expensive one (the less expensive one has soy isoflavins which I have been told by my doc to avoid).  Thanks again!  Kim

AnneW

You can get Pharmanex on an automatic delivery and NOT have to be a distributor. I didn't understand that when I signed up. So it ticked me off. But I did like their product, as well as the NuSkin products. Most assuredly they are MLM, as is my current supplement (Body Balance by Life Force)--I just do the autodelivery thing as I HATE sales!

Southamptonmom

I think that the company downloads your scans, and then increases your numbers after you buy and take their vitamins. What do you ladies think? It takes so long between the scan and the result. I did buy the vits, but they are so much money, I can't buy again.

Anonymous

From quackwatch:

In 2002, Pharmanex began promoting its BioPhotonic Scanner for measuring
"the antioxidant level in the body" when a person's hand is placed in front of
the device. The test is said to measure carotenoid level. Shortly after its
availability was announced, I took the company's online "BioScan Quiz," which
asked questions about my diet and supplement intake. I found that no matter what
answers I gave, I was advised to get scanned and to start using one of the
company's antioxidant products, which are quite expensive. As far as I know,
however, neither the scan nor the products have been proven to lead to improved
health outcomes. I believe that both the scan and the products are a waste of
money.

The Bottom Line

There is widespread scientific agreement that eating adequate amounts of
fruits and vegetables can help lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease and
certain cancers. With respect to antioxidants and other phytochemicals, the key
question is whether supplementation has been proven to do more good than harm.
So far, the answer is no, which is why the FDA will not permit any of these
substances to be labeled or marketed with claims that they can prevent disease

http://www.quackwatch.org/03HealthPromotion/antioxidants.html#scanner

peggy_j

IMO, I prefer to have tests run by someone who won't benefit from the test results. (the same way I take my car to the "smog-check-only" place and not to a mechanic who can fix it if the car doesn't pass). This model of "we'll give you a free test and then sell you a product if your numbers aren't good" is a major red flag to me. Does any independent person or group do these tests or is it proprietary to this company? What is the scanner is actually measuring? It's not measuring the levels in your blood (or even if your hair). Hmmmm... BTW, you can get VIT A in a carrots, sweet potatoes, etc.  VIT C is everywhere and you can buy VIT C pills cheap, cheap, etc.

Scienceroxs

Peggy,



"IMO, I prefer to have tests run by someone who won't benefit from the test results"



That's really excellent advice.

Momine

Peggy, agreed. Besides a diet high in fruits and veggies ought to be enough, even for cancer patients. As you say, vitamin C supplements are cheap, or you can do what my friend does, eat a whole lemon every morning (she puts a little honey on it).