Re: Does Airborne work? NO

[Guest guest]

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/12/15/daily38.html

land has joined more than two dozen other states and the District

of Columbia in a $7 million settlement with a dietary supplement and

cold-remedy manufacturer Airborne Health Inc. over charges of

deceptive advertising.

Under land law, health claims in advertisements must be

substantiated with adequate, well-controlled studies, the state

attorney general's office said in announcing the settlement.

The complaint alleged that Airborne claimed its products were a cold

prevention remedy, a sore throat remedy, a germ fighter, and an

allergy remedy, but did not have adequate well-controlled studies as

proof.

According to the settlement, Airborne is no longer allowed to say in

its adversiting " take at the first sign of a cold symptom, " or make

any other claims that imply that its products can diagnose, prevent,

treat, or cure colds, coughs, the flu, upper respiratory infections or

allergies.

Under the terms of the agreement, land will receive $150,000,

according to Raquel Guillory, spokeswoman for Attorney General

F. Gansler.

Airborne is now also prohibited from influencing the placement of its

products into the " cough/cold " aisle of retailers, and recommending

usage of a product at levels that could be potentially harmful.

>

> Recently I've had a couple of different people whose opinions I

respect tell

> me that the product " Airborne " really works. OTOH I understand that

> there's absolutely no scientific proof of this.

>

> Soooooo.....what say you group?

>

[Guest guest]

Airborne works outstandingly for me. It's made my Abbott Labs. I've tried many products, and only use this one now. I travel extensively and have to work upon arrival, and am surrounded by many others, many of whom are often ill. My colleagues in Europe beg me to bring extra, so impressed are they with my ability to dodge illness. I can go to bed with aching joints, sore skin, chills and a sore throat and awake symptom free, with the help of airborne. I'm interested to learn more about the potential harm. This news makes me want to go out and stock up - drive their sales up and protect my ability to keep getting it.

Regards, Kayce

Kayce Cover, Syn Alia Training Systems

http://synalia.com

> > From: citpeks@...> Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:06:06 +0000> Subject: [ ] Re: Does "Airborne" work? NO> > http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/12/15/daily38.html> > land has joined more than two dozen other states and the District> of Columbia in a $7 million settlement with a dietary supplement and> cold-remedy manufacturer Airborne Health Inc. over charges of> deceptive advertising.> > Under land law, health claims in advertisements must be> substantiated with adequate, well-controlled studies, the state> attorney general's office said in announcing the settlement.> > The complaint alleged that Airborne claimed its products were a cold> prevention remedy, a sore throat remedy, a germ fighter, and an> allergy remedy, but did not have adequate well-controlled studies as> proof.> > According to the settlement, Airborne is no longer allowed to say in> its adversiting "take at the first sign of a cold symptom," or make> any other claims that imply that its products can diagnose, prevent,> treat, or cure colds, coughs, the flu, upper respiratory infections or> allergies.> > Under the terms of the agreement, land will receive $150,000,> according to Raquel Guillory, spokeswoman for Attorney General > F. Gansler.> > Airborne is now also prohibited from influencing the placement of its> products into the "cough/cold" aisle of retailers, and recommending> usage of a product at levels that could be potentially harmful.Life on your PC is safer, easier, and more enjoyable with Windows Vista®. See how

[Guest guest]

As I’ve said I know there is no scientific basis (as Tony posted) behind it (at least not yet). But many people are claiming that it does. (I have my own regimen for avoiding colds culled from recommendations on this list and nothing to do with “Airborne).

So what are the ingredients or perhaps they get away without listing them? I’ve heard lots of Vit C and that has never worked for me.

From: kayce cover <k_cover@...>

Reply-< >

Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:05:29 +0000

< >

Subject: RE: [ ] Re: Does " Airborne " work? NO

Airborne works outstandingly for me. It's made my Abbott Labs. I've tried many products, and only use this one now. I travel extensively and have to work upon arrival, and am surrounded by many others, many of whom are often ill. My colleagues in Europe beg me to bring extra, so impressed are they with my ability to dodge illness. I can go to bed with aching joints, sore skin, chills and a sore throat and awake symptom free, with the help of airborne.

I'm interested to learn more about the potential harm. This news makes me want to go out and stock up - drive their sales up and protect my ability to keep getting it.

Regards,

Kayce

Kayce Cover,

Syn Alia Training Systems http://synalia.com

>

> From: citpeks@...

> Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:06:06 +0000

> Subject: [ ] Re: Does " Airborne " work? NO

>

> http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/12/15/daily38.html

>

> land has joined more than two dozen other states and the District

> of Columbia in a $7 million settlement with a dietary supplement and

> cold-remedy manufacturer Airborne Health Inc. over charges of

> deceptive advertising.

>

> Under land law, health claims in advertisements must be

> substantiated with adequate, well-controlled studies, the state

> attorney general's office said in announcing the settlement.

>

> The complaint alleged that Airborne claimed its products were a cold

> prevention remedy, a sore throat remedy, a germ fighter, and an

> allergy remedy, but did not have adequate well-controlled studies as

> proof.

>

> According to the settlement, Airborne is no longer allowed to say in

> its adversiting " take at the first sign of a cold symptom, " or make

> any other claims that imply that its products can diagnose, prevent,

> treat, or cure colds, coughs, the flu, upper respiratory infections or

> allergies.

>

> Under the terms of the agreement, land will receive $150,000,

> according to Raquel Guillory, spokeswoman for Attorney General

> F. Gansler.

>

> Airborne is now also prohibited from influencing the placement of its

> products into the " cough/cold " aisle of retailers, and recommending

> usage of a product at levels that could be potentially harmful.

Life on your PC is safer, easier, and more enjoyable with Windows Vista®. See how <http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/127032870/direct/01/>

[Guest guest]

I wrote this about a year ago.....

PS Let's not forget the placebo effect which can be very strong. Lots of

people say lots of things about just about anything. It brings us back

to the same old issue, of how do we really tell what is working and what

isn't. And, while it may not be the best system, it brings us back to

the scientific method.

Regards

Jeff

Don't Go Airborne Over A Cold Or Flu!

December 29, 2007

You can read an online version of this newsletter here..

Greetings Everyone!

With the cold and flu season here, many of you may be looking for

products to help you stay healthy or feel better. In recent years, one

of the most popular products is Airborne, and almost everyone I talk to

who has a cold, tells me they are taking Airborne. Ads for Airborne are

everywhere, and the company says its sales exceeded $100 million in 2005

and Americans are expected to spend an estimated $300 million in 2007 on

this cold remedy. Knight-McDowell, the schoolteacher who

developed Airborne and endorsed it as a cold fighter, even appeared on

The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Does Airborne really help? And, at worst, does it at least do " no harm " ?

Don't Go Airborne Over A Cold Or Flu!

Airborne is a dietary supplement that claims to help prevent the flu and

the common cold. From the Airborne website...

" Airborne is the best-selling herbal health formula that boosts your

immune system to help your body combat germs. A former second-grade

schoolteacher, Knight-McDowell, who was constantly exposed to

germs in her classroom, created it. Its unique blend of herbal extracts,

vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids and antioxidants helps give your

body a fighting chance when exposed to germ-filled environments. "

It is recommended to take Airborne " at the first sign of a cold symptom,

or before entering crowded environments, like airplanes and offices.”

However, like all supplements sold in the U.S.A, the package clearly

states that Airborne is " not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or

prevent any disease. " This is because Airborne has not undergone any

testing by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Knight-McDowell

Labs would be violating FDA regulations on Structure/Function claims if

it were to state on the packaging that the product cured or prevented

any disease..

Airborne claims that a double-blind, placebo-controlled study was

conducted with " care and professionalism " by a company specializing in

clinical trial management, GNG Pharmaceutical Services. GNG

Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., claims to have conducted this study with

120 people, and reported that 47% of Airborne recipients showed little

or no cold or flu symptoms, whereas only 23% of the recipients of a

placebo pill showed equal results.

However, in February of 2006, ABC News reported that GNG Pharmaceutical

Services, Inc. has no official clinic, scientists, or even doctors and

is comprised of only two men, who allegedly started the company with the

sole purpose of performing and publicizing this study.

The managing partner claims to have had lots of “clinical trial

experience” and added that he had ‘a degree from Indiana University.’

However, according to ABC News, Indiana University’s records reflect

that he never graduated. Because of the bad publicity that this

controversy has brought forth, Knight-McDowell Labs has removed all

references to the study from their packaging and their website.

Each tablet of Airborne contains 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, and the

recommended adult dose is one tablet every three hours " as necessary. "

The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics (Issue 1199, January 3,

2005) said the supplement is unsafe as directed, specifically regarding

its excess of vitamin C publishing that:

" There are some concerns. First, there is no conclusive evidence that

this product or any of its ingredients prevents colds or shortens their

duration. Second, the adult tablet contains 1 gram of vitamin C, and the

directions for use advise taking 1 tablet at the first sign of a cold

and repeating the dose every 3 hours as necessary. Vitamin C in doses

higher than 1 g increases oxalate and urate excretion and may cause

kidney stones (EN et al, J Am Soc Nephrol 2004; 15:3225). Third,

the safety of this herbal extraction combination has not been

established. And with herbs and dietary supplements in general, we only

have the manufacturers’ word on the label for what’s in them. "

According to the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine,

which advises the government about recommended levels of nutrients,

taking more than 2,000 mgs. of Vitamin C per day can greatly increase

the risk of diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset.

Consumers Unions addressed this concern over the Vitamin C content in

the product in its February 2006 issue of Consumer Reports. A spokesman

for Airborne told Consumers Union that as of January 2006, the label of

the new pink-grapefruit flavor would list a maximum dosage of three

tablets per day for up to 21 days. (Labels for all other flavors were to

change in Fall 2006.) However, upon personally inspecting the product

today in several local stores (i.e., Walgreen’s, CVS), and checking

dosage guidelines for this product at online retailers, I discovered

that the products recommended, " Repeat every three hours as necessary. "

I saw NO signs of the new " maximum dosage of three tablets per day for

up to 21 days " warning label that the manufacturer claims to have begun

publishing on its product almost two years ago.

While CR is to be congratulated on its article reporting and addressing

the Vitamin C issue of Airborne, a more critical concern for all

consumers is the Vitamin A content of Airborne and the potential for

toxic overdose.

Each tablet contains 5000 IU of Vitamin A, in the form of Retinyl

Palmitate; the safe upper limit (UL) for Vitamin A in the form of

Retinyl is 10,000 IU. Even the newly revised recommended dosage of 3

tablets per day (which did not exist in retail stores or online, with

our research team’s best efforts) puts the user at 50% above the SAFE

upper limit. One tablet every 3 hours (on the current label) would mean

an intake of 30, 000+ IUs of Vitamin A daily. Consumed over time, this

level of Vitamin A can reduce bone mineral density that may result in

osteoporosis and an increased risk of hip fractures, cause liver damage,

central nervous system disorders and birth defects. A study published in

the New England Journal of Medicine in October 2005 showed that pregnant

women who consumed more than 10,000 IU of vitamin A daily were three

times more likely to deliver infants with defects of the head, heart or

brain.

Toxic symptoms can also arise after consuming very large amounts of

Vitamin A over a short period of time with most cases resulting from

taking excess amounts of Vitamin A from supplements. Signs of acute

toxicity include nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, blurred

vision, and problems with muscular coordination. Although I personally

wrote to CR and expressed this risk to consumers, I received no

response. Worse yet, there is still no mention of the potential for

Vitamin A Toxicity of Airborne in the Consumer Reports’ magazine.

The Center For Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) addressed the

Vitamin A issue in the January/February 2007 edition of its newsletter,

Nutrition Action. Subsequently, I wrote Consumer Reports a second time

and asked that it address the Vitamin A issue. Sadly, I received no

response, and have seen no mention of Vitamin A toxicity potential in

its magazine.

Should you be taking Airborne? Emphatically, NO!

There is no evidence for its effectiveness. There is a concern that

users could exceed the recommended level of Vitamin C and possibly

consume a toxic level of Vitamin A.

With regard to prevention, Kroll, a pharmacologist at Duke

University Medical School said, " Simply washing your hands during cold

and flu season is a much more effective way of preventing colds. "

As far as repelling germs in an airplane, restaurant, or other crowded

environment, “That’s nonsense,” says cold expert Jack Gwaltney of the

University of Virginia in Charlottesville. “Nothing you can swallow can

do that”

Sadly for American consumers, it seems that we will have spent an

estimated $300 million in 2007 swallowing just that… nonsense!

So, what is the best defense against colds?

Common sense is still the best advice for a cold. Exercise, eat right,

drink plenty of healthy fluids, stay warm, avoid strenuous activity, get

plenty of rest, sleep and don’t forget … RELAX!!

In Health,

Jeff

Francesca Skelton wrote:

>

> As I’ve said I know there is no scientific basis (as Tony posted)

> behind it (at least not yet). But many people are claiming that it

> does. (I have my own regimen for avoiding colds culled from

> recommendations on this list and nothing to do with “Airborne).

>

> So what are the ingredients or perhaps they get away without listing

> them? I’ve heard lots of Vit C and that has never worked for me.

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> *From: *kayce cover <k_cover@...>

> *Reply-*< >

> *Date: *Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:05:29 +0000

> **< >

> *Subject: *RE: [ ] Re: Does " Airborne " work? NO

>

>

>

>

> Airborne works outstandingly for me. It's made my Abbott Labs. I've

> tried many products, and only use this one now. I travel extensively

> and have to work upon arrival, and am surrounded by many others, many

> of whom are often ill. My colleagues in Europe beg me to bring extra,

> so impressed are they with my ability to dodge illness. I can go to

> bed with aching joints, sore skin, chills and a sore throat and awake

> symptom free, with the help of airborne.

>

> I'm interested to learn more about the potential harm. This news makes

> me want to go out and stock up - drive their sales up and protect my

> ability to keep getting it.

>

> Regards,

> Kayce

>

> Kayce Cover,

> Syn Alia Training Systems http://synalia.com <http://synalia.com>

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > From: citpeks@...

> > Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:06:06 +0000

> > Subject: [ ] Re: Does " Airborne " work? NO

> >

> > http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/12/15/daily38.html

> <http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/12/15/daily38.html>

> >

> > land has joined more than two dozen other states and the District

> > of Columbia in a $7 million settlement with a dietary supplement and

> > cold-remedy manufacturer Airborne Health Inc. over charges of

> > deceptive advertising.

> >

> > Under land law, health claims in advertisements must be

> > substantiated with adequate, well-controlled studies, the state

> > attorney general's office said in announcing the settlement.

> >

> > The complaint alleged that Airborne claimed its products were a cold

> > prevention remedy, a sore throat remedy, a germ fighter, and an

> > allergy remedy, but did not have adequate well-controlled studies as

> > proof.

> >

> > According to the settlement, Airborne is no longer allowed to say in

> > its adversiting " take at the first sign of a cold symptom, " or make

> > any other claims that imply that its products can diagnose, prevent,

> > treat, or cure colds, coughs, the flu, upper respiratory infections or

> > allergies.

> >

> > Under the terms of the agreement, land will receive $150,000,

> > according to Raquel Guillory, spokeswoman for Attorney General

> > F. Gansler.

> >

> > Airborne is now also prohibited from influencing the placement of its

> > products into the " cough/cold " aisle of retailers, and recommending

> > usage of a product at levels that could be potentially harmful.

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Life on your PC is safer, easier, and more enjoyable with Windows

> Vista®. See how <http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/127032870/direct/01/>

> <http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/127032870/direct/01/>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm not in a position to search right now, but there is European research on some of the components of Airborne - like echinaceae. They list ingredients to an extent.If I was going to be susceptible to a placebo effect, I imagine I would have found all of the things I tried equally effective.Anyway, I'll watch with interest to see what anyone digs up. Meanwhile, I have it on my shopping list.

Regards, Kayce

Kayce Cover

Syn Alia Training Systems

http://synalia.com

http://www.facebook.com/friends/?everyone & ref=tn#/profile.php?id=1179766268 & ref=profileTo: From: fskelton@...Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:34:56 -0500Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Does "Airborne" work? NORe: [ ] Re: Does "Airborne" work? NO

As I’ve said I know there is no scientific basis (as Tony posted) behind it (at least not yet). But many people are claiming that it does. (I have my own regimen for avoiding colds culled from recommendations on this list and nothing to do with “Airborne).

So what are the ingredients or perhaps they get away without listing them? I’ve heard lots of Vit C and that has never worked for me.

From: kayce cover <k_cover@...>

Reply-< >

Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:05:29 +0000

< >

Subject: RE: [ ] Re: Does "Airborne" work? NO

Airborne works outstandingly for me. It's made my Abbott Labs. I've tried many products, and only use this one now. I travel extensively and have to work upon arrival, and am surrounded by many others, many of whom are often ill. My colleagues in Europe beg me to bring extra, so impressed are they with my ability to dodge illness. I can go to bed with aching joints, sore skin, chills and a sore throat and awake symptom free, with the help of airborne.

I'm interested to learn more about the potential harm. This news makes me want to go out and stock up - drive their sales up and protect my ability to keep getting it.

Regards,

Kayce

Kayce Cover,

Syn Alia Training Systems http://synalia.com

>

> From: citpeks@...

> Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:06:06 +0000

> Subject: [ ] Re: Does "Airborne" work? NO

>

> http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/12/15/daily38.html

>

> land has joined more than two dozen other states and the District

> of Columbia in a $7 million settlement with a dietary supplement and

> cold-remedy manufacturer Airborne Health Inc. over charges of

> deceptive advertising.

>

> Under land law, health claims in advertisements must be

> substantiated with adequate, well-controlled studies, the state

> attorney general's office said in announcing the settlement.

>

> The complaint alleged that Airborne claimed its products were a cold

> prevention remedy, a sore throat remedy, a germ fighter, and an

> allergy remedy, but did not have adequate well-controlled studies as

> proof.

>

> According to the settlement, Airborne is no longer allowed to say in

> its adversiting "take at the first sign of a cold symptom," or make

> any other claims that imply that its products can diagnose, prevent,

> treat, or cure colds, coughs, the flu, upper respiratory infections or

> allergies.

>

> Under the terms of the agreement, land will receive $150,000,

> according to Raquel Guillory, spokeswoman for Attorney General

> F. Gansler.

>

> Airborne is now also prohibited from influencing the placement of its

> products into the "cough/cold" aisle of retailers, and recommending

> usage of a product at levels that could be potentially harmful.

Life on your PC is safer, easier, and more enjoyable with Windows Vista®. See how <http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/127032870/direct/01/>

Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. Get your Hotmail® account.