Ashar Bimal H, Miller Redonda G, Getz Kelly J, Pichard Carmen P
Division of General Internal Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Mayo Clin Proc. 2003 Aug;78(8):944-6. doi: 10.4065/78.8.944.
To evaluate information contained within Internet sites that advertise and market dietary supplements containing ephedra.
We conducted an Internet search to identify Web sites advertising weight-loss supplements that contained ephedra. Between July 7 and July 18, 2002, 4 search engines were used by entering the term herbal weight loss. Outcome measures included disclosure of potential adverse effects of or contraindications to ephedra-containing supplements, disclosure of ephedra alkaloid dosage, and presence of misleading or incorrect information.
Thirty-two products and advertisements were identified and systematically evaluated for deviance from truth-in-advertising standards. Of the 32 Web sites analyzed, 13 (41%) failed to disclose potential adverse effects or contraindications to supplement use. Seventeen (53%) did not reveal the dosage of ephedra alkaloids that was recommended. More importantly, 11 sites (34%) contained incorrect or misleading statements, some of which could directly result in serious harm to consumers.
If dietary supplements containing ephedra are to continue to be marketed freely, substantial reform in advertising regulation and enforcement is warranted.
评估宣传和销售含麻黄碱膳食补充剂的互联网网站所包含的信息。
我们进行了一项互联网搜索，以识别宣传含麻黄碱减肥补充剂的网站。在2002年7月7日至7月18日期间，通过输入“草药减肥”一词使用了4个搜索引擎。结果指标包括含麻黄碱补充剂潜在不良反应或禁忌的披露、麻黄碱生物碱剂量的披露以及误导性或错误信息的存在。
识别出32种产品和广告，并系统地评估其与真实广告标准的偏差。在分析的32个网站中，13个（41%）未披露补充剂使用的潜在不良反应或禁忌。17个（53%）未披露推荐的麻黄碱生物碱剂量。更重要的是，11个网站（34%）包含不正确或误导性陈述，其中一些可能直接导致对消费者的严重伤害。
如果含麻黄碱的膳食补充剂要继续自由销售，广告监管和执法方面进行重大改革是必要的。
