New study questions dietary supplement advice

June 07, 2010

For Immediate Release

 

New study warns of poor advice on dietary supplements

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (JACN) warns consumers against dietary supplement advice offered by health food stores. The study was conducted by Athabasca University researchers led by Dr. Norman Temple, Professor of Nutrition.

The study sampled nutritional advice offered by 192 health food stores and 56 pharmacies located across Canada. In 88% of the cases, the advice offered by health food stores was either unscientific (6%) or poorly supported by scientific literature (82%).

By contrast, pharmacies offered advice that is considered scientifically supportable 73% of the time.

"The lesson is pretty clear, stay away from health food stores when you're looking for advice about dietary supplements," says Dr. Norman Temple, the study's lead author. "If you are interested in taking a supplement, talk to a health care professional before you do. Doctors, dieticians and pharmacists are all excellent souces of solid advice backed up by science. Health food store employees are not."

The study points out numerous examples of misleading advice given to customers of health food stores, including advice about cancer treatments and remedies for Crohn's disease. Dr. Temple says some of the advice given by health food store employees could actually be dangerous if followed.

Studies conducted over the past decade indicate that as many as 70% of Canadians are regular users of dietary supplements. In the United States, the industry has sales of more than $22 billion annually.

For more information, contact:

John O'Brien
Manager, Media Relations
403-298-2931
jobrien@athabascau.ca

Dr. Norman Temple
Professor, Nutrition
780-469-3982
normant@athabascau.ca

< back to news

Updated August 21, 2012