Dietary Supplement Information in the Media

Information about dietary supplements can also be found in books, magazines, newspapers, television shows, radio programs, and web sites, and these sources contain a range of reliable and unreliable information. Identifying accurate information should begin by determining the original source. If dietary supplement information does not come directly from an expert, it is important to establish whether an expert was consulted.

Whether dietary supplement information is balanced, objective, and free of commercial influence can help determine if its motive is educational or promotional. Magazines and newspapers often contain full-page articles that seem to come from medical or scientific establishments;upon closer examination, however, the word “advertisement” can often be found in small print at the top of the page, indicating that the information is indeed intended to sell something. Information contained in obvious advertisements can be misleading. Television commercials and lengthier infomercials are crafted so they appear to be backed by medical organizations. While these advertisements have the look and feel of a medical establishment, they are misleading and designed to sell a product to a vulnerable population.

Consider this common scenario: An attractive man or woman wearing a lab coat approaches the camera while speaking words of empathy to overweight viewers. “It’s not your fault. You struggle with extra weight because of a malfunction in your body. Dietary Supplement X can reverse the effects of this malfunction and help you lose the extra pounds. Clinical trials have shown that people who take Dietary Supplement X lose weight faster and easier than those who do not take it.” Inevitably, this monologue culminates in the opportunity to purchase Dietary Supplement X.

The format of information on dietary supplements can also provide cues as to its validity. Books, magazine and newspaper articles, and live newscasts deliver information in various levels of scope and depth. While a book might explore dietary supplements in great detail, a 60-second piece on the evening news might only offer tidbits that are sensational, very recent, or particularly interesting, without exploring the whole story. Shorter pieces, such as newspaper or magazine articles, may highlight the newest development regarding a dietary supplement but may not place this new information in context. Due to extended production and publication schedules, however, sources that do discuss dietary supplements in greater depth—such as books and encyclopedias—may not include the very latest information.

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