Changes

==Advertising messages used with dietary supplements==

==Advertising messages used with dietary supplements==

Since January 1^st2007, advertising messages used with dietary supplements are regulated by the new Health Claims Regulations. Same like other food, illness-related statements and indications are not allowed and their use can be fined. In practice, this prohibition is disregarded, not only regularly but to a great extent. This is particularly true in the internet. Specifically so-called  [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Guerilla-Marketing guerilla marketing] methods (e.g. marketing on internet boards) are applied to avoid being fined for violating the advertisement ban. Often, several such advertisers - in the disguise of a regular user - cooperate and 'complement' each other, or an individual may soliloquise with their own socket puppets. Usually new board users will start threads on health issues and ask for advice. Shortly after this, another new board member will offer advice suprisingly fast and advertises a product praised for allegedly having cured the replier or some acquaintance. Such marketers will also use private messages or E-mails, targeting users who ask questions.

Since January 1^st2007, advertising messages used with dietary supplements are regulated by the new Health Claims Regulations. Same like other food, illness-related statements and indications are not allowed and their use can be fined. In practice, this prohibition is disregarded, not only regularly but to a great extent. This is particularly true in the internet. Specifically so-called  [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Guerilla-Marketing guerilla marketing] methods (e.g. marketing on internet boards) are applied to avoid being fined for violating advertisement bans. Often, several such advertisers - in the disguise of a regular user - cooperate and 'complement' each other, or an individual may soliloquise with their own socket puppets. Usually new board users will start threads on health issues and ask for advice. Shortly after this, another new board member will offer advice surprisingly fast and advertises a product, praising it for allegedly having cured the replier or some acquaintance. Such marketers will also use private messages or e-mails, targeting users who ask questions.

The consumer advice center of Northrhine-Westfalia, after having performed random tests at internet boards, points out that such boards are used ''to stir attention'' for questionable dietary supplements. Such absurd postings are frequently written by retailers themselves. Some 30 reports on aloe vera gels, vitamin and mineral preparations raised special attention. Every second author of such postings openly admitted they were retailers (5 reports) or offered additional information regarding the product or ways to order it (10 reports). It does not come as a surprise, therefore, that 26 of the 30 reports checked featured irregular and absurd advertisement messages.

The consumer advice centre of Northrhine-Westfalia, after having performed random tests at internet boards, points out that such boards are used ''to stir attention'' for questionable dietary supplements. Such absurd postings are frequently written by retailers themselves. Some 30 reports on aloe vera gels, vitamin and mineral preparations raised special attention. Every second author of such postings openly admitted they were retailers (5 reports) or offered additional information regarding the product or ways to order it (10 reports). It does not come as a surprise, therefore, that 26 of the 30 reports checked featured irregular and absurd advertisement messages.

While commercial producers and merchants would be in violation of legal provisions prohibition if they used health-related advertisement claims, the posters in internet boards obviously assume they can operate freely. Food expert Angela Clausen of consumer advise centre Northrhine-Westfalia criticizes: ”They operate in a grey area, largely defying controls by food surveillance and so far remain unchallenged.”. The Cologne Higher Regional Court in February 2008 decided that producers of dietary supplements are also to be held liable for exaggerated or inaccurate advertisements found on the websites of their distribution partners(file reference: 6 U 149/07).<ref>http://www.vz-nrw.de/UNIQ122313037328397/link502181A.html</ref>

While commercial producers and merchants would be in violation of legal provisions prohibition if they used health-related advertisement claims, the posters in internet boards obviously assume they can operate freely. Food expert Angela Clausen of consumer advice centre Northrhine-Westfalia criticizes: ”They operate in a grey area, largely defying controls by food surveillance and so far remain unchallenged”. In February 2008, the Cologne Higher Regional Court decided that producers of dietary supplements are also to be held liable for exaggerated or inaccurate advertisements found on the websites of their distribution partners (file reference: 6 U 149/07).<ref>http://www.vz-nrw.de/UNIQ122313037328397/link502181A.html</ref>

Advertisements used by the dietary supplement industry almost always suggest a deficiency of certain substances or active agents. This is usually backed by dubious or biased sources, or sources are quoted distortingly. Another frequently procedure is to present small scale producer-financed studies to suggest these were neutral sources.

Advertisements used by the dietary supplement industry almost always suggest a deficiency of certain substances or active agents. This is usually backed by dubious or biased sources, or sources are quoted distortingly. Another frequent procedure is to present small scale producer-financed studies to suggest these were neutral sources.

==Alleged vitamin deficiency used as a marketing argument==

==Alleged vitamin deficiency used as a marketing argument==

Dietary supplements are often advertised as a remedy to an allegedly spreading vitamin deficiency. Healthy persons living on a balanced diet, however, do not need additional vitamins in dietary supplements. According to studies on the common dietary situation in Germany, dietary supplements are unnecessary except for special cases like pregnancy (folic acid), alcoholism (vitamin B12), or diseases requiring a special diet. Such persons must seek doctor's advice instead of taking supplements recommended by laypersons. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE, German Nutritional Society) compared the nutritional value of three kinds of food over the last 50 years. According to their results, oranges have the same amount of vitamin C as 50 years ago, same like potatoes. Only apples showed an oscillation over the years. Scientists think this is due to seasonal influence and do not regard this as an indication of a general loss of nutrients. Food chemists of the University of Kaiserslautern investigated the hypothesis of an alleged loss of nutrients. They could not find any evidence indicating vitamin or mineral deficiency in persons living on a balanced diet. Gerhard Eisenbrand, head of the research group conducting this investigation, calls nutrient deficiency a "myth". Beat Bächli discusses the history of marketing strategies for vitamin C deficiency in his book <ref>Beat Bächi: Vitamin C für alle! Pharmazeutische Produktion, Vermarktung und Gesundheitspolitik (1933-1953). Chronos Verlag</ref> [http://www.zeit.de/2009/21/A-Vitamin-C] [http://orf.at/090625-39701/?href=http%3A%2F%2Forf.at%2F090625-39701%2F38682txt_story.html].

Dietary supplements are often advertised as a remedy to an allegedly spreading vitamin deficiency. Healthy persons living on a balanced diet, however, do not need additional vitamins in dietary supplements. According to studies on the common dietary situation in Germany, dietary supplements are unnecessary except for special cases like pregnancy (folic acid), alcoholism (vitamin B12), or diseases requiring a special diet. Such persons must seek doctor's advice instead of taking supplements recommended by laypersons. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE, German Nutritional Society) compared the nutritional value of three kinds of food over the last 50 years. According to their results, oranges have the same amount of vitamin C as 50 years ago, same like potatoes. Only apples showed an oscillation over the years. Scientists think this is due to seasonal influence and do not regard this as an indication of a general loss of nutrients. Food chemists of Kaiserslautern University investigated the hypothesis of an alleged loss of nutrients. They could not find any evidence indicating vitamin or mineral deficiency in persons living on a balanced diet. Gerhard Eisenbrand, head of the research group conducting this investigation, calls nutrient deficiency a "myth". Beat Bächli discusses the history of marketing strategies for vitamin C deficiency in his book <ref>Beat Bächi: Vitamin C für alle! Pharmazeutische Produktion, Vermarktung und Gesundheitspolitik (1933-1953). Chronos Verlag</ref> [http://www.zeit.de/2009/21/A-Vitamin-C] [http://orf.at/090625-39701/?href=http%3A%2F%2Forf.at%2F090625-39701%2F38682txt_story.html].

==Dietary supplement business and volume in Germany==

==Dietary supplement business and volume in Germany==

==Criticism==

==Criticism==

The Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR, Federal Institute for Risk Assesment) deems dietary supplements unnecessary for healthy persons living on a regular diet<ref>http://www.bfr.bund.de/cd/945</ref>. Such a diet will provide the human body with everything it needs. An additional intake of single nutrients therefore was not necessary. An unbalanced, one-sided diet will not become balanced by the use of dietary supplements. Only in specific situations uncommon in Germany will necessitate a special supplementation of one's diet with particular nutrients. According to the German Nutrition Society, supplementation is reasonable only regarding iodine (in the form of iodated salt) and folic acid (with pregnant women).

The Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR, Federal Institute for Risk Assesment) deems dietary supplements unnecessary for healthy persons living on a regular diet<ref>http://www.bfr.bund.de/cd/945</ref>. Such a diet will provide the human body with everything it needs. An additional intake of single nutrients therefore was not necessary. An unbalanced, one-sided diet will not become balanced by the use of dietary supplements. Only specific situations uncommon in Germany will necessitate a special supplementation of one's diet with particular nutrients. According to the German Nutrition Society, supplementation is reasonable only regarding iodine (in the form of iodated salt) and folic acid (with pregnant women).

An analysis of different meta and randomized studies evaluated the current state of knowledge regarding the influence of vitamins A, C and E (which are also promoted as [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Antioxidantien antioxidants]) as well as beta-carotene for treatment or prevention of coronary diseases, cancer, eye diseases, and common cold. It concluded that the existing randomized studies do not allow to deduce a clear clinical value. Additionally, beta-carotene increases the probability of acquiring lung cancer and the overall mortality rate, especially with smokers.<ref>Arzneimitteltelegramm, 2003; 34: 100-2, 111-3</ref>

An analysis of different meta and randomized studies evaluated the current state of knowledge regarding the influence of vitamins A, C and E (which are also promoted as [http://www.psiram.com/ge/index.php?title=Antioxidantien antioxidants]) as well as beta-carotene for treatment or prevention of coronary diseases, cancer, eye diseases, and common cold. It concluded that the existing randomized studies do not allow to deduce a clear clinical value. Additionally, beta-carotene increases the probability of acquiring lung cancer and the overall mortality rate, especially with smokers.<ref>Arzneimitteltelegramm, 2003; 34: 100-2, 111-3</ref>

Anti-oxidants are frequently used by cancer patients to counter unwanted effects of chemo or radiotherapy. Experimental as well as clinical data, however, support the assumption that they, to a certain extent, may even protect tumor cells. According to several randomized studies, particularly the concurrent intake of high doses of anti-oxidants during radiation therapy impairs response and decreases survival time.<ref>"Prävention mit Antioxidanzien: Schaden überwiegt", Arzneimitteltelegramm, 12/2008</ref>

Anti-oxidants are frequently used by cancer patients to counter unwanted effects of chemo- or radiotherapy. Experimental as well as clinical data, however, support the assumption that they, to a certain extent, may even protect tumor cells. According to several randomized studies, particularly the concurrent intake of high doses of anti-oxidants during radiation therapy impairs response and decreases survival time.<ref>"Prävention mit Antioxidanzien: Schaden überwiegt", Arzneimitteltelegramm, 12/2008</ref>

==Dietary supplements and Doping==

==Dietary supplements and Doping==

==Health Risks==

==Health Risks==

Freely available dietary supplements can severely damage the liver, especially those sold via the internet. They are often contamined with substances causing damage to the liver, or may even contain substances which are illegal in Germany because of these effects. This applies to turmeric extracts, St. John's wort, and slimming agents, and in particular to products of Herbalife company.<ref>Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften, 14.09.2010 - NPO</ref><ref>http://www.scinexx.de/wissen-aktuell-12256-2010-09-14.html</ref><ref>http://www.bfr.bund.de/cd/945</ref>

Freely available dietary supplements can severely damage the liver, especially those sold via the internet. They are often contaminated with substances causing damage to the liver, or may even contain substances which are illegal in Germany because of these effects. This applies to turmeric extracts, St. John's wort, and slimming agents, and in particular to products sold by Herbalife company.<ref>Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften, 14.09.2010 - NPO</ref><ref>http://www.scinexx.de/wissen-aktuell-12256-2010-09-14.html</ref><ref>http://www.bfr.bund.de/cd/945</ref>

==Examples==

==Examples==