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Brian C.Black wrote: > > > I have two questions : 1. Does anyone have any experience with USANA or > BODYWISE vitamin supplements? I have read that these can help PD. Dear Brian, USANA was a topic of discussion between Barbara Blake-Krebs and myself a few months ago. I investigated their website, and also queried a listserv of nutrition specialists. I believe USANA is one of an ever-growing number of nutritional scams operating on the Internet. Please do not be swayed by the list of journal references at the website. Let me quote the correspondence between myself, Barb, and the specialists I queried: Kathrynne: "Hi Barb, I've gotten some feedback on the USANA approach to nutrition that I thought I'd pass along. I think you'll be interested to hear what some of our top nutrition experts has to say. *********************** "Kathyrnne, I have had some personal experience with USANA. I was on the faculty at the Univ. of Utah from 1990-95. USANA invited myself and another faculty member to their facility (Gull Labs) which is in the Salt Lake City area. Basically, they wanted us to endorse their products. I must say I was very unimpressed. We met with Dr. Wentz and he was very charismatic and talked a good line. This has been a couple years ago, but what I remember most was that he essentially said that food was a poison and that we were better off getting as much of our nutrients from supplements as possible. I asked about the research in humans (as opposed to cells) and he said that it was such a wonderful product they felt like it was more important to spend their time making it available to everyone (selling it) instead of doing research. ... My overall opinion was that they are selling a very overpriced product and making claims that can't be substantiated. Martha Archuleta, PhD, RD" ********** "Kathrynne, It is highly unlikely that the manufacturer can substantiate any of the claims being made for this product. I wouldn't be surprised if the letter from the nurse is fictitious. These people have absolutely no business ethics or morals. They are just in it for the money. Complain to your District Attorney-s/he is supposed to protect people from consumer fraud. Describe what you have found out; ask him to investigate further. There is no reason to let this go on under our noses without taking any action. Good luck...Joanne" Joanne P. Ikeda,MA,RD Cooperative Extension Nutrition Education Specialist Department of Nutritional Sciences University of California, Berkeley CA 94720-3104 ***************** Kathrynne: "Thanks, Joanne--I agree completely, but I sort of wanted to get a couple posts from professionals that I could forward to the list. I'd like them to hear some different people expressing the same thought. People with Parkinson's (and other chronic diseases) are naturally investigating all possible sources of help, and I believe these characters are preying on this. I have stated my own feelings pretty strongly to the list, but I'd like to bolster that with your thoughts as well. >> your District Attorney-s/he is supposed to protect people from consumer >> fraud. Great idea! I'm going to forward that thought, too. Though I have a feeling these jokers have covered themselves pretty well, judging from the website. They used actual studies on various antioxidants, and that's what they're using to back up their claims. But I couldn't find any studies done on USANA! Joanne's response: "Studies on antioxidants cannot be used to back up claims on products that are a mixture of ingredients unless the studies are double blind, placebo-controlled crossover studies done with a significant number of subjects using THE EXACT PRODUCT that claims are being made for. People cannot take the scientific literature and use it any way they want. Just because they cite scientific literature does not mean they are protected in any way. I am doing consulting work for the DA, and believe me, it is relatively easy to go after these companies; the problem is, no one takes the time to do it! Good luck...Joanne" Kathrynne: "Barb, I believe the phrase "the exact product" says it all. I saw no studies done on USANA at their website, just studies done on various antioxidants. Unless I missed something (I didn't do a complete search of the website) I think this outfit is committing fraud. I hope the PD list will distinguish this type of product from the genuinely useful alternate therapies that exist." --------- Brian, this product sold at $85.00 for a one-month supply and Barbara was urged to commit to a 4-month supply at the outset. I do not believe USANA is a reputable product. I haven't heard of BODYWISE but I'd certainly check it out if I were you. Please don't encourage these people by purchasing their products without a thorough investigation first. Best regards, Kathrynne -- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD Editor-in-Chief, "Spotlight on Food--nutrition news for people 60-plus" Tel: 970-493-6532 Fax: 970-493-6538 http://www.fortnet.org/~fivstar You may wish to contact: Better Business Bureau of the Mountain States, < [log in to unmask]> for further information.