More Unreported Health News

Friday, October 3rd 2003

• Tweet

In my last Editorial I commented on the Pan manufactured dietary supplements that were recalled due to poor manufacturing practices in Australia. The fallout from the recall seems to be continuing with serious questions being asked in Australia and New Zealand about the competency of the TGA auditors. Every week in New Zealand products are recalled and they range from toys to electrical equipment to food. But none of these companies are closed down for 6 months even though the breaches in some cases are very serious. It is interesting to note that some of the world's major pharmaceutical companies have apparently been found to have experienced similar quality control problems over recent years.

An article in the Washington Post, May 18, 2002 indicated that drug maker Schering-Plough Corp. was ordered to pay the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a record US$500 million (around NZ$1 billion) as part of a broad settlement aimed at resolving quality control problems at four of its factories. The FDA said that the consent decree covered problems found in the manufacturing of 90% of the company's drug products since 1998 and involved 125 prescription and non-prescription drugs.

The action against Schering-Plough, maker of Claritin and one of America's top 10 pharmaceutical companies is unusual in its size. The problems detected at the four manufacturing plants in New Jersey and Puerto Rico, involved "overall manufacturing, quality assurance, equipment, laboratories, packaging and labelling," according to an FDA statement.

Since 1999 the FDA has won several large agreements against well-known pharmaceutical companies. Abbott Laboratories Inc agreed to pay US$100 million in 1999 to settle accusations that it apparently failed to meet quality standards in the production of medical test kits and Wyeth Laboratories Inc agreed to pay US$30 million in 2000 to settle accusations of apparently poor manufacturing practices.

More health news from around the world that you won't have seen in the media:

The Lancet, 2003; 361: 2087: "There is objective evidence for the efficacy of folic acid, vitamin B12 and pyridoxine ( Vit B6) in reduction of the rates of restenosis and revascularisation after coronary angioplasty. These simple, low cost, and safe interventions should be routine in appropriate patients."

A review published in Pharmacological Toxicology April 2001 of the common sources of aluminium for humans found that antiperspirant use can significantly increase the amount of aluminium absorbed by the body. According to the review, after a single underarm application of antiperspirant, about .012 percent of the aluminium may be absorbed.

Elevated homocysteine levels, which are a risk factor for vascular disease, are associated with a decrease in cognitive ability among the elderly. Researchers suggest that lowering homocysteine levels with B vitamin supplements may provide some protection against mental decline among this age group. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Sept 2003.

New research shows that some North American infants are not receiving enough dietary calcium and, as a result, are developing rickets -- a disease usually attributed to a lack of vitamin D or insufficient exposure to sunlight -- at a higher level than previously thought. The new findings, which will be published in the August issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCE&M), highlight the need to maintain a healthy diet for infants and children once breast feeding stops.

A scientific review of "Chromium & Aging" was presented at the "Second International Congress on Nutrition and Aging," July 10-14, and indicated that insulin function is central to many biological factors that contribute to disease. It was suggested that some of the diseases viewed solely as a natural result of the aging process are, in fact, affected by insulin function and chromium intake.

Gary Mabey, ND. Editorial.

Reproduced unabridged from the October - December 2003 issue of Health and Herbal News, with the kind permission of Health and Herbs International Ltd.

The following products are all useful for Natural Health:

Aloe Vera Roll On
Clearly fresh and natural stick for men
Deodorant Fresh Roll On
Le Crystal Roll-on Deodorant
Le Crystal Travel Stick
Le Crystal Stick Deodorant
The Body Crystal Deodorant Stick

Related health information can be found here:

Echinacea - a potent weapon against infection
Foods to help detoxification
Glutathione - the master antioxidant involved in disease prevention
Immunity
The benefits of fasting & detoxifying
The Good Health Diet
Water, the elixir of life

Related articles can be found here:

Childhood Vaccination: Is there a "Dark Side"

Chromium Essential for sugar metabolism

Detox your body - improve your energy

Doctors Recommend A Multi-Vitamin A Day

Double Standards

Good News for Supplements

Most prescription drugs don't work

Natural personal care - what really is in that deodorant?

Pharmalert: Should you get a flu vaccination?

If you need help or advice, you are welcome to email our naturopathic team with your health question.

Disclaimer: The health information presented here has been written for the New Zealand health consumer. It is of a general nature and is only intended to provide a summary of the subjects covered. The information is not intended to be comprehensive or to provide medical advice to you. While all care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, no responsibility or liability is accepted, and no person should act in reliance on any statement contained in the information provided. All health ailments should be treated by a qualified health professional.

ref:nh156

• Tweet