Killing Us Softly

by Dr Paul Offit

  95 Rotavirus vaccines: T. Vesikari, D. O. Matson, P. Dennehy, et al., “Safety and Efficacy of a Pentavalent Human-Bovine (WC3) Reassortant Rotavirus Vaccine,” New England Journal of Medicine 354 (2006): 23–33; G. M. Ruiz-Palacios, I. Perez-Schael, F. R. Veláquez, et al., “Safety and Efficacy of an Attenuated Vaccine Against Severe Rotavirus Gastroenteritis,” New England Journal of Medicine 354 (2006): 11–21.

  96 NCCAM studies: T. Tsouderos, “Bad Science, Suspect Medicine,” Chicago Tribune, December 11, 2011; E. V. Mielczarek and B. D. Engler, “Measuring Mythology: Startling Concepts in NCCAM Grants,” Skeptical Inquirer 36 (2012): 35–43.

  97 Medawar quote: Singh and Ernst, Trick or Treatment, 87 (italics mine).

  98 Novella regarding herbal remedies: Steven Novella, “A Skeptic in Oz,” Neurologica blog, http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/a-skeptics-in-oz.

  99 Ginkgo and dementia: S. T. DeKosky, J. D. Williamson, A. L. Fitzpatrick, et al., “Ginkgo Biloba for Prevention of Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” Journal of the American Medical Association 300 (2008): 2253–62; B. Vellas, N. Coley, P.-J. Ousset, et al., “Long-Term Use of Standardised Ginkgo Biloba for the Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (GuidAge): A Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial,” Lancet Neurology 11 (2012): 851–59.

  99 St. John’s wort and depression: Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group, “Effect of Hypericum Perforatum (St. John’s Wort) in Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Controlled Trial,” Journal of the American Medical Association 287 (2002): 1807–14.

  100 Garlic and cholesterol: C. D. Gardner, L. D. Lawson, E. Block, et al., “Effect of Raw Garlic Vs. Commercial Garlic Supplements on Plasma Lipid Concentrations in Adults with Moderate Hypercholesterolemia,” Archives of Internal Medicine 167 (2007): 346–53.

  101 Saw palmetto and prostate enlargement: S. Bent, C. Kane, K. Shinohara, et al., “Saw Palmetto for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia,” New England Journal of Medicine 354 (2006): 557–66.

  101 Second study of saw palmetto: K. J. Kreder, A. L. Avins, D. Nickel, et al., “Effect of Increasing Doses of Saw Palmetto Extract on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms,” Journal of the American Medical Association 306 (2011): 1344–51; D. W. Freeman, “Saw Palmetto No Help for Enlarged Prostate, Study Says,” CBS News, September 28, 2011.

  102 Milk thistle for hepatitis: M. Freed, “A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Oral Silymarin (Milk Thistle) for Chronic Hepatitis C: Final Results of the SYNCH Multicenter Study,” presented November 8, 2011, at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases annual meeting in San Francisco.

  102 Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine for arthritis: D. O. Clegg, D. J. Reda, C. I. Harris, et al., “Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate, and the Two in Combination for Painful Knee Osteoarthritis,” New England Journal of Medicine 354 (2006): 795–808.

  103 Echinacea for colds: J. A. Taylor, W. Weber, L. Standish, et al., “Efficacy and Safety of Echinacea in Treating Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children,” Journal of the American Medical Association 290 (2003): 2824–30.

  103 Number of dietary supplements on the market: A. Abdel-Rahman, N. Anyangwe, L. Carlacci, et al., “The Safety and Regulation of Natural Products Used as Foods and Food Ingredients,” Toxicological Sciences 123 (2011): 333–48; P. A. Cohen, “Assessing Supplement Safety—The FDA’s Controversial Proposal,” New England Journal of Medicine 366 (2012): 389–91.

  103 Benefits of supplements: Hurley, Natural Causes, 260–61.

  103 Omega-3 fatty acids: P. M. Kris-Etherton, W. S. Harris, L. J. Appel for the Nutrition Committee, “Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease,” Circulation 106 (2002): 2747–57; E. C. Rizos, E. E. Nitzani, E. Bika, et al., “Association Between Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and Risk of Major Cardiovascular Disease Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” Journal of the American Medical Association 308 (2012): 1024–33.

  104 Calcium: “Calcium Supplements: Risks and Benefits,” Medscape, www.medscape.com/viewarticle/497826_print; “Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Calcium,” National Institutes of Health, http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium-healthprofessional; Mayo Clinic Staff, “Calcium and Calcium Supplements: Achieving the Right Balance,” Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/calcium-supplements/MY01540; G. Kolata, “Healthy Women Advised Not to Take Calcium and Vitamin D to Prevent Fractures,” New York Times, June 12, 2012.

  105 Vitamin D: “Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D,” National Institutes of Health, http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-QuickFacts; “Vitamin D,” Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamind/NS_patient-vitamind; “Find a Vitamin or Supplement: Vitamin D,” WebMD; “What Is Vitamin D? What Are the Benefits of Vitamin D?” Medical News Today; Kolata, “Healthy Women Advised”; H. A. Bischoff-Ferrari, W. C. Willett, E. J. Oray, et al., “A Pooled Analysis of Vitamin D Dose Requirements for Fracture Prevention,” New England Journal of Medicine 367 (2012): 40–49; R. P. Heaney, “Vitamin D—Baseline Status and Effective Dose,” New England Journal of Medicine 367 (2012): 77–78.

  105 Folic acid: “Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Folate,” http://ods.od.nig.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional; “Find a Vitamin or Supplement: Folic Acid,” WebMD; “Folic Acid,” www.womenshealth.gov; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Folic Acid Recommendations,” www.cdc.gov/ ncbddd/folicacid/recommendations/html.

  CHAPTER 5: MENOPAUSE AND AGING

  111 Celebrities offer medical advice: John Stossel, Fox Business Network, February 24, 2011; Singh and Ernst, Trick or Treatment, 251.

  113 Somers on Larry King Live: Larry King Live, October 14, 2006.

  113 Somers and Mack truck: The Oprah Winfrey Show, January 29, 2009.

  113 Christiane Northrup on menopause: The Oprah Winfrey Show, January 15, 2009.

  113 The Seven Dwarfs of Menopause: S. Somers, The Sexy Years: Discover the Hormone Connection: The Secret to Fabulous Sex, Great Health, and Vitality, for Women and Men (New York: Three Rivers Press, 2004), 2.

  114 Somers finds the answer to menopause: S. Somers, Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones (New York: Three Rivers Press, 2006), 5.

  114 O’Donnell on CNN: The Joy Behar Show, February 17, 2011.

  115 Oprah and bioidentical hormones: W. Kosova, “Live Your Best Life Ever!” Newsweek, May 30, 2009.

  115 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study: J. E. Rossouw, G. L. Anderson, R. L. Prentice, et al., “Risks and Benefits of Estrogen Plus Progestin in Healthy Postmenopausal Women: Principal Results from the Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Trial,” Journal of the American Medical Association 288 (2002): 321–33.

  115 Somers sends the dwarfs packing: Somers, Sexy Years, 4.

  116 Streicher regarding chemical structures: The Oprah Winfrey Show, January 29, 2009.

  116 Schwarcz regarding natural substances: J. Schwarcz, The Fly in the Ointment: 70 Fascinating Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Food & Life (Toronto: ECW Press, 2004), 129.

  116 Streicher regarding hormone manufacture: The Oprah Winfrey Show, January 29, 2009.

  117 Utian and the Tooth Fairy: The Oprah Winfrey Show, January 15, 2009.

  117 Streicher and dangerous perceptions: The Oprah Winfrey Show, January 29, 2009.

  117 Unreliability of compounding pharmacies: American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “No Scientific Evidence Supporting Effectiveness or Safety of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy,” press release, October 31, 2005.

  118 Somers regarding hormones and aging: Somers, Ageless, xxiii.

  118 Somers on hormones as anti-aging medicine: Ibid., 12–14.

  118 Somers’s anti-aging regimen: Somers, Sexy Years, 297; Somers, Ageless, 317; Somers, Sexy Forever, 130, 139; Somers, Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness: Life-Altering Secrets from Today’s Cutting-Edge Doctors (New York: Three Rivers Press, 2008), 66–70; The Oprah Winfrey Show, January 29, 2009.

  119 Oprah and “quackadoo”: W
. Kosova, “Live Your Best Life Ever!”

  119 Somers on reinvigorated sex life: Somers, Ageless, 35.

  119 Simon Cowell and anti-aging vitamins: A. Jha, “Scientists Buzz Simon Cowell for Promoting Pseudoscience,” The Guardian, December 27, 2011.

  120 Statement by experts on aging: S. J. Oshansky, L. Hayflick, and B. A. Carnes, “No Truth to the Fountain of Youth,” Scientific American, www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=no-truth-to-the-fountain-of-youth&print=true.

  120 Somers regarding conspiracy: Somers, Ageless, 27.

  121 Northrup on pharmaceutical companies: C. Northrup, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing (New York: Bantam Books, 2010), 546–47.

  121 Anti-aging industry: S. Jacoby, Never Say Die: The Myth and Marketing of the New Old Age (New York: Pantheon Books, 2011), 91.

  122 Experts on aging regarding oxidation: Oshansky, Hayflick, and Carnes, “No Truth to the Fountain of Youth.”

  123 Experts on likely effect of antioxidants: Ibid.

  123 Experts on harm of anti-aging drugs: Ibid.

  124 Somers on Larry King Live: Larry King Live, October 14, 2006.

  125 Somers on Botox: Somers, Ageless, 381.

  125 Somers and the FaceMaster: Larry King Live, October 14, 2006.

  125 Somers’s stem-cell face-lift: M. Strobel, “Suzanne Somers: A Supermarket Scare,” Toronto Sun, February 3, 2011; “Suzanne Somers Plastic Surgery Disaster Shocker,” National Enquirer, February 2, 2011, www.nationalenquirer.com/print/33469.

  126 Somers’s stem-cell breast reconstruction: L. Hamm, “Suzanne Somers Gets Experimental Breast Reconstruction,” People, February 4, 2012, www.people.com/people/article/0,,20567432,00.html.

  126 Jacoby on aging: Jacoby, Never Say Die, xi, 5.

  126 Somers in 2041: Somers, Breakthrough, 1.

  127 Jacoby on gullible public: Jacoby, Never Say Die, 90–91.

  CHAPTER 6: AUTISM’S PIED PIPER

  129 Oprah praises McCarthy: The Oprah Winfrey Show, September 24, 2008.

  129 Rimland paper: B. Rimland, “High Dosage Levels of Certain Vitamins in the Treatment of Children with Severe Mental Disorders,” in Orthomolecular Psychiatry: Treatment of Schizophrenia, ed. D. Hawkins and L. Pauling (San Francisco: W. H. Freeman and Company, 1973).

  130 Child with autism dies from EDTA: K. Kane, “Death of 5-Year-Old Boy Linked to Controversial Chelation Therapy,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 6, 2006.

  131 Child with cerebral palsy dies from hyperbaric oxygen therapy: “Child Hurt in Chamber Explosion Dies in Hospital,” CBS News, June 11, 2009.

  131 Autism causes and treatments: J. McCarthy and J. Kartzinel, Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide. New York (Plume, 2010); K. Siri and T. Lyons, Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism: 2010-2011 (New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2010); B. Jepson, Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physicians (Boulder, Colo.: Sentient Publishing, 2007).

  132 Bleach enemas: Orac, “The Lowest of the Low: Trying to Bleach Autism Away,” ScienceBlogs, http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2012/5/25/selling-bleach-as-a-cure-for-autism.

  132 McCarthy blames MMR vaccine: McCarthy and Kartzinel, Healing.

  132 McCarthy on vaccinating next child: Ibid., 278.

  133 Oprah impressed with McCarthy: The Oprah Winfrey Show, September 18, 2007.

  133 Autism research: Offit, Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure (New York: Columbia University Press, 2008).

  134 Biomedical treatments don’t work: J. H. Elder, M. Shanker, J. Shuster, et al., “The Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet in Autism: Results of a Preliminary Double Blind Clinical Trial,” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 36 (2006): 413–20; B. Jepson, D. Granpeesheh, J. Tarbox, et al. “Controlled Evaluation of the Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on the Behavior of 16 Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders,” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 41 (2011): 575–88; S. E. Soden, “24-Hour Provoked Urine Excretion Test for Heavy Metals in Children with Autism and Typically Developing Children: A Pilot Study,” Clinical Toxicology 45 (2007): 476–81.

  134 Secretin: A. D. Sandler, K. A. Sutton, J. DeWeese, et al., “Lack of Benefit of a Single Dose of Synthetic Human Secretin in the Treatment of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder,” New England Journal of Medicine 341 (1999): 1801–1806; F. R. Volkmar, “Lessons from Secretin,” New England Journal of Medicine 341 (1999): 1842–45; P. Sturmey, “Secretin Is an Ineffective Treatment for Pervasive Developmental Disabilities: A Review of 15 Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trials,” Research in Developmental Disabilities 26 (2005): 87–97.

  135 Alison Singer: Alison Singer, interviewed by the author, September 26, 2011.

  137 American President quote: The American President, directed by Rob Reiner (1995; Beverly Hills, Calif.: Castle Rock Entertainment, 1999).

  138 Harm from biomedical treatments for autism: C. Plafki, P. Peters, M. Almeling, et al., “Complications and Side Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy,” Aviation and Space Environmental Medicine 71 (2000): 119–24; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Deaths Associated with Hypocalcemia from Chelation Therapy—Texas, Pennsylvania, and Oregon, 2003–2005,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 55 (2006): 204–207; National Institutes of Health, “Thin Bones Seen in Boys with Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder,” press release, January 29, 2008, www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2008/nichd-29.htm.

  138 Harm caused by vaccine-preventable diseases: P. Offit, Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All (New York: Basic Books, 2011).

  139 Alternative healers disdain vaccines: L. Downey, P. T. Tyree, C. E. Huebner, et al., “Pediatric Vaccination and Vaccine-Preventable Disease Acquisition: Associations with Care by Complementary and Alternative Medicine Providers,” Maternal and Child Health Journal 14 (2010): 922–30.

  139 Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases: Offit, Deadly Choices.

  CHAPTER 7: CHRONIC LYME DISEASE

  140 Gostin paper: J. D. Kraemer and L. O. Gostin, “Science, Politics, and Values: The Politicization of Professional Practice Guidelines,” Journal of the American Medical Association 301 (2009): 665–67.

  141 Dan Burton: B. Wilson, “The Rise and Fall of Laetrile,” www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Cancer/laetrile.html; S. Brownlee, “Swallowing Ephedra,” archive.salon.com/health/feature/2000/06/07/ephedra; E. Walsh, “Burton: A ‘Pit Bull’ in the Chair,” Washington Post, March 19, 1997; F. Pellegrini, “Fool on the Hill,” Time.com, www.time.com/time/daily/special/look/burton.

  141 Wakefield and MMR: Offit, Autism’s False Prophets.

  142 U. S. parents scared of MMR: M. J. Smith, S. S. Ellenberg, L. M. Bell, et al., “Media Coverage of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autism Controversy and Its Relationship to MMR Immunization Rates in the United States,” Pediatrics 121 (2008): e836–e843.

  142 Measles outbreaks in 2008: Offit, Deadly Choices, xv–xvi.

  142 Measles outbreak in Europe: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Measles Outbreaks,” www.cdc.gov/measles/outbreaks.html.

  142 Changing the value of pi: C. Seife, Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception (New York: The Penguin Group, 2010).

  143 Polly Murray and Old Lyme outbreak: P. Weintraub, Cause Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic (New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2008), 43–45.

  143 Allen Steere and Lyme arthritis: A. C. Steere, S. E. Malawista, D. R. Snydman, et al., “Lyme Arthritis: An Epidemic of Oligoarticular Arthritis in Children and Adults in Three Connecticut Communities,” Arthritis and Rheumatism 20 (1977): 7–17.

  144 Willy Burgdorfer and Borrelia burgdorferi: W. Burgdorfer, A. G. Barbour, S. F. Hayes, et al., “Lyme Disease—A Tick-Borne Spirochetosis?” Science 216 (1982): 1317–19.

  144 Lyme disease symptoms and treatment: G. P. Wormser, R. J. Dattwyler, E. D. Shapiro, et al., “The Clinical Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of
Lyme Disease, Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis: Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America,” Clinical Infectious Diseases 43 (2006): 1089–1134.

  145 Lyme bacteria cause other diseases: P. G. Auwaerter, J. S. Bakken, R. J. Dattwyler, et al., “Antiscience and Ethical Concerns Associated with Advocacy of Lyme Disease,” Lancet Infectious Diseases 11 (2011): 713–19.

  146 Chronic Lyme symptoms: C. Bean and L. Fein, Beating Lyme: Understanding and Treating This Complex and Often Misdiagnosed Disease (New York: AMACOM, 2008), 263–66.

  146 Director’s quote regarding Under Our Skin: Under Our Skin, Discussion Guide, Open Eye Productions, 2008.

  147 Under Our Skin: Ibid.

  147 Alternative medicine treatments for Chronic Lyme disease: Bean, Beating Lyme; S. Buhner, Healing Lyme: Natural Healing and Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis and Its Coinfections (Silver City, N.M.: Raven Press, 2005); N. McFadzean, The Lyme Diet: Nutritional Strategies for Healing Lyme Disease (San Diego: Legacy Line Publishing, 2010); G. Piazza and L. Piazza, Recipes for Repair: A Lyme Disease Cookbook (Sunapee, N.H.: Peconic Publishing, 2010); B. Rosner, Lyme Disease and Rife Machines (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.: BioMed Publishing Group, 2005); B. Rosner, The Top 10 Lyme Disease Treatments: Defeat Lyme Disease with the Best of Conventional and Alternative Medicine (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.: BioMed Publishing Group, 2007); K. Singleton, The Lyme Disease Solution (Charleston, S.C.: BookSurge Publishing, 2008); W. Storl, Healing Lyme Disease Naturally: History, Analysis, and Treatments (Berkeley, Calif.: North Atlantic Books, 2010); C. Strasheim, Insights into Lyme Disease Treatment: 13 Lyme Literate Health Care Practitioners Share Their Healing Strategies (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.: BioMed Publishing Group, 2009).

  148 Wolf Storl and teasel: Storl, Healing Lyme.

  149 Rife machine for Chronic Lyme: Rosner, Top 10 Lyme Treatments.

  149 Rife machine testimonials: Rosner, Lyme Disease and Rife Machines: 165–85.

  150 Killing Lyme bacteria: G. P. Wormser, R. J. Dattwyler, E. D. Shapiro, et al., “The Clinical Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Lyme Disease, Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis: Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America,” Clinical Infectious Diseases 43 (2006): 1089–1134; Auwaerter, Bakken, Dattwyler, et al., “Antiscience and Ethical Concerns.”