Momcilović B
Institut za medicinska istrazivanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb.
Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 1999 Mar;50(1):67-78.
Megamin is a registered nutriceutical in Croatia. Allegedly, it consists mostly of a naturally occurring zeolite (aluminum silicate) ion-exchange material tagged with vitamins and minerals. Mass-media claimed that Megamin possessed strong anticancer properties although it had not been tested through an appropriate, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial. The paper uses Megamin as a paradigmatic model to discuss how higher neurocognitive functions like hope and faith may be related to the placebo effect and give an illusion of symptomatic well being without supporting evidence in the objective signs of the disease. The only plausible role of Megamin is that it reduces gastrointestinal toxic burden by affecting the anaerobic fermenting processes after digestion of food and by removing harmful metabolites after medical treatment of cancer and/or liver and kidney organ failure. The psychological effect of unwarranted mass-media claims about the beneficial role of Megamin in cancer treatment is scrutinized.
“Megamin”是克罗地亚一种注册的营养保健品。据称，它主要由一种天然存在的沸石（硅酸铝）离子交换材料组成，并添加了维生素和矿物质。大众媒体声称“Megamin”具有强大的抗癌特性，尽管它尚未通过适当的随机、双盲、安慰剂对照、交叉临床试验进行测试。本文以“Megamin”作为范例模型，讨论诸如希望和信念等更高层次的神经认知功能如何可能与安慰剂效应相关，并在没有疾病客观体征支持证据的情况下给人一种症状改善的错觉。“Megamin”唯一合理的作用是通过影响食物消化后的厌氧发酵过程以及在癌症和/或肝肾器官衰竭的医学治疗后清除有害代谢产物来减轻胃肠道毒性负担。对大众媒体关于“Megamin”在癌症治疗中有益作用的无端声称所产生的心理影响进行了审视。
