Originally published October 20 2010
Vitamins 'linked' to illness, but never drugs
by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
(NaturalNews) The mainstream media has an interesting way of skewing facts and manipulating language to make one thing sound like another. In a recent BBC News article, the author emphasizes a "link" between vitamin B12 and Alzheimer's -- which seemingly suggests that the vitamin somehow contributes to causing the disease -- when in fact, the study being referenced shows a link between vitamin B12 and the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's.
The Finnish study, published in the journal Neurology, found that vitamin B12 reduces homocysteine levels in the blood. Homocysteine is linked to causing both strokes and dementia, so lowering it helps to prevent such illnesses from occurring. But the BBC News article's subheading reads: "Evidence is mounting that levels of vitamin B12 may be connected to the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease."
This interesting choice of words suggests, at first glance, that taking vitamin B12 may cause dementia, rather than prevent or treat it, as is actually the case. The poor word choice is not only confusing, but blatantly deceptive to readers. Even the title of the article is tricky, which reads: "Vitamin B12 link to Alzheimer's backed by study."
Readers who make it beyond the title and subheading are then bombarded with statements about how trial results are inconclusive and that more trials must take place. Whenever a trial shows that a vitamin is good for something, it is always "too early" to make a judgment call. Experts even warn consumers not to purchase such supplements because nothing is for sure, and more "research" is necessary.
Drug trials, on the other hand, are always more than enough to prove a drug's effectiveness and safety. Even if thousands of people are injured or killed by a drug -- as is the case with Avandia -- the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will often keep that drug on the market for those who allegedly "really need it", even if the drug does not even work at all (http://www.naturalnews.com/Avandia.html).
The truth about vitamin B12 is that it helps to prevent brain degradation that leads to dementia and other mental illnesses. So do not let the mainstream media fool you with rhetorical nonsense.
Sources for this story include:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11569602
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