Nutrition Fads

A nutrition fad is a particular food or supplement which is rendered fashionable for the moment by general public acceptance and practice. A nutrition fad may be a style of cooking, a specific food, or inclusion, exclusion, or combination of foods. A fad is short-lived because it may fall short of its expectations. The perceived benefits of a nutrition fad may be detrimental to one's health or create an economic burden.

There are three factions of food faddism. First, a food or nutrient promises to cure specific diseases or problems. The second is that eating a certain food is an expression of a particular lifestyle. Third, certain foods should be eliminated as their nutrients may be harmful.

There is a massive variety of food which is not only promoted as the latest and greatest, but is widely accessible in stores and via the internet. Along with the abundance of choice is an abundance of half truths and exaggerated claims which become momentarily fashionable. Colorful and often misleading information abounds, yet fads thrive on those seeking a quick and easy fix. Many of these purported claims are scientifically unsubstantiated and may in reality cause or initiate health problems or nutritional deficiencies. Pieces of a scientific study may be cited, but it may [Page 522]omit pertinent information for marketing purposes. Scientific concepts may be filtered to sell the product. A study may be interpreted or manipulated in a way to appeal to the consumer's hopes and expectations.

The low-carbohydrate, high-protein Atkins diet is one of the many nutrition fads that may fall short of its expectations in the long-term.

The public generally acknowledges the link between health and nutrition, thus allowing a plethora of nutritional information, both good and bad to be disseminated. The desire for more information opens the door to more misinformation and misinterpretation. To determine viable information, one may look to the source by checking the author's credentials, training, and qualification in nutrition. One must ask why is this product being marketed and what is the evidence that it works. The gold standard of research studies is the randomized trials that are large studies performed over time. Viable conclusions may be drawn from more than one of these studies. When the results of these studies are picked up by the media and broadcast to the public the information may be accurate but incomplete. The benefits of the product being researched may require unrealistic amounts to be used to have a positive effect. The media's report may present a biased view to effectively endorse a product.

Sales of dietary supplements reached $13.9 billion in 2004. A supplement is not reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prior to its marketing. The manufacturer is responsible for its safety and that the claims are truthful and accurate. These claims may be exaggerated and based on small biased studies. The FDA has recourse against a manufacturer if false representation can be proven.

People may cause themselves harm by delaying or avoiding a consult with a qualified health professional. A person may be unaware of the potential toxicity between a prescription drug and a vitamin or supplement. For example, when taking Coumadin®, a prescription blood thinner, it is advised to avoid vitamins E and K, as well as aspirin and gingko biloba. If used together, severe internal bleeding may occur.

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