Senator McCain Looks To Ban Vitamins And Supplements

[mikemarrs]

The dietary supplement act of 2010 limits access to nutrients. Will you be signing a petition to oppose this?
The supplement act as proposed will limit the over-the-counter sales of nutrients to consumers. And will cause consumer's to require a doctor's prescription to buy nutrients.

Critics of the supplement act say the act will enable pharmaceutical firms to alter the chemical structure of supplements in a way that enables the firms to patent supplements to be sold as drugs. What do you think?

Presently, natural substances can NOT be patented because only synthetic drugs can be patented.

Patented (synthetic) drugs bring in higher prices and require a doctor's prescription.

Some people object to chemically altering natural nutrients so that they can be sold as a drug and for higher profits.....Do you object to this?

HERE IS A LINK TO THE PETITION:

http://www.anh-usa.org/new_site/?p=2326t…

Here is a link to the actual supplement act of 2010, as proposed:

http://mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cf…

Here is a link to more information about the limitations the act will impose on the consumer's right to choose which nutrients to buy:

http://www.citizens.org/

Additional Details
McCain’s bill is called The Dietary Supplement Safety Act (DSSA). It would repeal key sections of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). DSHEA protects supplements if 1) they are food products that have been in the food supply and not chemically altered or 2) if they were sold as supplements prior to 1994, the year that DSHEA was passed. If a supplement fits one of these two descriptions, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cannot arbitrarily ban it or reclassify it as a drug.

These protections are far from perfect. They discourage companies from developing new forms of supplements. New supplements may be arbitrarily banned by the FDA or adopted by drug companies in a way that precludes their further sale as supplements.

McCain’s bill would wipe out even the minimal protections contained in DSHEA.

It would give the FDA full discretion and power to compile a discreet list of supplements allowed to remain on the market while banning all others.

[Ehwmatt]

What is the rationale behind this?

Regulate, regulate, regulate. Christ almighty what have we become

[mikemarrs]

What is the rationale behind this?

Regulate, regulate, regulate. Christ almighty what have we become

yep and plus the thing here is big pharma.they want to control the vitamins and supplements that way they can charge 50 or 100 bucks for a bottle of vitamin C.

[SherriBerry]

This is just another way for the billion dollar drug companies and the medical profession to increase their fees and profit margins by controlling access. People are increasingly turning to natural alternatives or supplements because they either cannot afford prescriptions or none of the prescribed medications are helping them. Some are dangerous too. Nothing ever worked for my stomach pain like a few little pieces of black licorice (with licorice extract, not anise - I get the Panda brand at the health food store) or some candied ginger for nausea. If you have to go to the doctor for a prescription for supplements, it isn't just the increased cost for the prescription - your insurance company (or you if you don't have any insurance) will get billed for the doctor's visit. This is just another play by Big Brother - the more governments mind their own business, the more business they can actually get done!

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

What , if they come for my Flinstones Chewable vitamins....... Boy they are gonna have to fight their way into my house

[Babyblue]

Well check this out tonight.Thanks for sharing this with us. That just sucks big time.

[Angel]

Something needs to be done to regulate supplements, just not sure this is it.

Currently there is no regulation on dietary supplements-which means consumers never really know what they are getting. I went to a conference a few years ago where a chemist came and spoke-he did some of his own research on dietary supplements and found that when analyzed, different bottles of supplements from the same lot # had over a 400% difference in their chemical structure. Supplements from different lot #'s had over a 1,000% difference in their chemical make up. These numbers were very similar with many different brands.

While vitamins and herbs certainly have a place in healthcare, it's scary to recommend them because the herb you think you are taking may not really be what you are actally taking-because, again, there is no regulation.

[parfait]

Of course there should be some kind of regulation. People are suckers for vitamins; they could sell whale piss and advertise it as a really strong antioxidant, and people would still buy it.

What the US should ban is dairy products. They're nothing but loaded with fat and LDL.

[Ehwmatt]

Of course there should be some kind of regulation. People are suckers for vitamins; they could sell whale piss and advertise it as a really strong antioxidant, and people would still buy it.

What the US should ban is dairy products. They're nothing but loaded with fat and LDL.

Yes, we should also ban all booze, all simple carbs, red meat, and anything that isn't organic.

[parfait]

Of course there should be some kind of regulation. People are suckers for vitamins; they could sell whale piss and advertise it as a really strong antioxidant, and people would still buy it.

What the US should ban is dairy products. They're nothing but loaded with fat and LDL.

Yes, we should also ban all booze, all simple carbs, red meat, and anything that isn't organic.

Woah woah! Who the fuck said anything about banning red meat and booze?!

Not cool, man.

[Ehwmatt]

Of course there should be some kind of regulation. People are suckers for vitamins; they could sell whale piss and advertise it as a really strong antioxidant, and people would still buy it.

What the US should ban is dairy products. They're nothing but loaded with fat and LDL.

Yes, we should also ban all booze, all simple carbs, red meat, and anything that isn't organic.

Woah woah! Who the fuck said anything about banning red meat and booze?!

Not cool, man.

[Rockindeano]

Something needs to be done to regulate supplements, just not sure this is it.

Currently there is no regulation on dietary supplements-which means consumers never really know what they are getting. I went to a conference a few years ago where a chemist came and spoke-he did some of his own research on dietary supplements and found that when analyzed, different bottles of supplements from the same lot # had over a 400% difference in their chemical structure. Supplements from different lot #'s had over a 1,000% difference in their chemical make up. These numbers were very similar with many different brands.

While vitamins and herbs certainly have a place in healthcare, it's scary to recommend them because the herb you think you are taking may not really be what you are actally taking-because, again, there is no regulation.

Spoken very well Natalie.

Regulation is the Government's job Matt. It is a good thing when done properly.

[Ehwmatt]

Something needs to be done to regulate supplements, just not sure this is it.

Currently there is no regulation on dietary supplements-which means consumers never really know what they are getting. I went to a conference a few years ago where a chemist came and spoke-he did some of his own research on dietary supplements and found that when analyzed, different bottles of supplements from the same lot # had over a 400% difference in their chemical structure. Supplements from different lot #'s had over a 1,000% difference in their chemical make up. These numbers were very similar with many different brands.

While vitamins and herbs certainly have a place in healthcare, it's scary to recommend them because the herb you think you are taking may not really be what you are actally taking-because, again, there is no regulation.

Spoken very well Natalie.

Regulation is the Government's job Matt. It is a good thing when done properly.

The same people who want all these regulations are the same people who will piss and moan in the future when they can't go and buy a 50 pack of Centrum because of the hoops and prices they have to jump through/pay to get it.

I'd rather take my chances buying a multi-vitamin from a reputable company (eg not the generic Giant Eagle brand) and do so for a decently low price without a prescription than have to jump through all of these hoops and have the vitamin companies pass the extra costs onto me.

[steveo777]

One aspect of the status quo I despise it that every once in awhile a friend will call me up with this new fantastic business opportunity. Normally it's network marketing of some nutritional shit and God only knows what it really does. Products go on the market everyday without FDA approval and little to no government scrutiny, maketed by hucksters, who sell the products through a well disguised ponzi scheme.

[Rockindeano]

The same people who want all these regulations are the same people who will piss and moan in the future when they can't go and buy a 50 pack of Centrum because of the hoops and prices they have to jump through/pay to get it.

I'd rather take my chances buying a multi-vitamin from a reputable company (eg not the generic Giant Eagle brand) and do so for a decently low price without a prescription than have to jump through all of these hoops and have the vitamin companies pass the extra costs onto me.

Don't be dumb an succumb to fear mongering. Jesus, you probably believed Palin and her death panel smack too. We need a regulatory commission in place for the people to be protected. A regulatory commission to protect us from falsely made pills is necessary.

[Ehwmatt]

The same people who want all these regulations are the same people who will piss and moan in the future when they can't go and buy a 50 pack of Centrum because of the hoops and prices they have to jump through/pay to get it.

I'd rather take my chances buying a multi-vitamin from a reputable company (eg not the generic Giant Eagle brand) and do so for a decently low price without a prescription than have to jump through all of these hoops and have the vitamin companies pass the extra costs onto me.

Don't be dumb an succumb to fear mongering. Jesus, you probably believed Palin and her death panel smack too. We need a regulatory commission in place for the people to be protected. A regulatory commission to protect us from falsely made pills is necessary.

lol, how am I fear mongering? Noting that for-profit companies will pass additional costs of regulation/insurance etc. onto customers is not fear mongering, it's empirical business fact. Even the most left-wing of liberals will acknowledge that!

Are you primarily worried about false placebo pills being sold for profit or that some of these supplements could contain either harmful byproducts or be harmful in and of themselves?

If it's the former, don't get me wrong, that absolutely should be regulated and both be barred and punished handsomely.

If it's the latter, I understand and sympathize with the concern, but come on, if you're trying all of these crazy fad herbal and vitamin nutritional tricks, you're assuming a risk, I don't care what kind of regulatory scheme is or isn't in place. Do we really need to regulate to stop certain companies release these ridiculous Octopus Vagina Juice and tell you you'll unclog your arteries, lose 100 pounds, and never get dark circles under your eyes and can get away with it by disclaiming FDA verification/approval. But hell, people believe it. Unbelievable. Similarly, if you've got some idiot taking all of these Nitro-Complex pills and drinking Nitro Fire to speed their heart up to 200 BPM before they even put their gym shoes on, it shouldn't take a government regulation to tell you that might be bad.

I've been taking several supplements for 6 or 7 years, including Centrum, Magnesium, B-Complex, and Glucosamine. I haven't had a single problem. I don't want to pay more for my apparently perfectly suitable supplements.

I'm not afraid of some regulation to stop some of the ridiculous practices, but as always, the government will go way overboard.

[Angel]

I'm not so concerned about supplements being harmful-I don't think that's the real issue. I just worry that supplements are either not what they say they are, or not the dose they say they are.

For example-if a patient with mild depression chooses to take St.John's Wort to treat the depression, St.John's Wort in certan doses has been shown to help...but without regulation, the patient could be taking a pill that really has very little SJW in it....they probably wouldn't see any results so would seek further treatment and end up taking prescription medications because the SJW "didn't work" when in reality, it would have worked if they were actually taking what they thought they were taking.

I am speaking without researching exactly here, but I believe that supplements must prove that they are not harmful but do not have to prove that they are effective-therefore, there is no regulation on formulation....I could be wrong, I would have to go do some reading.....maybe later....but, I seem to think this is the way it is.....medications, on the other hand must prove both.

(someone correct me if I am wrong)

[JasonD]

They better not take away my Twinkies or someone's gonna get hurt.

[Saint John]

St.John's Wort

Leave my genitals out of this!

[Ehwmatt]

I'm not so concerned about supplements being harmful-I don't think that's the real issue. I just worry that supplements are either not what they say they are, or not the dose they say they are.

For example-if a patient with mild depression chooses to take St.John's Wort to treat the depression, St.John's Wort in certan doses has been shown to help...but without regulation, the patient could be taking a pill that really has very little SJW in it....they probably wouldn't see any results so would seek further treatment and end up taking prescription medications because the SJW "didn't work" when in reality, it would have worked if they were actually taking what they thought they were taking.

I am speaking without researching exactly here, but I believe that supplements must prove that they are not harmful but do not have to prove that they are effective-therefore, there is no regulation on formulation....I could be wrong, I would have to go do some reading.....maybe later....but, I seem to think this is the way it is.....medications, on the other hand must prove both.

(someone correct me if I am wrong)

I think you are right as far as the approval process is concerned. That could definitely use some tweaking.

[RossValoryRocks]

Regulation is the Government's job Matt. It is a good thing when done properly.

The problem is our goverment can't even regulate ITSELF properly...what makes you think they can regulate anything else successfully?

[Angel]

St.John's Wort

Leave my genitals out of this!

So it doesn't help ease depression??????

[portland]

St.John's Wort

Leave my genitals out of this!

So it doesn't help ease depression??????

Depression of what???

[SherriBerry]

I don't know about the US, but in Canada when you buy a reputable brand like Wellquest, which is the supplement brand of Pharmasave drugstores (the national chain I worked for), you are getting what it says on the bottle. The company ensures that their products meet or exceed the highest standards and are under strict quality control. In terms of dosage or content on herbs such as St.John's Wort, you have to check on the ingredient label for "standardized extract" to ensure you are getting the correct dosage per capsule or pill. If you buy some unknown brand imported from Mexico, then no kidding you probably aren't getting what it says on the label.

The only regulation necessary is that the companies producing the supplements adhere to strict regulations regarding the product content (it contains what it says on the label) and the product undergoes random inspections, the same as for the meat industry or dairy. If there are no regulations in the US for that, well there should be. But making it necessary to get a prescription for those supplements or vitamins is something else entirely.

[verslibre]

McCain’s bill would wipe out even the minimal protections contained in DSHEA.

It would give the FDA full discretion and power to compile a discreet list of supplements allowed to remain on the market while banning all others.

Now we know who is in whose pockets.

This isn't about "regulation." It's about not being able to make money on naturally-occurring properties. Big Pharma/FDA are about making money, and if they found a way — and the public let them — they'd find a way to regulate drinking water by classifying it as a "pharmaceutical."

Fuck them.

[mikemarrs]

McCain’s bill would wipe out even the minimal protections contained in DSHEA.

It would give the FDA full discretion and power to compile a discreet list of supplements allowed to remain on the market while banning all others.

Now we know who is in whose pockets.

This isn't about "regulation." It's about not being able to make money on naturally-occurring properties. Big Pharma/FDA are about making money, and if they found a way — and the public let them — they'd find a way to regulate drinking water by classifying it as a "pharmaceutical."

Fuck them.

exactly.thats my whole point.see i'm all for making sure the products underwent stricter laws to make sure they say what is in the bottle is definitely there.however i definitely think just like you do that they are looking for ways to make money off of natural vitamins which is bullshit.your right also that they'd probably do drinking water the same way if they could find a way.