The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has obtained a US federal court order to stop an Internet marketing scheme that deceptively sells Colopure, a so-called colon cleanser, acai berry supplements, and other products.

In addition to false claims that the products prevent cancer and promote weight loss, the company cheats consumers by promising a “free” or “risk-free” trial and then charging credit cards, not once but monthly.  Consumers who tried to stop the billing had difficulty reaching the company to do so and telephone staff were actively urged to lie to customers who called to complain. Read the rest of this entry »

Some older customers were told that they could stop taking prescription drugs if they bought a dietary supplement.  Others heard that they could reduce their insulin or stop using it altogether.

Sellers promised that supplements would prevent high blood pressure or Alzheimer’s.  Some said the supplements could cure cancer.

During an investigation by the General Accounting Office, GAO investigators reviewed claims on websites selling dietary supplements and visited or phoned retail stores posing as elderly customers.  They found that the sellers broke FDA rules that forbid them to say that supplements can prevent, treat, or cure disease.  Some advice they gave customers was dangerous.

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Briefly: In research this week, human embryonic stem cells produced an immune response in mice with colon cancer, and discussing strong pain medicines with cancer patients reduces their pain by about 20 percent.

The Food and Drug Administration has found many dietary supplements contaminated with prescription drugs not listed on the label, some at several times higher than the recommended dose.  In other FDA news, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals was unable to get FDA approval for use of Fusilev® for metastatic colorectal cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

Several studies presented during the 2008 Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research found black raspberries had a positive impact on colorectal cancer development.

Freeze-dried berries reduced the inflammation that contributes to colorectal cancer in both humans and mice, the number of tumors in mice, and new rectal polyps in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.  After treatment with berries, levels of proteins that control inflammation were reduced in patients with colorectal cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

Regular use of multivitamins didn’t reduce risk for colorectal and other cancers in a diverse group of 162,000 women from sites across the United States.  After eight years of follow-up, there was no significant difference in cancer, heart disease, or death between multivitamin users and those who didn’t take the supplements. Read the rest of this entry »