Supplements Under Fire: Suzanne Somers Spars with Bill O’Reilly
March 2, 2010
On February 19, 2010, consumer healthcare advocate, best-selling author and actress Suzanne Somers appeared on Bill O’Reilly’s “No-Spin Zone,” which airs on FOX news channel. Their discussion centered on the McCain/Dorgan Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010, which many experts fear would dismantle the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994.
The eloquent Somers stressed the importance of consumers’ right to buy dietary supplements and blamed the FDA’s admitted failure to protect consumers’ safety for setting the stage for the McCain/Dorgan bill.
Many people are outraged to learn that drug-safety information is often hidden from professionals and consumers, and that manufacturers may be directed to conduct safety studies when drugs are already on the market.
Dietary supplement health benefit information is also shielded from the public purview. This lack of scientific freedom of speech has been the subject of many suits against the FDA, including Pearson v. Shalala (D.C. D.C. 1999); Pearson v. Shalala (D.C.D.C. 2001); Pearson v. Thompson (D.C.D.C. 2001); and Whitaker v. Thompson (D.C.D.C. 2002), which held FDA censorship of nutrient-disease relationship claims to be unconstitutional.
The McCain Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010 will not make consumers safer. The failure of the FDA to move against products adulterated with steroids or other illegal ingredients masquerading as dietary supplements puts our health at risk. Given the FDA’s repeated failures, why would we give it more power? As Suzanne Somers said so courageously, we deserve better than the flawed McCain/Dorgan DSSA.
I am a huge fan of Bill O but he’s wrong on this one ! The big Pharma industry as well as big Medi cine is lacking in checks and balances. Supplements not only provide a needed balance < because the checks arent working > they work !!! – ask my 90 year old mother.
Thats is basically what I said in my e-mail to Oreilly.
Bill…Oh, Bill…Oh, Bill.
I have believed you were right in everything….except this.
You are wrong…wrong…wrong. And you really need to do more research.
Let’s see: when laws are proposed that limit corporations, Mr. O’Reilly is against them, but when laws are proposed that protect corporations (profits), he is for them. Who is paying his monstrous salary? Not us, it’s the corporations. On a foreign-owned network that continually tries to undermine American laws.
Just because some marketers name a program “no-spin zone” doesn’t mean it’s anything but a big pile of stinking spin. Are “red delicious” apples delicious? When the name of the show is a lie, you can bet that most of what’s said on it isn’t exactly true either.
The drug companies are facing dwindling profits from patents running out and would love to limit our choices so we have to buy what they still make or have coming out soon. They feed their desires to Fox, who spins it into something to make ordinary Americans think they are being attacked rather than protected.
I actually watched Suzanne Somers vs Bill O’Reilly on Fox and of course I agree with Ms. Somers. However, I was interested in what O’Reilly had to say about his use of Red Yeast Rice, which I am contemplating taking with my Dr’s blessing. Bill O’Reilly said that after 2 months use (I think that’s what he said) his liver enzymes went through the roof.
In my opinion if he also took milk thistle it would have protected his liver. I thought the wiseguy Bill would have known that. Instead of wanting to regulate supplements I’m surprised he (Bill) hadn’t done his own research first. There’s much to know about cholesterol lowering methods.
As for myself, I only attend the best integrated medicine doctors. Big Pharma will never get rich on me as I respond poorly to prescription medicine. Don’t get me wrong, it has its place. I prefer to stay as close to naturals as possible.
Cholesterol is unfairly demonized while the real culprit is homocysteine level. Lowering cholesterol is potentially dangerous. Just take TMG and B-complex to lower homocysteine. Also adequate vitamin D3, vitamin C, and lysine/proline. Simple.
Red Yeast Rice is the only nutrient I know of that acts like synthetic statins, which means you have to take CoQ10 with it, as you would synthetics (Lipitor,etc) Try using plant sterol and sterolins which do not allow the uptake of cholesterol in the small intestine, but still lets the body produce cholesterol to produce Vit. D, keep cell integrity healthy, allow for production of bile salts for proper digestion and allow the Adrenal glands to produce necessary hormones and the brain needs it also. RYR and synthetic statins inhibit these processes and could lead to a decline in health!!! I have read three different doctors saying these drugs are being overly prescribed and most people are fine. One doctor said if you get to around 300, then do something about it, but most people are fine and Big Pharma sets the guidelines so they can make money off of you!!! in 2004, Lipitor grossed 8 billion and Zocor 4.5 billion dollars!!! HMMMMMM Dr David Brownstein’s book “Drugs that don’t work and natural therapies that do” is a great read. He covers 5 main health issues including cholesterol. Remember, everyone is biochemically unique, thanks.
Good point on the Milk thistle, Brigid. When using Red Yeast Rice, or the statins from Big Pharma, since they both block the mevalonate pathway, its important to also take Co-Enzyme Q 10. 150-200 mg/day.
I am appauled to hear that the government is trying to regulate the supplement business. If it had not been for supplimentatation, my life would be very different today. I was pretty much told to get in a rocking chair and rock, by my doctor. I have a life now that would never have been possible if it had not been for my experience in supplimentation. I am 63 and have had multiple injuries and undiagnosed and misdiagnosed issues. I have emerged healtheir then i have ever been in my life because of a supplimental regimen that worked. With common sense and personal study, supplimentation is a great benefit and can reduce pain, suffering and sometimes may even fix what doctors cannot figure out.
Yes, the supplimentation may be used incorrectly. Food may be used incorrectly too. Why don’t we just ban food? Or why don’t we have a movement that you cannot eat anytthing that doesn’t grow in the ground? We don’t because that would infringe on ones right to choose the type of food they eat. The whole idea of regulating supplimentation is so nuts! Why don’t we allow people to live according to the constitution and be responsible for themselves as long as they are not stepping on their neighbor’s toes.
I don’t want anyone telling me what I can put in my mouth. More people are injured from faulty medical practices than ever are harmed taking suppliments. Just because a doctor gives you a FDA approved drug does not mean that it is ok for you. I personally have been on at least three medications that the FDA later decided was life threatening. They were taken off the market because of deaths and lawsuits. Those medications did not work for me and could have killed me. I wonder how many die or are harmed by chemicals that are prescribed to them. You are taking your life in your hands when you swallow even prescribed medications.
If someon is taking medication or supplimentation, it is their responsibility to learn what affect that medication or supplimentation will have on their body. If we did this with everything, there would be less drinking, less smoking and less eating foods that clog the blood vessels. The bottom line, no matter what kind of legislation we make, it still comes down to educating yourself and taking the path you feel most likely is beneficial and then accepting the results. Life is a risk. Allow me the freedom to choose my own risk and my own reward. I strongly am opposed to legislating a ban on suppliments. You cannot protect anyone from their own ignorance with any law.
Carolyn Linnemeier
i agree with Carolyn…..besides the FDA has too much power now…..I think this is more about the pharmaceutical industry not wanting competition from the supplement industry…there has to be room for everybody!….Toni Reid
Carolyn,
RIGHT ON!
How come mosre people don’t get it? Why are injury and deaths from FDA drugs not discussed openly? Our forefathers who built this country out of mans right to choose for himself must surely be rolling over in their graves.
God bless,
Virginia
All this boils down to who has more control AND the almighty dollar. My freedom of choice is trying to be manipulated and controlled. All behavior should be within moderation and this begins with education, which is lacking in this country. I prefer preventive maintenance and the best way is with vitamins and supplements. Give the body what it needs and it can take care of itself. It is a miraculous machine. Don’t remove my freedom to choose what is best for me. Do not interfere with my constitution and rights. Just a comment.
Oh my GOD People,
I really hope this bill doesn’t – let me repeat (DOES NOT) get through! I rely on my supplements to give me a healthier life for me & my family of 5. The FDA is a political arm of the “PILL PUSHERS”! They don’t care about our health! They only care about money! They don’t want healthy Americans – They want sick Americans! Sick = Money! If the FDA was out for our best interests they would leave our supplements alone! They know NATURAL works & people are catching on! That is a threat to them! They want to control that, so it makes there poket books fater! I never heard of VIT C killing anyone! I got a better chance of a healthier life with supplements like Apple Cider Vinegar, Chlorella, Cod Liver Oil, Vit C (All Vitamins), Acai, Noni, Goji, Pomegranate, Mangosteen, Milk Thistle, Probiotics, Amino Acids, Green Tea, Ginseng, Omega 3, Aloe Vera, Trace Minerals, etc, etc! I have a world of faith in these elements than what Pharma-America has to offer. You seen the side effects on some of the stuff they give you has! Freaking crazy! The FDA doesn’t test what comes out till 5,000 people start showing adverse major side effects or death! What kind of country is this supposed to be anyway! I thought we had some choices around here! I’ve taken action & I hope it’s enough to keep this Bill in the Trash HEAP! Thank God I didn’t vote for that pickle head McCain! As far as Bill O’Reilly is concerned! I’ll be waiting in the parking lot for that guy!
There’s a book written by Life Extension: FDA , Failure, Deception,Abuse….Very enlightenibng, If more people read this book there would be MORE outrage and the notion of putting MORE power in the hands of this corrupt, disfunctional group would show itself to being the preposterous idea it truly is.. the FDA is NOT at all concerned w/ ” the best interest of the American people” they have NO idea what that is!! they’re just as interested in brokering backroom deals for the almighty dollar as some of the others in DC ,this sickens me.. The “spin” that’s put on ANYTHING that comes out of Washington should be met w/ suspicion and a critical eye as to “what’s in it for them”.. because THAT”S the true motivation and never has it been more evident than in this book !!!! We must stand up individually AND collectively and tell Washington, they work for US This bill ( for starters) is NOT in our best interest..
I contacted my senators and they both sent me the same response. They are saying they let the committees in charge handle it. They don’t even know what’s in the bill. I am very disappointed in John Mccain. This is more government control any way you cut the cake. We need people in Congress who are in touch with today! Leave our rights alone! They aren’t listening!
If we had an honest government the outrageous FDA and its complete sellout of the US Citizen would NOT be tolerated. The institutional sellout of the health of the US Citizen MUST form the basis of any so called “Health Reform”.
Allowing the FDA, CDC, NIH and all the bought and paid for sellouts to “oversee” our health is an outrage we Citizens cannot tolerate.
I have been in the medical field for 30 years and am appauled at the FDA’s criminal actions in keeping safe, preventive, anti-aging, and helath promoting information from the American public all BECAUSE in highest keeping and incestuous relationships with Big Pharma. Drugs KILL amd our own FDA is partnering with drug companies to promote dangerous drugs and keep the money flowing. There is no such thing as looking out for the safety of the public. Our leaders in Wahsington DC have missed the meaning of “health”. Common sense prevention is mosre cost effective and promotes a long term quality of life. Unfortunately, Americans are inundated with harmful drugs being “shoved” down our throats to promote what is know as “disease management”. Got health?
Senator McCain,
Please spend your time in improving the economy and jobs, and stay out of regulating the supplement and health care industries where we do not want you to be involved.
Career politicians appear to only focus on getting re-elected and not on listening to the voters who want less Federal iinvolvement and less spending of our taxes.
The only time you get it is when we do not vote you back in office.
Sirs: Big Pharma is (bribing) probably paying million$ to McCain and Dorgan for sponsoring the anti-supplements legislation, but McCain has an excuse: Hanoi knew a weak sister when they had one, so they used orture to extract every US secret McCain was aware of — yes, he was the ONLY tortured US pilot to succumb.
That was no surprise. He’d limped through the USNA and graduated because he was the son of an admiral, then used the kinship to become a pilot (his flight instructors told B-100-Bob Dornan that McCain should have washed out).
McCain proved Hanoi had brainwashed him by running a “please-let-me-lose-to-a socialist” campaign for president after the NYTimes and (crossover)liberal voters got him nominated.
I hope he contracts an illness “mainstream” doctors can’t cure, a condition “supplement” treatment CAN deal with, but which will now be denied him — deliberately denied, I hope.
President Reagan’s cancer was cured by alternative medicine — in Germany, yet. Was gratitude Ronald’s reason for demanding that Gorbachev “tear down this (Berlin) wall?”
Here we go again! The powers that be will not stop assailing our right to take care of ourselves as WE deem necessary until they have taken every single right away from us. It has nothing to do with protecting us; it’s always about protecting their money and their power, the gods of this world. The only time those who call themselves our paid representatives pay attention to the Constitution is when it supports their stance. The vast majority of the time they ignore it. I am reminded of something I have heard many times: all that evil needs to spread is for good (people) to do nothing. We good people of America have been silent far too long, and look at the results
It’s sad that John McCain is the co-sponsor of this assault on freedom and choice, and I wonder why. But then, owing to the state of politics in America nothing would surprise me. I can only imagine what the decent, honorable founders of this once-great nation would say and do if confronted with today’s corruption, arrogance, greed and self-serving actions of our nation’s leaders who have become completely corrupted and compromised by the true power in the world–corporations with their money and influence.
After hearing Bill O’Reilly take the side of Big Government against consumers of vitamin supplements, I sent him the following email, which he did not read on his program.
Bill,
I was aghast at your support for McCain’s Big Pharma power grab against freedom loving health supplement users, and I’m afraid you have shown your true colors to be somewhere between a sanctimonious populist and a conservative Tartuffe.
Carl Carlson
Tucson AZ
The Government is at war with Americans!
I have practiced psychiatry for 30 years, but not until I began to attend anti-aging events & talks sponsored by vitamin & supplement companies did I learn about some simple physiologic interventions that actually work, backed by well-established scientific biology. From pro-biotics to simple hormone replacement & fish-oil — it is all very useful & easy to add to even a general psychiatric practice. This stuff works. We do not need the FDA to regulate it in any way.
I have prescribed tons of medication that had no physiologic rationale, but “worked” by statistical study (excluding placebo effect?) required by the FDA. Several meds hit the market, then later had to be recalled because they caused deaths. Meanwhile my patients weren’t getting
a whole lot better — so much for the FDA.
The supplements meantime have been easier to use & safer.
Senatior McCain’s bill is a bad one.
Dr Gonzales, Thank you, thank you and thank you again for your input. We are very unhappy with Sen. McCain sponsoring his dietary supplement bill restricions. Unfortunately, we have people like O’Reilly who is educated but not well informed, (however very influential) and his statesments are misguiding.Also this McCain bill of suplementals restrictions may be very helpfull to Obama’s medical control bill which we do not need. All that is very bad for many of us, specialy seniors who depend on natural medicine to survive. We need less of big Government control all together.
I agree with the proposed legislation to force companies to provide better info on their products. For example, Dr. David Williams advertises blood sugar control supplements but they don’t work. The front office shields the doctor. However, his Daily Advantage vitamin-mineral supplements are great. Another example, is the awfully expensive exotic fruit drinks that are pasteurized thus killing all of the good substances. The labelling is inaccurate because the measurements are taken before the heating process instead of when the bottlle leaves the plant. We need legislation to force the industry to provide accurate listing of ingredient amounts on the labels. There is way too much hype.
I, too, agree with most all of the comments posted. I am very disappointed with Senator McCain (and I voted for the guy). I think maybe the intent of the bill is to ban sports related steriods and things like ephedrine that have caused a few deaths of young players who have abused those and other supplements. In defense of Senator McCain, (hopefully) he is being used and unfortunately does not have a clue of the implications of what he is proposing. I said hopefully, because as we all know, big pharma, is BIG PHARMA, and the lobbing efforts and the $ drive everything. It’s up to us to let him and the rest of the “clueless” idiots on capitol hill know exactly how we feel. I truly believe in alternative health and the healing powers contained within. Check out: Dr. David Williams, Dr. Jonathan Wright, Dr. Allan Spreen, Dr. Bruce West, Dr. William C. Douglass II, Dr. Al Sears, Dr. William B. Ferril, Dr. Julian Whitaker, and Jenny Thompson of HSI. They are all trying to spread the word…they all have excellent websites and newsletters and are natural health advocates and healers in their own rights. Do not give up folks, never give up. We have rights, too. It’s time America is heard. Voice your opinions. Stand up for your rights and your kids rights, before it’s too late. Pass it on. dmc
My previous comments await “moderation,” I see, which tells me that someone believes my screed was a tad intemperate. Well, moderate away, whoever you are, but I’ll not retract my indictment of “senator-for-life” McCain.
What was my rationale in blasting the “hero” as I did? Well, the legislation sponsored by said hero and Sen. Dorgan (unsubstantiated rumors indictate such sponsors are rewarded with pharmaceutical-industry money) would repeal 1994′a DSHEA, placing out of reach the supplements that have kept me in relative good health at the age of 86, and I say that while casting my eyes skyward in thanks.
No, no supplements cured my pneumonic plague, but then again I’ve had that affliction. But had I been so threatened, my supplement would have been clean water, an absence of intimacy and citizenship elsewhere, a path MDs-of-yore probably took themselves. Anyway, and to this day, modern medicine has no cure for plague.
That I failed to contract plague is hardly attributable to that duly licensed MD, Dr Reuben, whose made-of-whole-cloth research was bought as fact by pharmaceutical firms. They in turn concocted and sold killer drugs (based on Reuben’s dream-testing methods and via doctors’ prescription forms) following FDA approval to a by-now heavenly host of patients, who too often did not survive the drugs’ catastrophic side effects…due no doubt to bad Medicare-care and worse genes.
Forced as they are to obey rigid FDA/AMA protocols, many licensed MDs tried, albeit reluctantly, to consign me to beds of pain or, singularly, to a slab — a marble table that moans eerily of a tomb to come. MDs and I will lose if the FDA controls supplements.
Must those of us who thrive on supplements
place our lives in the (sleight-of) hands of FDA stalwarts, such as “good ol’ Dr. Reuben.”
The answer is yes, because McCain/Dorgan may sentence me (self-preservation is my aim) to death. To see my way clearly to that day, my use of certain supplements will add cells to my brain — Alzheimer’s a real scare-word.
Concluding and to explain (not rationalize) the j’accuse I first submitted, I offer this Mary Hershberger essay, a piece that not only questions McCain’s courage (in re the USS Forrestal explosion-and-fire that claimed 134 USN lives), but the veracity of the senator, too, pointedly, as when he recounted his personal role in that tragedy to the NYTimes.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20081007_investigating_john_mccains_tragedy_at_sea/
[Let me admit: I should not have criticized him for succumbing to Hanoi's brutal torture. Each of us has a breaking point, and I say that as a WW2 ETO veteran, 8th & 9th AFs]
The government we have is the one the mega-corporations want. It clearly does not serve us, the People. The merger of corporate, financial, and governmental interests has a name–fascism, so far not “full-blown” like AIDS, but clearly in the HIV infection sage! All the problems can begin to be solved if we end this empire and its grotesque waste of lives, money, and natural resources, both domestically and in invasions of other people’s coountries, whcih of course makes them angry. How would we feel if a foreign army occupied this country aggressively? 20 years ago, another empire broke up precipitously. Time for consideration of the meaning of 1776, and back to the future.
I suppose we should thank our God that John McCain was not elected president! As bad as things are today, the very idea that John McCain would even think of doing away with the supplements that so many of us depend on to keep us healthy! I have been on many supplements for many years and attribute by good health to them. Maybe John McCain should retire to one of his MANY homes and leave us alone. We have the right as americans to use these supplements and to use alternative healthcare.
I would like to add my “AMEN’ to all the aboves!
Correction in second version:
Third paragraph, irst sentence (after comma)should read:
…but then again I’ve NOT had that affliction.
“NOT” capitalized only as an example
McCain Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010 is a key example of the curious repeat of the pharma lobbies putting Hitler into power before World War 2. Why has this happened again in the USA? The pharmaceutical lobbies should absolutely never be allowed to influence government as they did Germany’s WW2 government. If it were not for this influence, WW2 arguably would not have happened. This is not a stretch of the imagination nor exaggeration. It is happening right in front of you.
http://www.profit-over-life.org/
Since John “Big Government” McCain didn’t know what was in his bill, I’d like to know who REALLY wrote it.
Why McCain don’t think about 106000 people who die every year from side effect of prescription
drug
How sad it is that greed has become the deciding factor of our society today. It seems that every issue we have to deal with on any level comes down to money. Mr. O’Reilly is only doing what is best for him. Unfortunately decency, truth, integrity, character, respect are slowly being eroded from our society. It really is all about the money.
When you have no conscience anymore then you will be able to do and behave as these people are doing.
I feel like I am living in bizarro world! I thought America was known for freedom of choice? Why are they trying to take our choices away? So that we are left with nothing but killer prescription drugs when we get ill, rather than preventative vitamins and supplements. I also have heard that they are going after organic co-ops. This would be all. Leave us with pesticide-riddled fruits and vegetables. Kind of an oxymoron, isn’t it? Don’t we eat produce to be healthy? How can we, when much of it is now genetically modified, sprayed to death, etc? I hate this country anymore. All they care about is money! Human health and well being has been tossed out the window.
I have just finished reading all the comments and I too agree with what they posted. I am proof that supplements can work. After being diagnosed with colon cancer last year 2009 – March and having to have sugery, all I could think of why me? My surgeon who assured me he had got all, recommended I see an Oncologist. I did, “All he wanted to do was give me Chemo, didn’t want to listen to my side at all. With help from my family, especially my daughter and my twin granddaughters who are RN’s they recommended that I get a second opinion, which I did. Thank God he let me talk and to give my side of it. I also did a lot of research and talked to a Naturalpathic and did a lot of reading. I then purchased some supplements and herbs, also starting having a healthier diet and excersise. Every 4 months I saw my PCP, Surgeon and then in Feb 2010 I went for a Colonoscopy. So far this looks pretty promiinsing. All doctors have giving me a clean bill of healthl. Thanks for getting info and supplementation. Everyday I get more information. There is a lot out there without subjecting our bodies to poisonous drugs that the BIG PHARM tells us to use. My neighbor who had lung cancer died a year ago in February. I watched her for many months go through treatments of radiation. Cancer didn’t kill her it was the radiation treatments that got her. I have already sent my letters to: our representatives and also John Mccain. They probably won’t listen, but hope they will. Just to let you know, I am 67 years old and last year was the first time In over 30 years I have seen a doctor or have been in a hospital outside of visiting family and friends. I was surprised at Bill O’reilly comments.
I agree that there is an inherent incestous relationship between the FDA and drug companies who want drug sales perhaps above all else.
Just because a few athletes abuse some “supplements”, we need to make supplements hard to get for the millions of users?
Come on McCain and the ever nosy Durbin!…get real and informed.