Rich Murray: Ross: Woeckner: facts re Truehope Synergy hype re pig vitamins for bipolar 7.25.1 rmforall

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Rich Murray: Ross: Woeckner: facts re Truehope Synergy hype re pig

vitamins for bipolar 7.25.1 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/686

Rich Murray: globeandmail.com: McIlroy: Synergy:

vitamins heal bipolar 6.30.1 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/666

http://www.truehope.com help@...

1-888-TRUEHOPE () U.S. & Canada

International (outside of North America) at:

Synergy Group of Canada Ltd.

Stephan and Hardy

http://www.globeandmail.com

The Globe and Mail, Saturday, June 30, 2001

In search of a natural balance:

Is there a link between nutrition and manic depression?

Two Alberta men think so. One treated his

children with high doses of vitamins and minerals and

watched them flourish. Now some scientists are

taking notice. And it all started with some crazy pigs.

By Anne McIlroy

**************************************************

July 25 2001

I want to apologize for my gullibility and carelessness in promoting

cheap and potentially dangerous PR hype about treating serious mental

illnesses with simple vitamins. My prejudices are in favor of any

" research " that would show simple diet changes are of good effect,

so I was impressed that what seemed to be real research reports

were being aired at scientific conferences. I am indebted to Dr.

Barrett's discussion group of over 200,

HealthFraud@... , and to Liz Woeckner and Marvin Ross,

for these pithy comments on their investigations in progress.

I am totally opposed to lawsuits by anyone that would harass

others for espousing opposing points of view, as in the case of

supporters of the flagrant crank Hilda , now claiming to

be suing Dr. Barrett and fellows. This infringes on the right of

free speech, fundamental to the world's hope for a democratic,

civilized, peaceful, cooperative polity. Dr. Barrett does espouse

views that are opposite to mine, but his total life work in

exposing quackery is right-on, and I have often benefited from

studying it, such as his articles about the pitfalls of multi-level

marketing. I firmly commit myself to respectfully studying

points of view that are opposed to mine, for no mortal can

claim any monopoly on truth. I can hardly demand that others

listen to me, if I do not listen, really listen, to them!

I should have known better, as I have studied much false and

misleading " research " about the safety of aspartame, MSG,

mercury amalgam dental fillings, and growth hormones in dairy:

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/ Truth in Labeling Campaign [MSG]

Adrienne s, PhD P.O. Box 2532 Darien, Illinois 60561

adandjack@... " The Toxicity/Safety of Processed

Free Glutamic Acid (MSG): A Study in Suppression of Information "

Accountability in Research (1999) Vol 6, pp. 259-310

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/622

Rich Murray: Gold: Koehler: Walton: Van Den Eeden: Leon:

aspartame toxicity 6.4.1 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/623

Rich Murray: : Gold: Schiffman: Spiers:

aspartame toxicity 6.4.1 rmforall

Aspartame Toxicity Information Center Mark D. Gold

www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame

" Scientific Abuse in Aspartame Research "

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html

mgold@... 12 East Side Drive #2-18 Concord, NH 03301

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/629

Rich Murray: Haley: brilliant testimony to Congress on health fraud

re dental amalgam mercury and Alzheimers Part 1/2 6.12.1 rmforall

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/630

Rich Murray: Haley: brilliant testimony to Congress on health fraud

re dental amalgam mercury and Alzheimers Part 2/2 6.12.1 rmforall

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Subject: Re: Rich Murray: globeandmail.com:

McIlroy: Synergy: vitamins heal bipolar 7.4.1 rmforall

Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 22:41:12 -0400

Organization: Princeton University

To: Rich Murray

CC: Terry Polevoy ,

healthfraud

Dear Rich --

Thank you for your response. I am familiar with your citations.

Please correct the post regarding flax. Flaxseed oil, and flax seed,

contain an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid, and

while it is a healthy and essential nutrient, Stoll did not use it in

his bipolar study. He used the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA,

derived in this case from fish. As Stoll himself says in his

monograph on omega-3s, flax [oil or seed] has not been studied

in psychiatry and moreover, he had several anecdotal clinical reports

in which flax caused mania -- a big problem for bipolars.

And for the record, I follow this area of research with intense

fascination.

Truehope:

Scientific conclusions about the efficacy of drugs are drawn

from double-blind placebo studies published in peer-reviewed journals.

I would welcome such a study from Synergy. It may be objected by

persons outside the academic community that this requires money

and connections and the giant medico-pharmacological industry won't

permit it.

But other sorts of studies are possible and if they provided suggestive

data, interest would support a larger conventional study. I've seen

studies on a single patient, and I've seen studies on small numbers

and for limited periods of time.

These are not the reasons why Truehope has no literature

to support their claims. These are my objections to Truehope:

1] no scientific literature or currently understood biological

processes or even theoretical paradigms give any evidence that

the regime of vitamins they sell would have any therapeutic

benefit in depression, bipolar disorder,

autism, schizophrenia, ADHD, and TS.

2] Inexperience and questionable marketing tactics:

if Synergy has a bona fide product to test for

therapeutic benefit they must find an experienced researcher or

clinician to work with.

In the same fashion that I do not expect a librarian to

perform surgery, I do not accept medical and pharmacological

pronouncements from untrained lay persons.

Last November when I visited their web site [the URL you provided

in your post] Truehope's " protocol " told patients to stop all their

medications abruptly -- with no warnings to work with their physician

or taper medication.

They have since changed this somewhat, but this points up how dangerous

inexperience can be: no clinician would ever give such potentially

lethal advice.

I find it alarming that Truehope would offer their customers the

support of untrained and uncredentialed company representatives.

I have corresponded with Stephan, a Synergy principal, and he

lied to me. This does not bespeak a man who is honestly trying to

market a beneficial product.

He stated that there were studies underway at

Harvard University and several other universities in the US.

This is untrue. The Harvard Red Book contains all research underway

and there is no research on humans that would remotely match the

parameters of Truehope's formula. Just to make sure,

I emailed the Office of Public Affairs at Harvard for

confirmation, which was duly given. In the event, Stephan did turn up

at Harvard, sort of. He presented his product to a local chapter of the

NMDA, which rented a room in the MacLean building of Harvard

University. Confronted at this meeting and asked to specify the

researcher at Harvard who was performing the alleged study on

Truehope, Stephan demurred.

This little escapade might not like seem like a big deal,

but, of the studies planned or in progress alleged by Truehope,

without question I can state that the one on children is fantasy --

a bold-faced lie.

There are federal guidelines for the use of human subjects that this

study violates. You can also search the CRISP database --

there is no such study in the United States.

I am entirely convinced that Truehope

is perpetrating a dangerous scam.

Liz

Princeton University Department of Classics

58 Prospect Street Princeton NJ 08544

*************************************************

Subject: [healthfraud] Vet info

Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 17:59:53 -0400

To: " Health Fraud "

This is a long and bizarre posting about a pig vitamin regimen being

sold for human CNS disorders with a request for info.

I've only been on the list a few days at the suggestion of

Terry Polevoy and he and I have been tracking sales

of what is originally a pig vitamin

being sold for every CNS disorder around plus

fibromyalgia by a company out of Alberta and Utah.

To save time, here is a link to an article I did before I realized just

how bad this entire thing is:

http://www.medicalpost.com/mdlink/english/members/medpost/data/3711/53A.HTM

A couple of researchers at the University of Calgary med school are

doing the research on these vitamins that allegedly cure a nervous

disorder in pigs called ear and tail biting syndrome.

Seems that the " cure " was developed by a bankrupt business

man whose wife committed suicide and a

former high school biology teacher.

Somehow, they have convinced faculty at Calgary that this concoction

of 36 vitamins and minerals cures everything in humans and the Calgary

people are doing studies on it. They have presented a number of open

label studies with small sample sizes at legit conferences

(poster sessions I believe)

to show some benefit for bipolar affective disorder.

They even claim it is effective for fibromyalgia and refer to a study

they published in an obscure

journal called the Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain.

Turns out the study is not a study but a research note and

it is based on a sample of ONE.

They have received big time publicity in major papers, magazines and

TV shows in Canada and the US and the Alberta government has put up

$500 K for research. Rather than selling the stuff, they are recruiting

people for what they call their very own open label study.

All you have to do is buy $150 worth of vitamins a month

and be supervised by one of their research assistants

who are all " cured " psych patients.

Problem is that they insist that you must go off your psychiatric meds

or the Adverse Drug Reaction you will have between the meds and

the vitamins will make you very sick. One young man with schiziphrenia

attempted suicide when he went off his meds.

When I interviewed the main researcher, she realized I was a skeptic

and begged me not to do the article. She then demanded that she be

allowed to approve my copy.

Yesterday, I sent an e-mail to the chair of peds at Calgary requesting

an interview so that I could fill him in on my findings. I got a call

from the PR people at the university who insist

they are doing straight academic reseach.

Anyway, my question is this: I have checked with vets including the

porcine health specialist for one of the government agricultural

agencies in Canada as these people claim that this

disorder is a pig version of psychiatric illness

in humans that is cured by vitamins and minerals.

That is why this stuff works on people. When the vet finished laughing,

he told me that this disorder is considered to result from boredom and

although some people believe that it is a vitamin and mineral

deficiency, that is not proven. It is also not cured by

vitamins and minerals.

I would like to get some confirmation of that.

Also, the formerly bankrupt business man told me that vitamins

potentiate all of the side effects of psych medication and that is why

you have to go off prescribed drugs.

When I demanded proof of this,

he told me how he answered for every other proof I demanded and

that is that the University of Calgary are their partners and they are

proving everything so just go ask. Of course, the researcher did not

answer that other than to suggest that it was true. She knew about the

suicide attempt but suggested that the young man

may have been on antibiotics at the time.

Comments?

Their website is http://www.truehope.com.

Sorry for the length of this and thanks for any help.

These people are also active in the US mainly

in Maine, Mass (where they claim support from Harvard),

Washington State and Utah.

Marvin Ross Bridgeross Communications

http://www.bridgeross.com Writing and Training

*************************************************

Subject: Re: [healthfraud] Vet info

Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 18:21:45 -0400

To: marvin ross , healthfraud

Hi Marvin --

I've been following this mess for about 1 year. The claims started

turning up on patient support forums, and I found it especially

worrisome that unsophisticated parents of bipolar or depressed kids

might try this *cure*. I'm in contact with the assistant dean for

research at the Harvard Medical School in an effort to dispel once and

for all any claims that Harvard is involved with Truehope.

I'll keep the list updated.

As for reaction with psychotropic drugs, if memory serves, at least one

of the ingredients, inositol, can do nasty things to people

with bipolar disorders, meds or no.

Can you grab the list of ingredients they have on the website and post

it here where we all can exchange ideas? I *believe* that most people

who claim to be on this *cure* claim to take 24-30 pills per day -- so

potential vitamin toxicity might be an issue.

Possible?

Liz

*************************************************

Subject: Re: [healthfraud] Vet info

Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 19:51:06 -0400

To: " Health Fraud "

Here is a list of the ingredients pasted below that are in 8 caps of

this stuff. Patients take 32 per day.

At the moment, I am negotiating with the Fifth Estate (an investigative

Canadian TV show) to do an expose of these people and I should know if

it is a go by mid August. At this stage, I think I have enough material

to do a book and am considering that.

How can 2 dolts from Alberta parlay a vitamin supplement into a multi

million dollar sales force with legitmate researchers involved? That is

the thrust and it is a good case study of the alternative field.

Part of the reason is that they hired damn good PR people

and they got publicity all over the place because

many journalists do not question or ask basic questions.

The Globe and Mail described one of the founders as a

biologist with 20 years in the agri-food industry.

Their website describes him as a former high school biology teacher

who went into marketing vitamins to pig farmers.

The academics are probably hoping to make a big name for

themselves although I was told that Kaplan got interested

in all this when she gave the vitamins to her own child and

she noted an improvement. This was told to me by

Dr. Kolb at the University of Lethbridge

who was the first person they hired, who refused to do

any more work for them and has been trying ever

since to get all mention of his name off their sales pitch and website.

I suspect it is unethical for an objective researcher to be treating a

member of her own family with the stuff being studied. Some docs just

love to see themselves in print.

I called a psychiatrist who was quoted this

month in a major Canadian magazine and asked him if he said what he was

attributed to say. Turns out he also was interviewed on a network news

show on this stuff and he knew very little.

All he knew was that the university was doing a randomized

control trial and he thought that was fine. When he

heard my background story on all this he was singing another tune.

The whole issue of ethical research and approval from the ethics

committee at the university is also of concern and

I have talked to people at the

Canadian Institute for Health Research and they were shocked.

They thanked me for the heads up so they can prepare their

response if this does make the TV.

The manufacture of this stuff is also in doubt.

I was told by government officials that if this is something

that was given to pigs then it must go through phase 1 trials.

I do not believe it has. It also looks like the

doses require that it have a Drug Identification Number but it does not.

The PR lady from the med school who called me in response to my

request to interview the chair of peds told me that the supplements

are supplied to them by Synergy and are a different formula

than that given to pigs.

E.M.POWER+ Ingredient List / 8 Capsules

NUTRIENT UNITS AMOUNT

Vitamin A I.U. 3333

Vita B1 Mg. 5

Vita B2 Mg. 5.5

Vita B3 - Niacin Mg. 25

Vita B6 Mg. 7

Vita B12 Mcg. 250

Vitamin C Mg. 250

Vitamin D3 I.U. 400

Vita E I.U. 100

Vita B5 Mg. 6

Folate Mcg. 400

Biotin Mcg . 25

Calcium Mg. 550

Phosphorous Mg. 350

Magnesium Mg. 250

Copper Mg. 3

Iodine Mg. 0.075

Potassium Mg. 100

Molybdenum Mg. 0.06655

Zinc Mg. 20

Chromium Mg. 0.24995

Iron Mg. 6

Manganese Mg. 4

Selenium Mg. 0.09995

Silicon Mg. 10

PROPRIETARY CNS BLEND

Nickel

Vanadium

Boron

Germanium

Methionine

Phenylalanine

Bioflavenoids

Grape Seed Extract

Inositol

Ginko Biloba

Glutamine

Choline

*************************************************

Subject: Re: [healthfraud] Vet info

Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 19:59:10 -0400

To: marvin ross

CC: Health Fraud

Somebody should grab a table of the Upper Safe Limits for the vitamins

and multiply by 4 -- off hand it looks like several would be high.

Inositol: requires expert clinical management if used by bipolars; some

evidence that it causes mania; I would be concerned about triggering

serotonin syndrome, based on inositol's role in serotonin production --

in combination with SSRI meds, frequently used in bipolar and

depression.

Inositol w/references:

http://www.tnp.com/encyclopedia/substance/141/

Gingko: potential bleeding problems, no safe dose established for

children

http://www.tnp.com/encyclopedia/substance/50/142/

Potentially worthwhile to search pubmed for gingko and inositol as that

site is not always up to the minute.

balky computer on this end, recovering poorly from Windows 2000 upgrade

[a new oxymoron] -- more tomorrow.

Liz

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Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@...

1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe NM USA 87505

M.I.T. (physics and history, BA, 1964), Boston U. Graduate School

(psychology, MA, 1967): As a concerned layman, I want to clarify the

aspartame toxicity debate.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages for 680 posts

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Rich Murray: : fibromyalgia & aspartame & MSG 6.27.1 rmforall

Excellent 5-page review by H.J. in " Townsend Letter " ,

Jan 2000, " Aspartame (NutraSweet) Addiction "

http://www.dorway.com/tldaddic.html http://www.sunsentpress.com/

H.J. , M.D. HJmd@... sunsentpress@...

Sunshine Sentinel Press P.O.Box 17799 West Palm Beach, FL 33416

fax

1038 page medical text " Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic "

published May 30 2001 $ 85.00 postpaid data from 1200 cases

over 600 references from standard medical research

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Rich Murray: :

" Aspartame Disease " 1038 page expert magnum opus 7.5.1 rmforall

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