Ban NAC supplements to NPA sues FDA for trying


The National Press Syndicate, Inc.


Edited by: Lacey Clifford, P.A.


November 24, 2020




The natural products industry is divided over whether they should be allowed to impose a new rule banning a potentially dangerous supplement used by more than four million people worldwide. Yet, last month at the American Medical Association’s annual meeting, the association unanimously supported a motion to pass an emergency resolution that would make it legal for doctors and patients to legally buy all types of supplements, including those containing d-cyclic N-acetyl-L-cystein. That could change everything about how vitamins and other nutrients are sold and prescribed by health professionals, said NPA President Dr. Kathleen McCreary.




NPA has filed suit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on behalf of its members, warning that FDA’s decision will allow manufacturers, veterinarians, pharmacists, and physicians to market unapproved drugs as a safe choice—and then sell them to unsuspecting consumers without any meaningful testing or safeguards to protect their own health. After filing with the FDA nearly eight years ago, NPA’s experts have produced extensive evidence showing that vitamin D, among others, can cause cancer, heart attacks, strokes, Type 2 diabetes, dementia, liver failure, and digestive issues, and that the majority of these conditions are caused by dietary deficiencies of essential nutrients. Despite this, health care practitioners consistently mischaracterize the science, failing to account for the potential harms, and failing to inform patients about all options available. In many cases, they fail to consider that vitamin D might not actually be harmful if taken as part of optimal nutrition and in moderation as long as the skin is exposed.




not provide them with a medical certificate. prescription that’s right for them. This policy shouldn’t be allowed to stand,” said Dr. Jennifer Stolz, president of New York University School of Medicine. Many of the biggest reasons why the supplements containing retinol might be bad for you are because both of the ingredient’s active ingredients—retinoic acid and hydroxyprogesterone—are steroids, which contain hormones that affect our cells—and when we don’t get enough of one of these hormones, it leads to inflammation. If that happens, it can lead to high blood pressure and damage to our heart, lungs, brain, and immune system. Vitamin D is a potent antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals that contribute to inflammation and cell death. Another possible culprit behind vitamin D deficiency is stress, according to some studies. But when I take a pill containing vitamin D, what does it do? It reduces inflammation by making me feel better and can help relieve depression. These are just two of the known benefits of vitamin D, but there are many more. Even if some of the common claims about the dangers of vitamins and supplements are true, many vitamins like vitamin K, vitamin C, mineral E, and zinc have been shown to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, intensive treatment after a major surgery, and even death.




Our country is suffering from an epidemic of chronic diseases driven by dietary habits—not only due to deficiencies in basic nutritional needs, but also because of marketing and advertising practices misleading health care professionals into believing that a certain supplement is necessary for a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr. David J. Lewis, Ph.D., board chair of Cleveland Clinic. “As a physician who treats hundreds of thousands of my patients across the country each year, I am appalled that the FDA is trying to release information on immune science. billions of people from unnecessary pain and suffering. Instead, FDA’s attempt to stop people from getting vitamin D can do far worse than good—it’ll drive up the costs of treating inflammatory diseases like heart disease, cancer, stroke, and Alzheimer’s, which are already rampant among us. With fewer alternatives, it may become harder to find affordable care when you need it most.”




By claiming the supplement can cure all things, like colds and flu symptoms, the label is misleading, says Dr. Richard Hahn, M.D., executive vice chairman of research at Harvard Medical School and senior author of several landmark studies of vitamin K, including one supporting the claim, published in the Lancet, showing that Vitamin D supplementation was associated with reduced mortality in older men with multiple sclerosis. He calls the argument from the sponsors that vitamin D can treat COVID-19 the same fraudsters tried to lie about tobacco, and now want people to believe they can combat the coronavirus simply by taking extra pills or eating vegetables. The facts don’t support it. Taking a vitamin D supplement is extremely easy without any significant side effects, and the U.S. the government and pharmaceutical companies clearly state that the NAC is authorized to treat COVID-19 and do not violate FDA regulations. There’s a recent study showing vitamin D supplementation improved COVID survival rates and reduced risk of infection in the first place. Furthermore, according to top-level data, NAC improves heart muscle function and prevents blood clots. Although it may seem alarming to a person concerned about getting a coronavirus, there is no conclusive evidence that it is effective in treating the virus.