Wednesday, 30th October 2009
Vitamin Dangers - Response from NZ Society of Naturopaths
NZ Society of Naturopaths Media release -
Jaine Kirtley - PR NZSN

The NZSN of Naturopaths strongly opposes the suggestion by TV 3 that Vitamins are more dangerous than passive cigarette smoke. We are not aware of studies that support this claim.If we had been contacted for comment we would have been happy to do so.

Scientific research is always evolving. Recommendations Naturopaths made thirty years ago for example, to increase fruit and vegetable intake to help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease and other disease states were not at that time backed by scientific studies but on sound naturopathic principles. Nowadays scientific studies unquestionably support the link between higher vegetable and fruit intake and a decrease in the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Scientific studies currently are producing conflicting results regarding the use of vitamins and mineral supplementation. The NZ Society of Naturopaths sees this as part of the scientific process and not an end point. Professor Wiseman from the World Cancer Research Fund commented about the latest report on Cancer Prevention

http://www.wcrf-uk.org/audience/media/press_release.php?recid=77

In other words there is no conclusive evidence for the harm of vitamins. The NZ Society of Naturopaths believes that reports that vitamins are harmful are biased.

Naturopaths who are qualified and registered with the NZ Society of Naturopaths prescribe vitamins and minerals always according to the individual’s need rather than to populations as a whole. Each individual’s needs are considered holistically rather than on a disease basis. Naturopaths will select carefully the type and quality of supplement appropriate in much the same way that the type and quality of food is selected for each individual.

The NZ Society of Naturopaths has noted that the quality of the supplements used in scientific studies is rarely described. Dietary supplements of inferior quality if used in scientific studies could arguably contain fillers and binders that may be detrimental to health; this could affect the results in that it may not be the vitamin but other substances that affect health.

As registered and qualified Naturopaths we have been trained to be aware of the dangers of overdosing on dietary supplements, and prescribe to avoid such dangers. We are aware that in NZ Medsafe and the NZ Food Standards Authority as regulatory bodies ensures that contents and labelling of supplements ensures the public is guided regarding safe doses.

The news item and television program may be detrimental to health by causing unnecessary alarm from the public. Many may indeed stop taking vitamins. This would undo much of the good work by the government in promoting vitamins intake to certain groups. For example if the B vitamin called folic acid is not taken prior to conception and during pregnancy, the risk of spina bifida increases. Incidentally Naturopaths recommended folic acid prior to conception and during pregnancy many years before the scientific studies backed the use of it to prevent birth defects.


Jaine Kirtley
Public Relations
New Zealand Society Of Naturopaths

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 Thursday, 30th July 2009
Comparisons of Nutrient Content and Health Effects of Organic foods to conv
UK Food Standards Agency Studies
Media Release - Jaine Kirtley PR -- NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY OF NATUROPATHS

The New Zealand Society of Naturopaths disputes the conclusions of the recent studies commissioned by the UK Food Standards Agency into the Comparisons of Nutrient Content and Health Effects of Organic foods to conventionally produced foods. The conclusions of Food Standards Agency studies are that there are no differences between organically produced foods and conventionally produced foods in terms of beneficial nutrients and health.

The NZ Society of Naturopaths believes the FSA findings are likely to be incorrect.

The NZSN points out that the heath findings were based on only 11 studies, which the FSA authors acknowledge had a very small number of participants. The authors of the studies admitted that “conclusions relate to the evidence base currently available, which contains limitations in the design and in the comparability of studies” .

Neither FSA commissioned studies considered the levels of or effects on health of contaminants such as herbicide, pesticide and fungicide residues. The Naturopathic view is  that the presence of such contaminants can have a detrimental effect on health.

 

The study admitted that some nutrients were found to be higher in organic produce such as magnesium, zinc and flavonoids. But the study stated that these had not been proven shown to have a positive effect on health and were unlikely to be low in a normal diet. However,  many studies link low levels of these nutrients to poor health including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes.
 
Some studies in the FSA research were not included including an important large study in Europe “QualityLowInputFood (QLIF)” which involved over 100 scientific papers.  The QLIF study found levels of a range of nutritionally desirable compounds were shown to be higher in organic crops and levels of nutritionally undesirable compounds were shown to be lower in organic crops.
 

The FSA commissioned studies  failed to highlight their findings that organic food contained higher quantities of many nutrients, for example

- Protein 12.7%
- Beta-carotene 53.6%
- Flavonoids 38.4%
- Copper 8.3%
- Magnesium 7.1%
- Phosphorous 6%
- Potassium 2.5%
- Sodium 8.7%
- Sulphur 10.5%
- Zinc 11.3%
- Phenolic compounds 13.2%

-Fatty acids, such as CLA and omega 3 were between 10 - 60% higher in organic milk and dairy products,

-Vitamin C were up to 90% higher in leafy vegetables and fruits.

-Polyunsaturated fatty acids in organic meat and dairy products (between 2.1% - 27.8% higher)

Links:

http://www.naturopath.org.nz/about.html
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2009/jul/organic
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/organicreviewappendices.pdf
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/organicreviewreport.pdf
http://www.qlif.org

 

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 Media Release 8/5/2010
Proposed Natural Health Products Bill
Bill Will Limit Consumer Choice and Increase Costs of Products
Jaine Kirtley PR NZSN

The Government Proposals for a Natural Health Products Bill may limit consumer access to natural health products.

The NZ Society of Naturopaths has a number of concerns about the proposed Natural Health Products Bill. The NZSN says “We would like to see regulations which protect the public; but the bill in its present form is likely to restrict consumer choice and increase costs of Natural Health Products”.

NZ Society of Naturopaths Supports
Some form of regulation for natural health products
A list of prohibited ingredients
the concept of a consultative body and would like to offer a representative
The use of Therapeutic Claims; provided these are backed up by evidence and are auditable. The NZSN see no reason to limit the therapeutic claims to a low level claim for minor conditions.
The proposed clear and informative labelling and advertising requirements
A code of practice for the manufacture of natural health products

NZ Society of Naturopaths Objects to
A list of permitted ingredients
Only Low level therapeutic claims being allowed; provided there is evidence any level of therapeutic claim should be allowed.
The costs that the bill in its present form would incur; especially in respect to the impact this would have on small business, innovation and ultimately the consumer

NZ Society of Naturopaths Suggests

No regulation for Homeopathic remedies, tissue salts, flower essences, herbal teas and natural food state products and individual client preparations (e.g. herbal medicines) made by any registered natural health practitioner [only Traditional Chinese Medicine & Rongoa Maori are specifically named in the present proposal.]
Management of appeals and dispute resolution by a Review committee which would be effective and more cost effective than a court system

The new Bill proposes a list of prohibited ingredients and a list of permitted ingredients.
The NZSN fully supports a list of prohibited ingredients and sees this as important for public protection from dangerous substances. However, the permitted ingredients list poses some problems say the NZSN, as the proposed list does not include many safe products available in NZ today.

The proposed bill suggests that companies seek approval for their ingredients to be added to the list. However, the NZSN points out that the suggested form of approval would be a lengthy and costly process. The whole process may mean many small businesses do not survive and those that do will have to pass on costs to the end consumer.

In addition, the NZSN believes that some Natural Health Products should fall outside the regulations. These products do not easily lend themselves to any system of lists of approved substances; such as Homeopathic remedies, tissue salts, flower essences, herbal teas, natural food state products and individual client preparations, (e.g. herbal medicines) made by any registered natural health practitioner. [Only Traditional Chinese Medicine & Rongoa Maori are specifically named in the present proposal.]
The NZSN has concerns about the proposal allowing only Therapeutic claims that are of a “Low level” such as minor conditions. Provided there is evidence, any level of therapeutic claim should be allowed according to the view of the NZSN.

The costs that the bill in its present form would pass on would have a very negative impact on small business believes the NZSN. Some may not be able to continue trading both in NZ and exporting to other countries. The costs in gaining product approval would also deter innovation for new natural health products. Ultimately the consumer would have less choice and higher costing products.

The NZ Society of Naturopaths urges everyone who has an opinion on the proposed Natural health Products Bill to make a submission to the Ministry of Health. The Closing date for submissions is 17th May 2010

The Development of a Natural Health Products Bill: Consultation Paper is available at the Ministry of Health website: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/ ... bill-mar10
For information on the NZ Society of Naturopaths, go to http://www.naturopath.org.nz.

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 Friday, 8 May 2009
Society of Naturopaths Comment on Health Targets
Media release from the New Zealand Society of Naturopaths
Press Release: New Zealand Society of Naturopaths

Re. Fewer more focussed targets Health Minister Tony Ryall today announced a slimmed down set of Health Targets.

The new set of targets are : Shorter stays in emergency departments, Improved access to elective surgery, shorter waits for cancer treatment, Increased immunisation, Better help for smokers to quit, Better diabetes and cardiovascular services.

However the New Zealand Society of Naturopaths is very disappointed that the targets for improving nutrition , and increasing physical activity and reducing obesity have been dropped.

Naturopaths believe that nutrition and physical activity are important foundations for health, and are important in both prevention of and treatment of all illness.

The NZSN believes that to decrease diabetes and cardiovascular disease it is imperative to focus on better nutrition and greater physical activity.

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 April 2010
NZ Society of Naturopaths guarantees highly qualified practitioners
NZSN
NZSN - Media Release

 



Recent attention has been brought to the case of a woman who failed to seek medical advice for a tumour on her scalp following the advice of an unregistered practitioner. The cancer was misdiagnosed by this practitioner as a benign 'infected sebaceous cyst' and she was advised against taking conventional medical advice.

"Such incidents need to be avoided and a well trained, qualified natural health practitioner needs to have a responsibility to the client to refer to further medical investigation when necessary" says a spokesperson from from the NZ Society of Naturopaths.

The New Zealand Society of Naturopaths allows entry only to those naturopaths who meet a high standard of education at an accredited natural health college. There is a strict code of ethics that all practitioners who are registered with the society are required to adhere to and in this way the Society is able to guarantee a high standard of professionalism and education from all it's members.

The NZSN's recommends that anyone seeking help from a natural health practitioner should choose a registered practitioner from a reputed society. To find a practitioner in your local area, go to www.naturopath.org.nz.

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 24th August 2010
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 22nd March 2010
Naturopathy and Integrative Medical Centres
Naturopathy and Integrative Medical Centres
Jaine Kirtley PR NZSN

The NZ Society of Naturopaths applauds the use of integrative medical centres where the public can access care from a range of specialists under one roof. This has a great potential for truly client centred care. The real focus of complementary medicine is the client. The health services need to provide for all the client needs to be at optimum health. This means they may use the services of a GP alongside the care of a Registered Naturopath if that means that gives them the best chance to regain health. The NZ Society of Naturopaths already has registered naturopaths working in integrative care clinics. The high level of training and competency of Naturopaths registered with the NZSN has been crucial to their effectiveness in working alongside other disciplines for the benefit of health service users.
A list of registered qualified Naturopaths can be found at http://www.naturopath.org.nz

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 21 April 2010
Flawed research on link between vitamins and breast cancer
NZSN
NZSN - Media Release Kirsten Johnstone

An article published by the NZ Herald (19 April 2010) quoting research that links vitamin taking and breast cancer, once again confirms that you cannot believe everything you read in the papers.

The journalist Lincoln Tan has quoted a Swedish study undertaken in 1997 on 35, 329 cancer-free women who completed a self-administered health questionnaire. A mean follow up of nine and a half years gave the following results;

* 293 of 9,000 women who took vitamins developed breast cancer
* 8707 women (or 96.7%) who took vitamins did not develop breast cancer
* 681 of non vitamin takers developed breast cancer

Lincoln Tan's interpretation of this piece of research can be considered highly flawed from a scientific perspective. A self-administered questionaire does not constitute a piece of major research and this research was not specifically designed to show cause and effect. Tan also failed to point out that the chief researcher involved in the study, Susanna Larsson MD, agrees that it is possible that other factors not measured in the study could explain the link found between breast cancer and vitamins.

The published study is up against numerous contradictory studies showing no link between vitamin use and cancer. Supplementation with vitamins is widely established as being extremely safe when used correctly - especially when compared to the safety profile of pharmaceutical drugs.

"Consumers should not be deterred by the recent biased article published by the New Zealand Herald" says a New Zealand Society of Naturopaths spokesperson. "If unsure about taking a natural supplement, about dosaging or about potential interactions between natural supplements and drugs, it is always advised to contact a local registered naturopath for professional advice", says the spokesperson.

For infomation on how to contact a fully qualified local naturopath registered with the NZ Society of Naturopaths, go to http://www.naturopath.org.nz.

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