Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: Danser on 19/08/2010 05:32:03

Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: Danser on 19/08/2010 05:32:03
Consumer Reports; Where are the Bodies and Where are the “Blue People”?

This month’s article from Consumer Reports™ displays an article on what they call the ‘Dirty Dozen’ 12 nutritional supplements including Colloidal Silver. In the article, CR says colloidal silver “has a possible risk of: Bluish skin, mucous membrane discoloration, neurological problems, kidney damage”.  Nowhere do they offer any proof. None.

If colloidal silver is a health hazard, where are the bodies? Where are the blue people?  Think about it; for simplicity, let’s say that there a 300 million people in the USA. Arguably, there are 10 million people who take Colloidal Silver daily.  In your entire lifetime, how many people have you met who are blue?  Probably none.

How many people have died using Colloidal Silver? None.  Here is proof;

Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, January 19, 2010

(OMNS, January 19, 2010) “There was not even one death caused by a dietary supplement in 2008, according to the most recent information collected by the U.S. National Poison Data System.”

“The new 174-page annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, published in the journal Clinical Toxicology, shows zero deaths from multiple vitamins; zero deaths from any of the B vitamins; zero deaths from vitamins A, C, D, or E; and zero deaths from any other vitamin.”

“Additionally, there were no deaths whatsoever from any amino acid or herbal product. This means no deaths at all from blue cohosh, echinacea, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, kava kava, St. John's wort, valerian, yohimbe, Asian medicines, ayurvedic medicines, or any other botanical. There were zero deaths from creatine, blue-green algae, glucosamine, chondroitin, melatonin, or any homeopathic remedies.”

“Furthermore, there were zero deaths in 2008 from any dietary mineral supplement. This means there were no fatalities from calcium, magnesium, chromium, zinc, colloidal silver, selenium, iron, or multimineral supplements. Two children died as a result of medical use of the antacid sodium bicarbonate. The other "Electrolyte and Mineral" category death was due to a man accidentally drinking sodium hydroxide, a highly toxic degreaser and drain-opener.”

“No man, woman or child died from nutritional supplements. Period.”
 
“61 poison centers provide coast-to-coast data for the U.S. National Poison Data System, which is then reviewed by 29 medical and clinical toxicologists. NPDS, the authors write, is "one of the few real-time national surveillance systems in existence, providing a model public health surveillance system for all types of exposures, public health event identification, resilience response and situational awareness tracking."


So let’s see if the facts bear out.  Pharmaceutical Drugs cause 106,000 DEATHS in 2008, while there were ZERO deaths from Nutritional Supplements. When the light shines on facts, the truth comes out. What is the real agenda of Consumer Reports™?  It is hard to say, but a prestigious publication like CR is seriously in danger of losing their credibility.  Any aware consumer will want to know the facts and not depend upon a publication that merely makes accusations.

This article is poorly researched, unsupported and could possibly be the result of Big Pharma trying to sway consumers through a well-respected publication away from safe and effective dietary supplements towards toxic and deadly pharmaceutical drugs. Consumer Reports has certainly lost me as someone who believes what they say. Unbiased? You decide!
Link removed-Mod

Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: Bored chemist on 19/08/2010 07:21:33
"Where are the blue people? "
Here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyria

Also, you need to consider the other side of the equation.
How many lives were saved by supplements- roughly none
How many lives were saved by real pharmaceuticals - lots.
The usual claim made against supplements is not that they are harmful (though they can be) but that they are pointless wastes of money exploiting the "worried well".
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: Variola on 19/08/2010 08:13:53
BC has it wrong again-these are the blue people

http://www.smurf.com/smurf.php/www/home/en
 [:D]
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: JP on 19/08/2010 10:02:42
The original post included a link to a site selling colloidal silver which I removed.  The news service promoting this study is the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, which obviously promotes orthomolecular medicine, the idea of treating illnesses with supplements.  When there was a report in 2008 by the FDA about adverse events and death after taking supplements, they claimed that it was part of a conspiracy by the FDA to control vitamins: http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v04n13.shtml

I wonder who's really biased here...
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: Geezer on 19/08/2010 18:14:35
In your entire lifetime, how many people have you met who are blue?  Probably none.


Well, I have not actually met the guy, but....

Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: Danser on 19/08/2010 22:17:19
In your entire lifetime, how many people have you met who are blue?  Probably none.

Well, the peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource seems to have some reputable peer-review members below, wouldn't you agree? As for removing the URL, perhaps you would reconsider giving your readers the right to go there or not to further educate themselves based upon their own interests? Just because a site sells a product does not negate the information there, especially when what your readers can find is FDA-certified lab reports presenting science-based facts. Link removed

Editorial Review Board:

Damien Downing, M.D.
Harold D. Foster, Ph.D.
Steve Hickey, Ph.D.
Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D.
James A. Jackson, PhD
Bo H. Jonsson, MD, Ph.D
Thomas Levy, M.D., J.D.
Erik Paterson, M.D.
Gert E. Shuitemaker, Ph.D.
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: JP on 20/08/2010 03:04:10
Yes, your link has some information, but it also has many links to "Order Now!"  Debating the science here is fine, but posting links to sell your product is advertising and is not allowed. 
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: Danser on 20/08/2010 04:52:51
OK, JP, there will be no further mention of the product on this forum from me.  May I share new scientific information as it becomes available?
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: JP on 20/08/2010 05:06:27
Certainly.  So long as it a scientific discussion, it's fine for the forum.  You can read the Acceptable Usage Policy here: http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=8535.0
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: Geezer on 20/08/2010 05:30:27
So what's the deal with the blue guy?
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: imatfaal on 20/08/2010 13:49:24
BTW Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine is not indexed by PubMed and is considered as a little flaky.  It is peer-reviewed and run by a non-for-profit organisation, however it is viewed as non-mainstream at present.  FYG many homeopathic and complementary medicine journals are kept and indexed.
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: skipgin on 20/08/2010 17:42:36
All I can say about colloidal silver is that I'm glad I didn't read the Consumer Reports article this time last year. I have always respected CR and probably would not have tried colloidal silver if I had read their article first. As it is, last September I started taking a tsp of 10 ppm colloidal silver every morning and, for the first time in at least 8 years or more, I didn't have one cold or sniffle. Needless to say, I'll use it again this year too.
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: Geezer on 20/08/2010 18:06:23
All I can say about colloidal silver is that I'm glad I didn't read the Consumer Reports article this time last year. I have always respected CR and probably would not have tried colloidal silver if I had read their article first. As it is, last September I started taking a tsp of 10 ppm colloidal silver every morning and, for the first time in at least 8 years or more, I didn't have one cold or sniffle. Needless to say, I'll use it again this year too.

Well go easy, unless you want to turn into a Smurf.
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: iko on 20/08/2010 19:21:42
I'm turning 57,

almost entering my 'silver' citizen age...
this silver thread reminds me of bismuth, the antiulcer drug that had been used much before the discovery of helicobacter pylori as a causative agent:

http://nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/index.php?id=614





Drug companies had been criticized even by distinguished scientists like Barry Marshall (another Marshall), interviewed for his 2005 Nobel Prize (Physiol. and Med.):


Quote
...

"The excitement for the drug companies is not there, because the drug companies were making so much money out of ulcer treatments, and if you analyse the pharmaceutical industry, you’ll see that the pharmaceutical giants are interested in treatments, which go on and on for years: like blood pressure, cholesterol, and that’s why these are the very big money makers for the drug companies.


They don’t make much money out of a cure, because you can only take it once."



http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2005/marshall-docu.html




(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.australianoftheyear.gov.au%2Fpages%2Fimages%2FWA%2520Prof%2520Barry%2520Marshall%2520%26amp%3B%2520Prof%2520Robin%2520Warren%2520AOTY%2520%282%29.jpg&hash=64f374f9ccbf6d2967eb383749b14cff)

Barry Marshall and Robin Warren - Nobel Prize 2005
http://www.australianoftheyear.gov.au/pages/images/WA%20Prof%20Barry%20Marshall%20&%20Prof%20Robin%20Warren%20AOTY%20(2).jpg



Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: The Silver Genie on 22/08/2010 20:13:18
BC has it wrong again-these are the blue people

Actually, both you and Geezer have it wrong as does everybody that references Paul Karason (Blue Man) and a few others that used various "silver compounds" not Colloidal or Ionic Silver.

Yes, Paul thought he was making and taking Colloidal Silver, but in fact he was NOT. Paul put salt in his process as was once recommended and this little twist resulted in producing silver chloride, not Colloidal or Ionic Silver.

Even with the silver chloride, he had to go to the extreme for several years to get the result he has.

I've been making, using and studying Ionic Silver (generically most often and incorrectly referred to as Colloidal Silver) for over 10 years with amazing results and no adverse side effects even when taking other medications at the same time.

Silver chloride is the substance responsible for the reports of Argyria.

Neither Colloidal or Ionic Silver are responsible for this condition.


Safety Information Related to Nanoscalar-Oligodynamic Silver Ions


Abstract:

3. e-Medicine Journal, November 2, 2001; Number 11

a. “Argyria results from prolonged contact to or ingestion of silver salts.

It produces a gray to gray-black staining of skin and mucous membranes produced by silver deposition. Silver may be deposited in the skin either from industrial exposure or as a result of medications containing silver salts.”

Neither Colloidal or Ionic Silver contain any salts if made properly.

5. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)/IRIS CASRN 7440-22-4 (It should be noted that the individuals tested in these case studies are members of a subpopulation of unhealthy adults.)

10 ppm for Adult:

a.) 7 teaspoons can be taken a day for 70 years in accordance with the reference dose.

b.) 19 teaspoons can be taken a day for 70 years while remaining under the critical dose of 25 grams in a lifetime.

According to the EPA Dietary Silver Intake (10 ppm) - (LOAEL) lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level

a. Taking 38 tspn daily of SS for 35 years falls below LOAEL threshold for an adult.

b. Taking 76 tspn daily of SS for 17 years falls below LOAEL threshold for an adult.

c. Taking 170 tspn daily of SS for 8 years falls below LOAEL threshold for an adult.

d. Taking 304 tspn daily of SS for 4 years falls below LOAEL threshold for an adult.

e. Taking 608 tspn daily of SS for 2 years falls below LOAEL threshold for an adult.

f. Taking 200 Tbspn daily of SS for 2 years falls below LOAEL threshold for an adult.

g. Taking ¾ gallon daily of SS for 2 years falls below LOAEL threshold for an adult.

Per the cited EPA “Reference Dosage” above and that the majority of Colloidal Silver sold or that is made at home is actually “Ionic Silver” that contains approx. 20% silver particles and 80% ions and at 5 to 20ppm (parts per million) and even “Colloidal Silver” contains approx. 80% silver particles and 20% ions and at 5 to 20ppm, one can clearly see that one’s bladder would most likely burst long before enough “silver” was consumed to have any adverse effects.

(Colloidal) Ionic Silver for the health of your family, pets, plants and home.

Don't be fooled by negative propaganda or misrepresentations.



Mod edit - link removed
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: Danser on 22/08/2010 20:28:45
I have been studying CS for years and what the Silver Genie says is true; you can not get argyria from CS, you must take silver compounds.
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: Variola on 22/08/2010 23:32:05
Quote
Actually, both you and Geezer have it wrong as does everybody that references Paul Karason (Blue Man) and a few others that used various "silver compounds" not Colloidal or Ionic Silver.
   

Actually I have it right as I did reference genuine blue people.


Whether people turn blue from taking CS is irrelevant when compared to the lack of evidence that it is beneficial.

Show me a properly researched and reviewed paper and I would be more willing to listen to people here to sell a product.
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: BenV on 23/08/2010 07:57:22
It is worth noting that the 2 strong advocates of colloidal silver in this thread are both linked to websites that sell the stuff. For this reason, I suspect that it's very unlikely that they will accept other points of view. I propose this topic be locked - any complaints?
Title: Why is Consumer Reports Magazine Sleeping with Big Pharma?
Post by: Variola on 23/08/2010 08:32:52
It is worth noting that the 2 strong advocates of colloidal silver in this thread are both linked to websites that sell the stuff. For this reason, I suspect that it's very unlikely that they will accept other points of view. I propose this topic be locked - any complaints?

Well quite!!!

Nope none from me.

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