Economy

Doctors warn on supplement drugs

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Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu on January 5, 2016. PHOTO | ROBERT NGUGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Increased use of nutrient supplements to treat chronic diseases is complicating treatment for thousands of patients across the country, doctors have warned.

They cited a steep rise in the number of people who are choosing non-conventional medicine over prescription drugs to manage diseases such as cancer.

Distributors of the supplements — mostly the multi-level marketers such as GNLD, Forever Living, Tiens (Tianshi) — have even recruited medical doctors to sell the products on their behalf.

But some doctors argue that the supplements are exposing innocent patients to potential harm because they are mostly prescribed by people with a profit motive rather than the needs of the sick.   

David Makumi, an oncology nurse and manager of the oncology department at the Aga Khan University Hospital, says many cancer patients have fallen victim to the nutrition supplements trade and only turned to conventional medicine when it is too late.

“Multi-level marketers are wooing patients, mostly cancer victims, into spending big money on non-clinical supplements as a curative measure, but it doesn’t work,” said Mr Makumi even as he acknowledged the role of supplements in management of chronic diseases.

“There’s a place for supplements but only under clinical conditions. Blanket supplements are dangerous. Nearly half of the total number of cancer patients we see are on some form of supplements, most of which are counter-productive as they lessen the effect of chemotherapy,” he said.

Patients spend as much as Sh68,000 monthly on supplements instead of channelling the money to routine checkups, radiotherapy, and other treatment. 

Mr Makumi said such funds could instead be used to buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are whole natural and support treatment for diseases such as cancer. 

Mr Makumi, who is also the chairman of the Kenya Network of Cancer Organisations, said nutrition supplements, if not prescribed by a medical officer can result to serious medical complications – even death.

“If you take too much of vitamin supplements, for instance, that your body does not need you may develop hypervitaminosis, which can lead to convulsion, difficulties in breathing and eventually death,” said the Dietetics and Nutrition manager at Aga Khan University Hospital, Jasper Oloo.

Exceeded limits of Calcium supplements lead to calcification, which can stimulate immunity and auto-immune conditions, and one can also develop kidney related ailments, Mr Oloo said even as he urged nutritionists to help prevent, diagnose and manage chronic diseases.

Mr Oloo said that the marketing gimmick by supplements companies creates a placebo effect, which arises from supplements that are designed to look like real treatment when they are not. A placebo effect refers to how some people feel about their condition after taking the supplements. Most feel relieved for a short period thereby prolonging the underlying condition.

The most commonly sold products for ‘cancer’ include; Phyto Defense and Daily Vitality supplements. Phyto Defense retails at premium prices of Sh10,870 while Daily Vitality goes for Sh5,020.

Boost immunity

Similar products cost up to Sh35,000 for 30 capsules. Individual distributors claim that these products boost immunity by 37 per cent and kill cancer cells within 20 days.

Health secretary, Cleopa Mailu said that although the supplements are not subjected to mainstream inspection, there is need to regulate their use because there are nutrition products that are not encouraged.

Dr Mailu said that anything that concerns the health of a person needs to be predicated on the prescription of a doctor and medical practitioners and not any other source.

The minister said it is bad practice for Kenyans to buy supplements whose efficacy cannot be quantified and warned against exploitation of desperation and ignorance of patients to make money.

“We shall put the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) up to task although these products might not fall under their purview,” said Dr Mailu.

GNLD Kenya representative, Paul Mwatu, said that the company’s products are purely diets that supplement for foods that one does not eat but do not have a dosage of what is needed. Mr Mwatu said that most of the patients buy GNLD products using prescriptions from doctors.

A naturopathic self-acclaimed expert, Steve Mengo from Congo, insisted that the supplements correct the cancer cells and supercharges the body’s immunity to fight back disease.

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