BBC’s Horizon last night was in my opinion another example of lazy journalism. It purported to be “Digging deeper than the eye-catching words on the packaging” yet principally focussed as ever on one brand trying to stand out in an increasingly regulated sector (thanks to European Health Claims) and a particular sensationalist story (also in the wider media yesterday) referring to an individual in the US who has suffered liver failure with a potential link to taking green tea extract. OK so let’s start with the ending, if my 4 years studying the science behind nutrition taught me anything, it was that you cannot possibly look at one individual case in isolation. OK so he never drank alcohol, is this the only thing that can cause liver failure? Absolutely not, a glancing mention in the programme to “genetics and other factors” glossed over this. This person was also in the US, which goes under the FDA, i.e. differing quality standards to Europe and the UK. But the report didn’t highlight that difference at all or go into the safety standards of the raw material sufficiently in my view.
The meta-analysis review however was interesting but its conclusions were hardly compelling and fundamentally the questions being asked were: Is more research required (into whether antioxidants may have a negative health affect) – well yes – it always is (never have I heard anyone especially research institutions say otherwise)! Also should the industry be more regulated? Well that depends, if we are going to treat ‘antioxidant’ supplements with the same control as medications then my concern would be the potential additional removal of further supplement products which clearly do benefit individuals but were not covered at all during the show. Such as glucosamine, probiotics, magnesium, calcium and what about the many herbal supplements which now come under THR regulations in the UK? Not a mention. Where would regulation stop? What about functional foods, sports nutrition, meal replacement products?
What about the pharmaceutical companies that would be set to benefit from increased regulation, charging more for your food supplements then you are currently paying? We have seen this happen recently with glucosamine which is now classed as a medicine above 1500mg (thanks MHRA).
Perhaps the limitations of the journalistic presenter’s insight into a complicated market which was very much dumbed down was the best they could come up with in the 1 hour time slot.
What do you think?