Sometimes, You Have to be Your Own Expert
by Barbara Morris, R. Ph.
Most health care professionals, including pharmacists, must engage in continuing education to maintain a license to practice. It's a good thing but sometimes you have to wonder about what is taught.
For example, if you ask your pharmacist if you should give your child a fish oil supplement, you might be told that if your child eats a "good diet" (whatever that means), a supplement is not needed. Why might the pharmacist give such advice? The answer may be found in a recent continuing education course for pharmacists:
". . . fish oil supplements for kids are often promoted as improving visual acuity, brain function, or intelligence.
But there is no proof that omega-3 supplements make kids "smarter" . . . or have any cognitive benefit in most kids. In fact, many of these claims will be removed . . . due to pressure from the feds.
Tell parents that most kids don't need fish oil supplements." (emphasis added)
Instead of a fish oil (omega-3) supplement the course suggests that kids eat about 4 ounces of fatty fish a week. How many kids eat enough fatty fish such as tuna or salmon? How often do they get a tuna fish salad sandwich for lunch? If they eat a lunch provided by the school, they will probably be eating more pizza than fatty fish.
Suggesting that pharmacists tell parents that most kids don't need fish oil supplements is "one size fits all" advice and it's not very intelligent. But then, it's the same mindset that is applied when a woman complains to her doctor about menopause symptoms and is given a prescription for Premarin, without first having a blood test to determine the woman's actual need for hormone replacement.
Would it not make more sense to suggest that since most kids consume a junk food diet they could benefit from a fish oil supplement?
Here's what's interesting: After stating that parents should be told most kids don't need a fish oil supplement, the following is given:
"Supplements may be worth a try for kids who don't get enough omega-3s from diet . . . especially those with behavioral or psych disorders.
Preliminary evidence supports fish oil MIGHT benefit kids with ADHD symptoms . . . autism. . . depression. . . or those at high risk of psychosis." (emphasis in original)
After telling pharmacists to advise parents not to give fish oil supplements, how many pharmacists do you suppose would be convinced enough about the value of fish oil to recommend it for behavior problems? I would, on the assumption that fish oil is harmless and worth a try, but not many pharmacists would not make the recommendation because they have been "educated" to believe that ". . . most kids don't need fish oil supplements".
If you had an autistic, depressed, or psychotic child, and you wondered if an omega-3 supplement might be helpful, would you give it to your child, or would you accept cautionary advice from your inadequately educated health care provider? If you were a typical trusting, uninformed parent, you would probably take the advice not to give a supplement.
It's a sad reality that pharmacy and medical students get a diploma knowing all about drugs from the pharmaceutical companies but precious little about nutrition or nutritional supplements. It's probably one of the best-kept secrets that nutrition training in medical schools is inadequate (1) yet patients are encouraged to look to their physician or pharmacist for information and guidance regarding nutritional supplements. Count yourself lucky if you have found someone with an open mind and common sense.
And so, omega-3s, as important as they are, will remain an item of contention and many who could benefit from them will not take them on the advice of a misguided health care provider.
But wait! All is not lost - or is it? A new drug is on the market - "purified" fish oil capsules, available only on prescription. One of the side effects of the "purified" product is that it may raise bad LDL cholesterol. Would you ask your doctor if it is "right for you"?
What sleaze. The pharmaceutical industry, understanding the dollar potential of fish oil, but not able to profit from it because it can't be patented, decides to tinker with the chemical configuration (i.e. "purify" what nature has created), patent it, and sell it as a new wonder drug with some alarming side effects. Will you fall for it? Or, will you do some research on your own and discover the benefits of "impure" omega-3, and give your kids and your family the benefit of a very valuable supplement.
And here is more (though unrelated) sleaze: following the FDA's expanded indication for the statin drug rosuvastatin (Crestor), the drug's producer now plans to extend the market for the drug as a preventive measure to people who do not have cholesterol issues. And oh, by the way, potential side effects of rosuvastatin include muscle aches, liver problems, and greater risk of type 2 diabetes. If you do not have high cholesterol, and if you do not have diabetes now but wouldn't mind getting it, will you ask your doctor if Crestor is "right for you" as a "preventive measure"?
Sometimes you have to be your own expert, use some common sense, and just think for yourself.
(1) http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Med-schools-failing-on-nutrition-teaching
Source: April, 2010 Put Old on Hold NewsletterBarbara Morris — Image F/X Publications
Barbara@PutOldOnHold.com
© 2010 – Image F/X Publications, All rights reserved. If you "borrow" my articles, please give proper attribution. Thanks!
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