The Big Business of Pseudoscience

Hello my science lovers! • This is the 3rd episode of Hey scientist mel • A podcast where I talk about all of the science things • I also take your questions and topics thru twitter, email, and FB • Speaking science by revealing relevance, boosting literacy, and sparking that passionate curiosity in you one fun show at a time.

A bit about me • I have 2 bachelor’s in science – biochemistry and biology • I have 2 masters degrees – Arts in teaching, Science in Analytical chemistry • I have performed cancer research (drug delivery and testing), computational chemistry (receptor interactions) research as well as genetics for the tree of life project. • Currently I have a publication under peer review. • My work and CV are also available on my website scientistmel.com • On my website you can find educator resources as well as all of my slides from my videocast The Science Of show in addition to my outlines and sources for this podcast.

#HeyScientistMel Episode 3: The Big Business of Pseudoscience

Pseudoscience • Last week I discussed the scientific method and how to read scientific papers • I spoke about the importance of recognizing bad science. • Pseudoscience: • Statements, beliefs, or practices • Claimed to be scientific • Absence of evidence • Not constrained by appropriate scientific methods • Pseudoscience pushes for results to generate a profit for a product

Pseudoscience

Pseudoscience • Big Pharma Myth • Big pharma may have issues in regards to what to research in order to market an effective drug • They have to make back their they money put in • More likely to make drugs that treat larger populations for this reasons • However, they are bound by heavy scientific scrutiny unlike alternative medicine • Held to scientific standards and bound by FDA • Goal is effective treatments • Yes, they do work towards cures. Stage of disease can vary with treatements.

Pseudoscience • Alternative medicine and Weight Loss industries are BIG BUSINESS • According to Smithsonian and Washington Monthly…Alternative medicine nets about $34 billion each year. Weight loss programs net about $60 billion. Neither one of these industries can claim to cure or fix anything…legally. • Let’s focus on alternative medicine…only 1/3 of products available are actually tested…none of which are FDA investigated for approval. This means they can offer things as supplements but not as treatments for anything. Many have bene shown to be unsafe and recalled. I will give examples and get into what all of this means, shortly

Pseudoscience • According to the FDA website for Drugs and Medical Devices • 6 month investigation • Must be proven to be effective • Must be proven to be safe • Can not be marketed or used otherwise • For non medical devices and treatments • They do not guarantee products work or do anything beyond nutrition/aesthetics. They only make certain it doesn’t cause damage, harm, or kill you. If anything is meant to treat diseases, it has to be investigated by the FDA hence the disclaimers on all Alt med and weight loss products. • Alternative medicine and weight loss products are not allowed to say their products do anything more than offer some nutrition. So, they don’t use good science.

Pseudoscience • The obligation of the FDA is to categorize non medical products under supplements, devices, food, and cosmetics. Oftentimes, these products become labeled as unsafe after they’ve been marketed to the public. This is when the FDA institutes a recall. • ZICAM, Hyland’s teething tablets, and Ayurvedic products made headlines due to the harm they caused. • They were not treatments for anything per se. They were supplements/nutritional products that were supposed to aid in colds, teething, general health. • The issue? They all caused health problems

Pseudoscience • FDA on ZICAM • Many people state that the loss of sense of smell occurred with the first dose of the Zicam product, although some people report it happened after later doses. The loss of sense of smell may be long-lasting or even permanent in some people. • People lost their sense of smell…permanently • FDA on Hyland – RECALL APRIL 2017 • Belladonna is commonly known as Deadly Nightshade. It is a plant whose leaves and berries are extremely toxic. Belladonna has been used as both a poison and a medicine throughout history. People gave this to their babies. • FDA on Ayurveda • In accordance with current law, FDA does not evaluate these products before they are marketed. This means their safety, quality, and effectiveness cannot be assured by FDA. Certain populations, including children, are particularly at risk for the toxic effects of heavy metals. • They accumulate and thereby disrupt function in vital organs and glands such as the heart, brain, kidneys, bone, liver, etc. Hinder their biological function. Impossible to live in an environment free of heavy metals. Limit exposure to these toxins by not consuming them.

Pseudoscience • Dietary Supplements • Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994 classified dietary supplements as foods • Prevents FDA from regulating them as strictly as drugs in regards to their efficacy, safety, or marketing claims. • manufacturers are not required to submit clinical efficacy and safety data for their products to the FDA • Labeling of a supplement is not permitted to claim to treat a specific disease/condition • Marketing statements that suggest an effect on the “structure or function of the body” are allowed. • Goop • $75/month for vitamins • They are BASIC vitamins • You can get the same supplements for $12 for 100 tablets at Walgreens • Fancy words for salad, fish, and vitamins • GOOP reps like Gwenyth Paltrow say criticism from scientists is dangerous. (Kinda what science is) Bee stings aren’t so bad (unless you are allergic to them). Shove jade eggs in your vagina for detoxing (your liver does that). Steam your vagina and shove herbs into it. • If a company wants scientists to stop criticizing them, they are likely pushing pseudoscience as they don’t have actual data to back up any claims…and truth hurts their profits.

Pseudoscience • Who should you listen to in regards to vitamins/supplements/treatments? • Your doctor…I realize there is some personal gratification to be found in trying to do things on your own especially if there is no effective treatment for a particular disease ailing you or a family member. This is inherently frustrating and some seek to gain relief from anything they can. • GOOP is irresponsible – they have a sensationalized headline on their site insinuating eating certain foods and taking supplements MAY cure autoimmune disease. “A Simple Cure for Autoimmune Disease” • It does not actually claim to cure AI • Has incorrect information within article that has been debunked by science • The “doctor” who claims to have performed this in research in reversing AI diseases presented a paper once at a convention in France where you can no longer find the paper ANYWHERE. • I reached out to him on twitter for comment and access to his paper, he never replied. • He mentions supplements were injected through IV’s but that’s not the same as taking it orally. IV/direct access supplements behave differently than oral supplements. The liver must break down anything you swallow. IV bypasses the liver process • The site also says that plants don’t want to be eaten…they were here first and will try to harm us. I have no words for such nonsense • It also lists incorrect statistics on food poisoning…saying plants don’t want to be eaten and 20-30% of such cases are due to beans…75% of food poisoning is from bacteria. Any plant concerns are so low that you can’t even find this stat at the CDC website.

Pseudoscience • Most dangerous thing about GOOP • No link to ANY published papers • No evidence other than anecdotal from a doctor no one has ever heard of • They put “disease” in quotes insinuating there diseases is not real • They say dietary changes and supplements helped this group of people with this doctor no one has heard of on a paper no one is allowed to read. • The truth in AI disease? • “Western diet” – aka high fats, cholesterol, excessive sugar and salt intake may contribute to onset of AI as it does with cancer, obesity, diabetes heart problems, etc.…But it does not reverse it according to studies done n polyphenols and MS. Immune system is related to gut bacteria but there are no studies that show reversal of AI diseases to be successful with diet change alone. The data is far too conflicting to call.

Pseudoscience • Pseudoscience • It is a big business • They ARE NOT in the business of cures or treatments • They ARE NOT required to use good science to push their labeling and packaging. • It gives false hope • Preys on fears • Generates distrust of science by demanding scientists not criticize them • Encourage people to forgo ESTABLISHED and SAFE methods of treatment via FDA approved methods. • Look to the studies and follow the advice I gave in the previous episode in how to spot bad science. Demand evidence. It is your dollar and your business to know what you are putting into your body!

Thank you to my Patrons • Toni • Anon • Mark • Jenn • Carl • Antony • Paola • Zachary • Patrick • Tony • Tristan • Jennifer Music: http://opsound.org/pool/artist/ Angel Garcia Happy Jambo

You can find me… • Scientistmel.com • Twitter.com/scientistmel • Patreon.com/scientistmel • Pscp.tv.com/scientistmel • Scientistmel.wordpress.com • Youtube.com (scientistmel) • Facebook.com/scientistmel

Scientific Method • That ends the third episode of Hey Scientist Mel • Thank you for listening. • If you have any questions, hit me up on twitter, facebook, or my website! • Have a fab day, my science lovers! • Sources • https://www.nature.com/news/scientists-bust-myth-that-our-bodies-have-more-bacteria-than-human-cells-1.19136 • https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/5/5/99-0502_article • https://www.nature.com/news/scientists-bust-myth-that-our-bodies-have-more-bacteria-than-human-cells-1.19136 • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2957745/ • www.fda.gov • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3113373/

The Big Business of Pseudoscience