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Patrick Rea

Archive for April 8th, 2008

Study Finds Omega-3 Fatty Acids do not manage Crohn’s Disease

Science is slowly catching up to consumer interest in dietary supplements. Thousands of consumer health websites, forums and blogs detail the ability of dietary supplements to cure and treat chronic and fatal diseases, but only a handful of studies have been released thoroughly testing the efficacy of dietary supplements to treat these diseases.


Today the Journal of the American Medical Association published a story on the treatment of Crohn’s Disease with Omega-3 Fatty Acids.


In this study, 188 patients received omega-3 fatty acids and 186 were given placebo. The study conclusion found: “In these trials, treatment with omega-3 free fatty acids was not effective for the prevention of relapse in Crohn disease.”


Early estimates by NBJ indicate that the omega-3 fatty acid market grew 25-30% in 2007, down slightly from 2006 growth levels, but well within expected ranges of new incremental sales. In foods, omega-3 fatty acids are receiving interest from food manufacturers, but savvy consumers realize that efficacious doses are difficult to achieve through food fortification alone…unless you choose to eat a fishmeal tortilla. Tasty.

New York Times Article: “Potential for Harm in Dietary Supplements”

The popular press regularly publishes investigative reports on the dietary supplement industry. Often they are of a critical slant. It’s not difficult to see why. The regulatory status of the dietary supplement industry is practically flimsy with a post-market regulatory structure but little funding to support oversight by the FDA. As a result, unscrupulous or honestly unaware manufacturers and marketers at times launch adulterated, unsafe and mislabeled supplement products into the market. Consumers play a role too. They believe what they want to believe - extrapolating curative effects from structure-function claims and anecdotal successes stories.


Today, the New York Times published an article exploring this three pronged problem that the dietary supplement industry struggles with. You may read the article titled, Potential for Harm in Dietary Supplements here.


I encourage your comments below.


-Patrick