HEALTH BEAT 4-1-2000

Meetings & Conventions: Short Cuts April 2000
April 2000
Short Cuts:
HEALTH BEAT

Believe it -- or not? That's the question facing consumers deluged with claims that supplements galore are the answer to all of their health problems. Many ultra-hyped products not only are scams, they might be harmful. Nutrition Action Healthletter, based in Washington, D.C., says the following are scams, at best .

1. DHEA. It promises to boost vitality and even make you live longer, but there is no good evidence to back up those claims, and it might stimulate prostate cancer.

2. Ginseng. Although touted for increasing energy and stamina, recent studies show it has no such effect. Another shocker: Some ginseng supplements don't contain any ginseng.

3. Garcinia Cambogia (hydroxycitrate). The only solid research on this popular diet pill showed it had no effect on losing weight. Another study revealed serious adverse effects on animals.

4. Ma Huang (ephedrine). It might help take the pounds off, but this weight-loss aid also can cause high blood pressure and possibly death.

5. Ginkgo Biloba. It's the main ingredient of memory tonics, but there have been no solid studies on the effects of regular use by healthy people

LOREN G. EDELSTEIN