Embargoed until Tuesday, November 17 at 3 p.m. CT.
On Tuesday The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) will release research which indicates an associated increased risk of cancer and death from any cause if the study subjects had received treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12. The study will appear in the November 18 issue of JAMA; the release has been embargoed until Tuesday, November 17 at 3 p.m. CT.
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WHO: Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the Natural Products Association (NPA), is available to comment. Fabricant is an expert in issues related to the benefits of dietary supplements.
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"This is an analysis of two studies -- the NORVIT [the Norwegian vitamin trial, a 2005 randomized trial of homocysteine-lowering with B-vitamins for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease after acute myocardial infarction] and WENBIT [Western Norway B-vitamin intervention trial presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2007]," said Fabricant.
"Despite the authors' justification for the analysis, previous review has indicated the NORVIT might not have been adequately powered and the factorial design might have been too complex, thus rendering the trial incapable of isolating the effect of folate per se. Being combined with the WENBIT, which was terminated early, and which wasn't without its design flaws, either, creates a scenario in which two flawed studies are combined to yield one larger flawed study. This does not seem to be in the best interest of medical science or public health."
Fabricant also states that most of the subjects in both trials were also being treated with beta-blockers, and statins, and some were also being treated with ACE inhibitors and diuretics, "yet there are no numbers, no analysis on the effects these interventions may have on the incidence of cancer. There is no adjustment of the baseline effect for these interventions, yet the authors adjusted the baseline for smoking, age and sex, which are all factors in the development of cancer. We have no way of determining these factors' impact on this study as they just decided to leave that out, like ordering off of an a la carte menu, "said Fabricant.
BACKGROUND: The Natural Products Association (www.NPAInfo.org), which represents the majority of dietary supplement manufacturers in the United States, is the nation's largest and oldest non-profit organization dedicated to the natural products industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NPA's membership includes more than 10,000 retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids.
CONTACT: To speak with Dr. Fabricant, please call: Tracy Taylor, Natural Products Association, (202) 204-4723 (direct office) or (202) 641-3752 (cell).
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D.
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=61710
CONTACT: Tracy Taylor, Natural Products Association, +1-202-204-4723 (direct office), +1-202-641-3752 (cell).
/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Nov. 16/
SOURCE Natural Products Association
