Is your supplement on this list?

Thenewme, thank you for the post however, it would be a tragedy for new visitors to this forum to read it, become alarmed and dismiss many of the products listed as snake oil when that is not the case. Companies are chosen at random and asked to remove references to curing cancer like the ones listed below and in most cases are not forced to stop selling the products. Compliance letters are sent to conventional drug companies as well. It would be interesting to read the responses that were sent to the FDA.

The list for Fake Cancer Cures was updated to 187: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EnforcementActivitiesbyFDA/ucm171057.htm

* "Treats all forms of cancer"
* "Causes cancer cells to commit suicide!"
* "80% more effective than the world's number one cancer drug"
* "Skin cancers disappear"
* "Target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone"
* "Shrinks malignant tumors"
* "Avoid painful surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or other conventional treatments"

The company I purchase Curcumin from is listed but I never read any claims to curing cancer however, I did read the information below which is why I choose them.

We use patented ingredients like Curcumin C3 Comlex®, Forslean®, Gugulipid® and Boswellin which are also used by MD Anderson cancer center, UCLA and other premiere institutes in research and clinical trials.

Researchers at MD.Anderson, UCLA and other premiere institutes, say that Curcumin, a pungent yellow spice found in turmeric, blocks a key biological pathway. It shuts down nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), a powerful master switch known to regulate expression of more than 300 genes that promote an abnormal inflammatory response that leads to a variety of disorders.. Curcumin is the most powerful antioxidant and antiinflamatory product availble naturally.

I use a host of the products listed but not the companies so knowing where your concern lies would be helpful. 

Yazmin ~  The claims some of these companies have made re. what their products (like curcumin or lycopene) do are not FDA approved.  I don't believe the FDA censures, nor does JH's list in any way reflect negatively on a specific nutrient -- although in some cases, those brands listed may not be quality products, especially if the manufacturers resort to such hype to sell them.  (By the way, I've never heard of any of them except Neutraceuticals, a reputable manufacturer that makes KAL, Solaray, and some other excellent brands.)

If anyone's interested, here's some info' out of UCLA re. how to read supplement labels.  You can also follow the links in this website to see some of the specific brands and products (including curcumin) they approve and make available based on one's individual situation and the recommendations of his/her nutritionist and physicians.  

 http://www.simmsmanncenter.ucla.edu/reflections/section/nutrition.asp

Thanks for sharing that list, thenewme.  Unfortunately, there are people who, out of ignorance and desperation, believe inflated or false claims re. a wide range of products, from fat burners to exercise equipment to cancer cures.  I think it's great if we can together look at why a supplement ends up on a helpful list like the one you posted, so that we don't throw out the baby with the bath water.       Deanna 

Ok....need HELP....I am taking CURCUMIN.......IS IT OK????  I read a study on it from MD Anderson........ I was given the story from my natural food and vitamin store. UUUGGGHHHH why is all of this so confusing....LOL......

I do VERY well with yes take it or NO dont....LOL.....LOVE U LADIES

Have you asked your doctor(s)?  I'm taking mine, as recommended by my PCP, who is board certified in internal medicine, and will continue to unless new research comes out showing different information.  But taking advice on something as precious as our health from a store clerk -- especially when we've had bc --  probably isn't a good idea.  Is there a medical professional who is knowledgeable about your particular bc who could help you decide?  Deanna 

hello

I was taking curcumin for some time and then i read that it interferes with tomaxifin. So now, we know its good for us, but we cant take it and it reduces tomoxifin effects. Has anyones else determined that

Newme-What is your purpose here? You continue to change your ID and post your anti alternatives crap in the hopes that you can start another controversy. I do not even read past the headlines of your drivel anymore because it is obvious where it is always headed. Your motives are just shameful, however much you pretend to disguise them and profess that you really care to help others. You obviously have a vendetta against those of us who are happy and healthy and using all kinds of alternatives. Are you just envious or are you downright vindictive? Oh, and I am sure you are salivating that my response is just the opportunity you were waiting for to make one of your sarcastic little remarks back, but I am blocking you so I could care less what more you have to say.

I thought the FDA had no recourse over companies that make supplements, because supplements are not standardized nor approved by the FDA. So, how could the FDA "shut them down" for false claims? With supplements, it's buyer beware--we have to do our own research on reputable companies and hope their products are standardized to the level that the FDA requires. Many companies do this on their own, like Pharmanex.

Nutritional supplement makers are pretty much allowed to say whatever they want. Most have a little disclaimer on the bottle somewhere. But that doesn't mean they aren't good products or have no place in our lives...

Anne

Update on the Consumer Lab curcumin report

A blog reader who uses the curcumin manufactured by Ageless Cures sent this company an e-mail expressing her concern about the recent Consumer Lab report (see my February 8 2008 post for details; there you can also read a message by an Ageless Cures representative: I would like to mention that I did NOT get in touch with Ageless Cures...but I must say this message made me feel like a VIP ). Anyway, my blog reader received an immediate reply with reassurances that Ageless Cures was looking closely into the matter and working with Consumer Lab to figure it all out.

A few days ago she received another message from Ageless Cures, including a certificate of analysis of a 500 mg batch. I just checked, and the same certificate can be downloaded from the Ageless Cures website, and also the certificate of analysis of the 1000 mg batch.

The curcumin lot analysed by Consumer Lab was a 500 mg batch that had been discontinued in June 2007. Ageless Cures informed my blog reader that it transferred the manufacture of its 500 mg capsules to an FDA certified facility in October 2007. That seems to take care of that problem.

I admit that I can't help wondering why Consumer Lab tested a discontinued batch of curcumin in the first place? That makes little or no sense at all. Hmmm. Moreover, it did not test the popular 1000 mg pill (odd, eh?), which is manufactured in an FDA, GMP (which means "Good Manufacturing Practices," not "Greater Manchester Police" ) and BBB (must be "Better Business Bureau") certified facility. More hmmms.

Well, anyway, here follows the message my blog reader received from Ageless Cures (she authorized me to publish it; I have edited out some parts of it, such as personal references):

"Attached is the Certificate of Analysis of Curcumin 500mg and Super Curcumin 1000mg products performed by Internationally recognized Testing Labs Eurofins Scientific. Every batch manufactured by Ageless Cures is being tested and results posted on www.agelesscures.com. A copy of the COA is being enclosed with every order effective FEB 10th, 2008.

The test results show that the Active Curcumin levels (curcuminoids) meet or exceed the label specifications within tolerance. This same batch products manufactured in NOV-DEC 2007 are being shipped to customers. The same test methods purportedly used by Consumer Lab, HPCL (High performance Liquid Chromatography) is used to test the products for Active curcuminoids.

Certificate of Analysis Summary

Curcumin C3 Complex 500mg - 90 Capsules. Lot# 151011. Exp Date:12/2011. TEST RESULT: 512 mg of Active Curcumin (curcuminoids)

Super Curcumin C3 Complex w/Bioperine 1000mg. Lot# 101044. Exp Date:1/2011. TEST RESULT: 975mg of Active Curcumin (curcuminoids) + Bioperine.

Ageless Cures strongly feels that our customers are entitled to know the quality of products being purchased from us. We buy the most expensive organic Curcumin, manufacture in a FDA, GMP and BBB certified facility, maintain stringent quality standards and market directly to keep prices low.

The Consumer Lab report is a small blip which pertained to a specific small batch which we ceased to market long back and have also changed manufacturing to an FDA certified facility. We are also looking into the testing methods used by Consumer Labs and have been working with them to present all our products for voluntary testing."

From the very beginning, I always found it odd that Consumer Lab, a For Profit Organization (...), didn't test the Doctor's Best curcumin (very popular among us curcumin-takers; I have taken it, too) or the more popular NSI curcumin brand. It instead tested some obscure (to me, at least!) curcumin brands.

Odd, yes.

It seems to me that one of the best ways of avoiding the whole controversy of whether a particular supplement works against cancer or not (if it is not yet firmly established by research), is to consume as much of it in food form as possible, if possible: it is undeniable that many foods have a cancer-fighting potential that may not always be duplicated efficiently in pills.

runswithscissors:

I agree with everything you just stated above. Also: You and unlimited, and celia088 have probably made a pact to make me die-by-laughter, today:

It is so difficult to sort through the caca. You've got that one right.

Nature is so very complex, and what our chemists don't know far outweighs what they do know. This is "even more" true, if possible.

And then: That's one reason why when I read compelling evidence about a supplement, I look to find the food or herbal source of it, and use that instead. I am doing that, too. At the recent Society for Integrative Oncology conference in New York, which I attended, and where I got to meet Dr. Servan-Schreiber, one of the expert panels explained extensively why they recommend that people EAT turmeric, instead of trying to use the supplement form of it. Asian, American, and European experts on the panel concurred to describe the supplement form of Turmeric as "too strong".

I am looking at this issue this way:  if we have observed that turmeric and holy basil have been keeping  cancer levels down in societies where people consume them daily, what has worked for them is the food source of those substances (not any supplement).

I do take such supplements as tocotrienols [and runswithscissors, you are right here too: I hear the GAMMA tocotrienols are what works for breast cancer, not the ALPHA or BETA ones!!!!]; I also take olive leaf  gelules, ubiquinol, Evening Primrose Oil for hot flashes (works so far), Quercetin for healthy histamine level (also works for me), Stamets mushroom blends (but soon switching to the powdered form of those).....because I have concluded that those substances are (at least) safe, even if I am not getting that much more protection from them  (but please correct me if I am wrong), and indeed, they help for little concerns other than cancer, as you can see.

Turmeric, garlic, Selenium, I make a point to consume large amounts of them in their food form. Mushrooms, too.

thenewme: I understand your situation. I believe they are just now coming up with treatments that Triple Negatives can look into, right? (I am thinking about the PARPs). Besides, it is a fact that most Triple Negatives do not recur if you manage to go 5 years without a recurrence, while ER+, PR+ tumors keep on presenting a higher (albeit LOW) recurrence risk at the 20-year mark.

I don't know if that makes you feel better but we have to look at the brighter side of things, don't we?

Yes, I wish newme would stop "steering" us to mainstream chemo-pushing places.

I didn't come to this forum to get pushed to these places. Also, I wish you would stop spamming the FDA.

I have followed Beth's path and reread many old posts over the past month. Thank you, Natural Girls, all for the helpful alternative links!