What's believed vs Scientific findings

Despite being a graduate, we are always reminded to be a life-long learner. A degree course is more of a good set of skills that empower you to have critical thinking, to not simply take in ideas, to digest and process information.

I understand not everyone studies science, not everyone favours science. Similarly, while I love science, I do not enjoy and am not good in other fields. Human species live as a group, to complement each other. What's more, nobody's perfect and all knowledgeable about everything under the sun.

More than two months into working life, I understand it is getting more and more difficult to keep up with the current science and findings. Therefore, I try my best to attend any continuous medical education or health talk that I can. So far, there had been few continuous medical educations (CMEs) under the priviledge as a BP Healthcare Group staff. I've learnt more on specific topics such as Phlebotomy, as well as product knowledge.

More PUFA vs Omega-3 and Omega-6 ratio

Not long ago, I attended health talk presented by a pharmacist working with Provas, a brand of Omega-3 acid ethyl esters supplementation, organised as CME for the BP Healthcare Group staffs. As a representative of Provas, the pharmacist didn't exactly focus just on promoting the products throughout the health talk. On the other hand, he brought up important points regarding the ratio of dietary Omega-3 and Omega-6 related to health and diseases.

It was an interesting and inspiring talk as the speaker explain how our dietary fat intake has evolved since ancient age. In short, instead of focusing on increasing the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in our diet, the balance between dietary Omega-3 and Omega-6 plays an important role in the levels of inflammation which lead to diseases.

Source: http://healthyprotocols.com/image_ratio1.jpg 

Note that most omega-6 fatty acids sources are plant food while omega-3 fatty acids comes from seafood, especially fish. While the use of omega-6 oils or plant-based PUFA oil is in increasing trend, most people have good chance of taking higher ratio of omega-6 fatty acids which promote inflammation.

MSG being harmful vs MSG does not cause obesity, allergy or affect the brain

Next, from the health talk which was hosted yesterday at the Boulevard St Giles Premier Hotel, sponsored by Ajinomoto, we learn that evidence shows no harm from dietary monosodium glutamate (MSG). No, MSG don't cause obesity, MSG don't cause allergy nor causing adverse effects in brain. The popular misconceptions actually come from a poorly designed research and plenty of misleading articles by a scientist who has no background of nutrition and dietetics.

Source: http://content.newyou.com.ph

The answer is NO. Apparently, MSG is safe to use. Furthermore, MSG might be used in promoting appetite in group of malnourished or at risk of malnourish who've lost appetite.

Vitamin B17 cures cancer vs Vitamin B17 is a toxic drug

Source: Facebook

Today, I came across a post in facebook mentioning regarding Amygdalin, alternative names also include Vitamin B17 and Laetrile. The post claims Amygdalin being a cure to cancer, that having enough dietary Amygdalin can prevent cancer. However, with just a few clicks and search in the internet, I've read that the Cancer Research UK discourages the substitution of conventional cancer treatment with Amygdalin use. A research done back in 1982 (link) has concluded that Amygdalin is toxic and shows not therapeutic effects in cancer patients. In fact, Amygdalin use can lead to adverse effects as it will lead to metabolic product of cyanide, which is a toxic substance. 

While vitamins means the essential micronutrients in our diet, how could Amygdalin be grouped into vitamins? The scientific findings are great contrasts to what's promoted in the facebook post! 

Nutrition education as first step of an intervention

During the health talk on MSG, it was brought up that nutrition education is essentially important in advocating the right nutrition concept and practice. People might know something but never understand the reason to it. In my limited experience, most client when explained, they can recall to me in the end of a counselling session. Subsequently, the chance of practising will be higher as an assumption. 

Although these three health talks discuss different topics, I notice that these key points in the talks are often contrast to what's believed or perceived by the public. Then, the scientists start looking back at the past. Ancient people having dietary intake of omega-3: omega-6 = 1:1; older research have always shown no harm from MSG use; research back then has always reported toxic properties of Amygdalin.

Yet, all these public informations are misleading.

Is it time for us to step back and review?
What have gone wrong in the communication between scientist and media?
What have gone wrong in our research quality?

cheers,