Four Corners: Feb 13
ABC looks at how Australians are spending billions on unproven vitamins and supplements.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Programming
On Four Corners next week reporter Geoff Thompson looks at how Australians are spending billions on unproven vitamins and supplements.
The figures are startling – seven out of every ten Australians take some form of vitamin or supplement. We spend more, out of our own pockets, on complementary medicines than we do on prescription drugs.
“It’s very rare to meet an Australian family that doesn’t have some form of vitamin supplements somewhere in the family.” Australian Medical Association
Spruiked by sporting heroes, acting icons and celebrity chefs, the industry is worth over four billion dollars. But there is little evidence that many of these products actually work.
“The problem we have in Australia is that the system doesn’t encourage research. You get a much more profitable return on investment from putting fifty million dollars into celebrity marketing.” Academic
Many pharmacies have shelves stacked high with vitamins and supplements, prominently displayed at the front of their shops, often sold in tandem with proven pharmaceuticals.
“If they’re after complementary medicines, then I’m happy to provide them.” Chemist
Australians are often choosing these complementary medicines as insurance against a bad diet or to ward off sickness, but the benefits are highly contested.
“We’re a nation living on tea, toast and takeaways. 90 per cent of us are deficient in our essential diets or vegetables and fruit, so of course a multivitamin plays a role.” Industry Spokesperson
“What a lot of Australian families have is very expensive urine.” Australian Medical Association
The spotlight is now being placed on the industry, with the regulator drafting changes to the way these products are sold and a government review examining whether or not pharmacies should stock them.
“We have had passionate community pharmacists decrying their fellow pharmacists for stocking complementary medicines, for stocking vitamins, for stocking homeopathy, for stocking products that have little, if any, medical credence.” Review Panellist
The program investigates how these products are regulated and marketed in Australia and whether the credibility of chemists is threatened by selling them.
“When we look at the most trusted professions, year on year on year, I’m proud to say that at the top are doctors, nurses and pharmacists. So that respect has been hard won. That’s put at risk if they’re being seen to promote treatments that increasingly the average consumer recognises might be a load of rubbish.” Australian Medical Association.
Monday 13th February at 8.30pm on ABC.
Share
- Tagged with Four Corners
7 Responses
When you have tried many medicalised remedies for a minor, but painful condition, such as cold sores, and then discover a natural treatment which undoubtably works for you, you don’t bother asking whether it has been peer-reviewed. You just know it works.
There are grey areas in these types of news stories. There is probably equal measure of remedies that work, that help toward general wellness (so that you can fight illness more effectively) and ones that are a total waste of money.
So, let’s get these things tested.
“Australians are often choosing these complementary medicines as insurance against a bad diet or to ward off sickness, but the benefits are highly contested.”
Really? Seems like a big assumption to assume complimentary medicine’s are only for prevention. People usually don’t go popping pills unless they have an existing symptom or issue and they think it will help. The cost of living in this country is increasing and people don’t have money to waste. People turn to alternatives when they go to the doctor or doctors repeatedly for an issue and they get no help. Why do you think there are health forums and general forums like whirlpool often fielding questions from desperate people frustrated with medical system in this country. I think the AMA needs to look in the mirror and see why the complimentary health industry is according to this article thriving in this country.
When I was a kid the big thing was vitamin C tablets. Touted as warding off colds and flu, the first cold day of the year was the cue to head off to the pharmacy or supermarket to stock up. Kids used to eat them like lollies, in fact they *were* lollies. Full of sugar and artificial orange colour and flavour.
A year or so ago I found a bottle of them in the pantry and I sucked on one. I was in the toilet all day with chronic diarrhea. Never again!
Hahaha yes memories of orange flavoured sugar.
One of the celebs who spruiks one of the brands must down 15-20 different tabs a day if the adverts are to be believed.
“the average consumer recognises might be a load of rubbish.” Australian Medical Association.” …..I agree
My mother has “mild-nervousness” every time she boards a plane. She also has a ‘natural liquid remedy’ and it works like a charm. It’s called Johnnie Walker with ice.
Non-medical professionals pushing these so-called remedies are dangerous. Telling me to “stop drinking so much water (as advised by doctor) and take these Tri-Magnesium Citrate pills” was near fatal. Blurred vision, blood sugar 32 instead of <8. The cure for cramps, after all, was just 'drink more water'. Unless prescribed or suggested by a doctor, forget it. Do more harm than good.
I think these help if you have been very ill and have or had a poor diet for a long time. I use a ‘natural liquid remedy’ for mid-nervousness and it works like a charm if I take it everyday.