6 Dietary supplements RFK Jr. Loves, However Science Says Are Principally Ineffective

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has vastly reshaped the nation’s public well being infrastructure since taking on as U.S. Well being and Human Providers Secretary through the renewed Trump administration—and never for the higher.

Nonetheless, from RFK Jr.’s pledge to tackle fictional chemtrails to his latest fearmongering about circumcisions and autism, it is perhaps laborious for the typical individual to maintain monitor of Kennedy’s many inane beliefs associated to well being and wellness. So right here’s a useful information to the dietary supplements and different therapies that RFK Jr. has both advocated for or might personally be taking proper this second, and why they’re most likely not definitely worth the hype.

1. Methylene blue

Earlier this February, a viral video showed RFK Jr. dropping doses of a blue liquid right into a glass of water throughout a flight. Although the precise nature of this concoction stays unconfirmed, web sleuths concluded that he was seemingly taking methylene blue, an artificial dye that’s grow to be a well-liked treatment among the many different medication neighborhood.

Methylene blue is usually used as a diagnostic dye for some medical exams. It’s additionally the first therapy for methemoglobinemia, a uncommon blood dysfunction attributable to the overproduction of methemoglobin, a type of hemoglobin. On-line, nevertheless, the dye has taken on a second life as an marketed cure-all for all the pieces beneath the Solar, from most cancers to Alzheimer’s illness.

Methylene blue has a protracted historical past in medication, and it’s definitely doable that scientists will discover new makes use of for the versatile substance. However essentially the most boisterous claims made by its adherents are sometimes based mostly on preliminary research that also want extra follow-up. The most cancers research on methylene blue, as an example, have largely involved animal or lab experiments. Some analysis has additionally suggested that methylene blue’s anti-cancer results would seemingly work greatest together with mild remedy, not taken alone. And a few research have did not support the supposed brain-boosting talents of the dye.

All of which is to say: it’s most likely not time but for all of us to begin dosing our morning espresso with methylene blue.

2. Testosterone

The well-built Kennedy has admitted quite a few occasions to taking testosterone substitute remedy (TRT) as part of an anti-aging routine prescribed by his medical doctors. He’s additionally taken pains to disclaim that he makes use of steroids—a distinction with out a lot distinction (testosterone is a steroid, and many individuals use artificial variations of it to construct up muscle).

Males sometimes expertise a gradual decline of testosterone as they age. And medical doctors generally do prescribe TRT to males with decrease than traditional ranges of testosterone, a situation that may be attributable to numerous components however is extra widespread in males over 60. For these sufferers, TRT is usually protected and may present numerous health benefits, together with restored intercourse drive and improved psychological well being and vitality. However many males proceed to have regular testosterone ranges lengthy into their later years, and it’s by no means clear whether or not TRT ought to be used to extend wholesome growing old for the typical man.

Previously, the Meals and Drug Administration has warned the general public about taking TRT solely to handle “low testosterone ranges as a consequence of growing old,” noting that the advantages and security of this use usually are not firmly established. Although analysis has urged that typical TRT doesn’t increase the chance of situations like prostate most cancers or coronary heart assaults, it could be extra harmful for individuals who have regular ranges of testosterone to start with.

3. Nutritional vitamins galore

Throughout a 2023 interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, RFK Jr. acknowledged that he was on an intensive routine of vitamin dietary supplements—including that he couldn’t even bear in mind all the record of them as a result of he took so many.

Vitamin and mineral dietary supplements can completely profit people who find themselves poor in particular vitamins. Sure dietary supplements are additionally an necessary preventative therapy at occasions, such because the beneficial use of prenatal folic acid amongst pregnant ladies to forestall delivery defects.

At the moment, individuals sometimes get these wanted vitamins from meals. By and enormous, research haven’t backed the concept that dietary supplements are a cure-all for a variety of well being issues, as many in Kennedy’s nook tend to profess. A 2018 evaluation failed to seek out proof that dietary dietary supplements usually enhance coronary heart well being, as an example, as did a 2019 review the next yr. One other evaluation in 2021 found that dietary supplements present little assist for reducing weight.

These merchandise aren’t simply nugatory for many—they carry their very own distinctive well being dangers. In comparison with FDA-approved medication, the complement business is way much less regulated. These merchandise can typically include toxic contaminants like fungi and micro organism, and even actual hidden drugs. And the dietary supplements themselves could cause serious harm if taken in massive or power sufficient doses.

4. Chelation remedy

In an interview on Gary Brecka’s Final Human Podcast earlier this June, RFK Jr. made clear his intentions to open up the floodgates of alternative medicine. He introduced that he would develop individuals’s entry to experimental and off-label therapies, particularly referencing two therapies particularly: stem cell remedy and chelation.

Chelation medication bind to heavy metals within the physique, which then permits them to be excreted out by way of urine. Docs routinely use chelation to deal with sure sorts of acute poisoning or different poisonous exposures. However within the alt med/MAHA world, chelation is as a substitute used to “cleanse” individuals of supposed toxins blamed for a bevy of power diseases, together with autism. Individuals have gotten critically damage and even died after taking improper chelation, and the FDA has warned the general public to keep away from chelation therapy for autism.

These risks is perhaps a suitable danger for RFK Jr. Throughout the identical interview, Kennedy admitted that expanded entry to those therapies would seemingly include a price. “And naturally you’re going to get a whole lot of charlatans, and also you’re going to get individuals who have dangerous outcomes,” he stated. “And finally, you’ll be able to’t stop that both means. Leaving the entire thing within the palms of pharma just isn’t working for us.”

5. Cod liver oil for measles

Kennedy is probably most well-known for his fervent opposition to vaccination, full with a protracted monitor document of misrepresenting the protection and effectiveness of many vaccines, together with the mixed measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.

In the course of the peak of a large-scale measles outbreak in Texas earlier this yr—the biggest seen within the state in three a long time—RFK Jr. begrudgingly endorsed using the MMR vaccine. However he additionally tried to prop up a number of different therapies, particularly cod liver oil, a complement identified for having excessive ranges of vitamin A.

Individuals poor in vitamin A are at higher danger for a extreme measles an infection, and the World Well being Group does recommend that medical doctors present vitamin A to measles-infected youngsters residing in areas the place deficiency is widespread. However that doesn’t describe the U.S. in any respect, since solely around 0.3% of the final inhabitants might have a vitamin A deficiency. What’s extra, Kennedy’s recommendation seemingly truly endangered youngsters. Not less than one hospital within the state reported treating a number of youngsters who had each measles and vitamin A toxicity.

6. Uncooked milk

RFK Jr. is an avid fan of unpasteurized, uncooked milk. He’s said that he drinks it often, and earlier this Could, he celebrated the discharge of his “Make America Wholesome Once more” report by doing raw milk shooters as a part of a podcast interview with wellness influencer Paul Saladino.

Advocates generally declare that uncooked milk tastes higher than milk that’s gone by way of pasteurization. Some will take it a step additional and argue that uncooked milk has quite a few added well being advantages, from higher vitamin to even serving to stop lactose intolerance.

The style distinction would possibly come from uncooked milk having barely extra fats than your typical store-brand carton, consultants have said. However the means of pasteurization, which merely heats after which cools milk to kill off harmful germs and prolong shelf life, doesn’t dramatically change milk in any respect. You get the identical necessary vitamins from pasteurized milk as you do from uncooked milk, and uncooked milk incorporates the identical form of lactose, so your tummy will damage simply the identical when you’re already illiberal to lactose normally.

Uncooked milk is significantly more likely to hold harmful, or no less than misery-inducing, foodborne germs like Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter. The continued risk of chook flu and its latest unfold to dairy cows has additionally made uncooked milk a potential vector for these infections as nicely. Sadly, many right-wingers and RFK Jr. supporters seem to have solely grow to be more enamored with uncooked milk as of late.