Do Companies Advertise Ineffective Supplements?

DEAR DR. ROACH: I see supplements advertised on television that are supposed to clear “brain fog” and do many other beneficial things. Are these any good, and can they actually do the things that they claim? If they are effective, why aren’t they sold at drugstores? If not, how is it that companies are allowed to make these false claims and advertise these supplements on television? -- J.L.P.

ANSWER: I believe that there are over-the-counter supplements that are effective for treating some medical conditions, and there are a few instances in which there is strong evidence of benefit, such as a vitamin and mineral formula to slow progression of macular degeneration. Very often, there isn’t enough data to be sure a supplement is either effective or ineffective.

It is certainly true that supplement companies sometimes make claims that they cannot support. By law, supplement advertising can claim to support a body part or function (which is why you see claims like “supports heart health”), but these claims must be followed by: “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

Often, the advertising for a supplement is at odds with that statement, and there are many instances of supplement manufacturers having to pay fines or change their advertising. A supplement that is found to be unsafe can be removed from the market by the FDA. In addition, any substance can be toxic if taken at a high enough dose. Vitamin A supplements are a good example.

The U.S. FDA does not regulate supplements the way they do prescription drugs, and supplement manufacturers do not need to prove that their products are effective. Further, there is strong evidence that some supplements sold in the U.S. do not contain as much (or any!) of the supplement they claim to provide. I always recommend getting a supplement that is verified by a third party, such as the U.S. Pharmacopeia or the National Science Foundation, if possible.

There are very few supplements proven to prevent problems, so I generally recommend against supplements in people who are healthy and have no symptoms. This definitely includes vitamin supplements. Supplements may have benefit in relieving symptoms for some less-serious medical conditions, and physicians should be (or get) familiar with more common supplements, their potential benefits and their toxicities.

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Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

© 2023 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

Kemp Trust Online Real Estate Auction

6135 Main St Rd (Route 5), Sta ord, NY

Bidding closes June 12th at 11am with so close 3,700 square foot mansion on 2.7 acres in the Village of Sta ord. Property is in need of TLC

See our website, www.williamkentinc.com for more information.

Henion Online Real Estate Auction

100 Campbell Road, Spencerport, NY

Tax Foreclosed Real Estate Auction Cattaraugus County •

**Action Required**

585-343-5449 www.williamkentinc.com

How To Road Trip In An Electric Car

Look for EV-friendly lodging. Many hotels now feature charging stations exclusively for guests with EVs. Some hotels include the cost of utilizing such stations in their parking fees, while others may charge an additional amount. Either way, the convenience of finding a hotel with its own charging station outweighs any extra costs, as cars can be charged overnight while guests are asleep, leaving more time to travel in a vehicle that’s fully charged each morning.

•Non-Smokingcomplex

•Seniors62yearsorolder&disabled/handicapped (18yearsorolder)

•1&2bedrooms/Accessibleunitsavailable

•Limitedsubsidizedrentalavailabletoquali edapplicants

•Incomelimitsapply•Professionallymanaged

•Laundryfacilitieson-site/off-streetparking/Communityroom

•Appliancesincluded:fridge,electricstove

•Weacceptsection8vouchers

•1smallpetwelcomewithrestrictions&deposit

Bidding closes June 19th at 11am with so close 25.9 acres with Ranch house, pole barn and sheds. Large tree shaded yard plus old air strip, former orchards and open elds. 2,000 square foot, 3 bedroom home has one full bath and 3 half baths, plus one car garage, walk out basement with overhead door, and hardwood oors in the living area. 40'x70' pole barn with two large doors, concrete oor, and workshop area. Plus 24'x48' three sided barn. See our website, www.williamkentinc. com for more information. 716-542-7557•1-888-542-3031

•Wemaintainlandscaping,trashremoval,commonareacleaning &snowremoval

Milton CAT is in search of New York State certified MBE/MWBE and SDVOB subcontractor enterprises that can provide selected goods and/or services to us. Subcontractors must be able to meet insurance, financial and bonding requirements as contained and specified in general contract documents and other New York State entity requirements.

If interested, please contact us at goodfaitheffort@ miltoncat.com to begin the screening process.

Baptist

CORNERSTONE CHURCH OF EAST PEMBROKE

2583 Main Rd., P.O. Box 189, East Pembroke, NY 14056

Phone 585-762-8721 • Email: cornerstonechurchep@yahoo.com

Church Facebook: Cornerstone Church of East Pembroke

Bible Study every Wednesday at 10am • All are welcome!

Chicken BBQ May 21, start serving at 11:30am $15.00/dinner

Secretary’s hours: Tues, Weds, urs. 9am-1pm

PASTOR: Rev. Glenn Bloom, Jr 585-356-4657 • Pastor’s wife Joyce 585-356-8253

Catholic

Our Lady of Mercy & St. Brigid Catholic Parishes

44 Lake St., LeRoy, NY 14482 • 585-768-6543 • www.ourladyofmercyleroy.org

Our Lady of Mercy Masses: Sat. 4:30pm; Sun. 7:15am, 10:45am, 5:30pm

Weekday Masses: Mon. - Fri. 7:30am; Sat. 9am

Confessions: Sat. 3-4pm; Tues. 7-7:30pm; urs. 6-6:30pm

St. Brigid’s, 18 Gibson St., Bergen, NY 14416, Sunday Mass: 9am

Weekday Masses: Tues. & urs. 8:30am; Confessions: Sat. 2-2:30pm

Episcopal

St. James Episcopal Church

405 East Main St., Batavia, NY • sjecbataviany.org

Sundays: 9am Service of God’s Word and Spiritual Communion -- via Zoom

10am Service of the Holy Eucharist -- In Person, Children Welcome

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8085432266

Meeting ID: 808 543 2266 • Password: zrXG3y

Methodist

Pavilion United Methodist Church

Come worship with us!

11115 East Park St., Pavilion • 585-584-3808

Worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Karen Woodworth

All are welcome!

Batavia First United Methodist Church

To Make Disciples We Must Listen, Learn, Lead, and Love Our Way to God!

8221 Lewiston Rd., Batavia, NY • 343-4708 • Rev. Wayne Mort

Worship & Sunday School, 10am • Child care provided Sun. at 10am. https://www.facebook.com/BataviaFirstUnitedMethodist

Indian Falls United Methodist Church

7908 Alleghany Rd, Corfu, NY 14036 • (585) 762-9105 https://indianfallsumc.com • indianfallsumc@gmail.com

Sunday Morning Worship 10:00am

Sunday School (all ages) 11:30am

All Are Welcome!

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Cornerstone Church

8020 Bank Street Road, Batavia 343-8020 www.cornerstonebatavia.org

Sunday Co ee & Fellowship 9:30am • Sunday Worship Service 10am

Wednesday Prayer & Worship 5:30pm

Wednesday Men’s & Women’s Bible Study at 6:30pm

Church of Christ

PO Box 230, 60 Spring St., Brockport, NY 14420 • Minister: Scott Kelley 585-637-2650 • brockportchurchofchrist.org

10:00am Bible Study, 11:00am Worship Service;

Wed. 7:00pm Mid-week Bible Study - email us for Zoom link

Additional parking at 69 High Street.

Orthodox

Protection of the Mother of God Russian Orthodox Church

100 Stanford Dr., Rochester, NY 14610 • 585-224-0554

Archpriest Gregory Naumenko, Rector • A ROCOR Parish

Serving all English and Russian Speaking Orthodox Christians

Full schedule of services and live service streaming at www.pomog.org

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST

Batavia Seventh-Day Adventist Church

101 Richmond Ave, Batavia, NY 14020 • (585) 563-5331

Pastor, Edgar De León

Saturday Worship Service: 9:30am

Bible Study: 11am-12pm