English Alf said...

There was NO placebo group, people were either given a low dose of Pom or a high dose. That is thus the major flaw

This sentiment is echoed in an earlier post by geezer99.

But in John T's original post I see no mention of low and high doses of Pom and it specifically says there was a placebo arm:

John T said...
The Carducci team, led a multi-institutional study, randomized and double-blind (neither supplement administrator or patient knew whether the supplement was POMx or a placebo) involving 104 men (about double the size of the UCLA trial, as I recall it).

So are some wires crossed here? No doubt there have been studies that haven't used a placebo arm, but it seems to me that this one did.

Pasayten posted this link on page one..

www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Meetings/Abstracts?&vmview=abst_detail_view&confid=104&abstractid=72101

Hello:-
One should not overrate the effect and usefulness of pomegranate. When I started on pomegranate extract my PSAD lenghthened for some time equal to what the various studies usually come up with. But later my PSAD came down to what it had been before. I did some research and found out that the peel of the pomegranate fruit contains a component called ESTRON. This being a herbal estrogen it explains the phenomenon. Estrogenic compounds, you can read in Steven B. Strum's Primer, page 155, have activity against androgen-dependent AND androgen-independent PC. Therefore , even people whose PC has become hormone-resistent will derive temporary benefit from taking pomegranate extract.
I still take one big spoonful of the extract every day, but for general health reasons. Indirectly it might help fight my PC. But cure I do not expect. No way to "unring the bell" as says Dr. Patrick Walsh in his Guide.

Reinardo

Post Edited (Reinardo) : 2/18/2011 4:37:25 AM (GMT-7)

You would think these top tier researchers would have noticed the estrogen connection and linked it to the results they obtained..

If you are looking for a herbal supplement that is high in pseudo-estrogen, you might want to try Black Cohosh.. Do your homework first..

questionabout it said... The first urologist I ever saw, c. 1990, offered both conventional medicine and alternative treatment. I had BPH and... He had me waste lots of money on saw palmetto.   Sorry to hear that the saw palmetto did not work for your case of BPH…it does work for many, and is a common first-line treatment for symptoms of BPH.   The efficacy is similar to finasteride (Proscar) but is better tolerated and much less expensive .   Unfortunately, just like finasteride, it is not 100% effective for every single individual (although the same statement can be made for just about any medication/treatment).   In your case, it may be that your growing (and at that point undiagnosed) prostate cancer may have also interfered with results, but on the positive side it sounds like your doctor was not beholden to Big Pharma which for some men results in calling in a tank to kill an ant . For more technical information on saw palmetto for BPH, reference John’s Hopkins Guide to Dietary Supplements, and this article in the peer reviewed journal of the American Academy of Family Physicians:     http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0315/p1281.html   As a supplement saw palmetto cannot, by current law, be advertised as a treatment for BPH in the US.   Labels on supplements typically have limited claims that the herb supports or improves “prostate health.”   Now, to the main point I wanted to make in this post …we need to continue to expect the same regarding labelling from pomegranate and it’s extract…they will not be labeled In the immediate future as “treatment”, but similarly expect the claims to be limited to promoting “prostate health.”   The current state of scientific evidence for pomegranate’s beneficial impact on PC progression (using PSA as the marker) is strong and is increasing (witness this most current medical publication…thanks again JohnT for posting).   It is important to keep in mind that prudent science unfolds slowly…think of research not as “state of the art,” but rather “best information currently available.”   For the great majority of Americans who do not smoke cigarettes, dietary choices and physical activity (exercise) are the most important modifiable determinants of cancer .       edit:   fixed typo Post Edited (Casey59) : 2/18/2011 11:51:04 AM (GMT-7)

You are here: Home » Exercise » I Wanna Look Great » Attractiveness / Sexuality » Is POM Juice a Scam?

<script type=text/javascript>GA_googleFillSlot("Small_Banner_468x60");</script> <script src="http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?correlator=1298056225404&output=json_html&callback=GA_googleSetAdContentsBySlotForSync&impl=s&client=ca-pub-2542782692909210&slotname=Small_Banner_468x60&page_slots=Small_Banner_468x60&cookie=ID%3D3047609e1e478a4e%3AT%3D1298056118%3AS%3DALNI_MafSaAKRPDfGszDOxX2UWO_bw7ytQ&ga_vid=1247288213.1298056116&ga_sid=1298056116&ga_hid=404078013&ga_fc=true&ga_wpids=UA-4736995-2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthhabits.ca%2F2010%2F10%2F06%2Fpom-juice-scam%2F&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ca%2Fsearch%3Fsourceid%3Dnavclient%26ie%3DUTF-8%26rlz%3D1T4SUNC_enCA358CA358%26q%3Dpomegranate%2Band%2Bprostate%2Bcancer%2Ba%2Bscam&lmt=1298056112&dt=1298056229342&cc=100&biw=1003&bih=483&ifi=1&adk=140796042&oe=utf-8&u_tz=-210&u_his=13&u_java=true&u_h=768&u_w=1024&u_ah=734&u_aw=1024&u_cd=32&flash=10.0.45.2"></script>

Is POM Juice a Scam?

healthhabits | October 6, 2010 | 10 Comments

<!-- google_ad_section_start --> Share9 <script type=text/javascript src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share"></script>

<script type=text/javascript src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

<script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=1&r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthhabits.ca%2F2010%2F10%2F06%2Fpom-juice-scam%2F"></script>

VIEW IMAGE

The FTC has charged the makers of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice and POMx supplements with making false and unsubstantiated claims that their products will prevent or treat heart disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction.

The FTC Charges…

“Any consumer who sees POM Wonderful products as a silver bullet against disease has been misled,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.  “When a company touts scientific research in its advertising, the research must squarely support the claims made.  Contrary to POM Wonderful’s advertising, the available scientific information does not prove that POM Juice or POMx effectively treats or prevents these illnesses.”

mjluke:

thank goodness for the FTC, and its oversight, or our shelves would still be overfilled with every kind of hocus pocus and snake oil goods. Not sure why Casey is laughing at your post above. You brougth some good info on the subject. The POM industry is making way too many unproven and unsubstantiated claims. Just another fad thing, it will pass in time. Or some study will come along and completely condridict the positive findings, assuming they are remotely true.

David in SC

Jerry, I am for anything that is authentic and medically approved. Not into chasing wishes and rainbows. After my 4th attempt at surviving a dangerous cancer, I only want to deal with the tried and true.

David

I have come to the conclusion that talking pomegranate in this forum is like talking politics or religion in a bar!

POM Wonderful has been a major underwriter of some of the most publicized pomegranate juice studiies-
spending in excess of 25 million dollars according to their own website-
the sad thing about it all is that this scam preys on the sick, weak and most vulnerable among us-
on a much smaller scale it is not much different than these miracle cures for advanced cancer found online-
a sick friend of mine got caught up in one of these schemes and died penniless far from home in a hotel room in Houston-
he also was a great believer and advocate for the pomegranate juice.

Isn't that why there are clinical trials?

It's not a magic pill, but saying it's a scam, is extreme.

>>Arguing about the science of nutritional supplements is like arguing about the science of global warming...it's emotional, people have strong opinions, but it's irrelevant. The real question is, what is the actual evidence? <

i think the global warning comparison is a good one since science is involved with both.  i'm willing to take a leap of faith for a buck a day based on the data already at my disposal.  i don't need evidence.

i need to feel like i am doing everything i can.  it's a buck well spent for me.

i just spent 1.5 hours at the gym and i'm cooking fish and boiled potatoes for dinner.  both make me feel good.

ed