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

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

Nonetheless, from RFK Jr.’s pledge to tackle fictional chemtrails to his current fearmongering about circumcisions and autism, it is likely to be exhausting for the typical particular person to maintain observe 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 remedies that RFK Jr. has both advocated for or could 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 drugs neighborhood.

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

Methylene blue has an extended historical past in drugs, and it’s actually attainable that scientists will discover new makes use of for the versatile substance. However probably 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, for 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 gentle remedy, not taken alone. And a few research have didn’t support the supposed brain-boosting skills 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 instances to taking testosterone alternative 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 common ranges of testosterone, a situation that may be attributable to numerous components however is extra frequent in males over 60. For these sufferers, TRT is mostly secure and may present numerous health benefits, together with restored intercourse drive and improved psychological well being and power. However many males proceed to have regular testosterone ranges lengthy into their later years, and it’s under no circumstances clear whether or not TRT must be used to extend wholesome growing older for the typical man.

Previously, the Meals and Drug Administration has warned the general public about taking TRT solely to deal with “low testosterone ranges as a result of growing older,” noting that the advantages and security of this use will not be firmly established. Although analysis has steered that typical TRT doesn’t elevate the chance of situations like prostate most cancers or coronary heart assaults, it might 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 keep in mind your entire 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 instances, such because the beneficial use of prenatal folic acid amongst pregnant ladies to forestall start defects.

At present, individuals sometimes get these wanted vitamins from meals. By and huge, research haven’t backed the concept 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, for example, as did a 2019 review the next 12 months. One other evaluation in 2021 found that dietary supplements present little assist for shedding 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 usually comprise 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 persistent 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 remedies, particularly referencing two remedies particularly: stem cell remedy and chelation.

Chelation medication bind to heavy metals within the physique, which then permits them to be excreted out via urine. Medical doctors 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 an alternative used to “cleanse” individuals of supposed toxins blamed for a bevy of persistent diseases, together with autism. Individuals have gotten severely harm 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 likely to be an appropriate threat for RFK Jr. Throughout the identical interview, Kennedy admitted that expanded entry to those remedies 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 unhealthy outcomes,” he stated. “And finally, you may’t stop that both approach. Leaving the entire thing within the arms of pharma will not be working for us.”

5. Cod liver oil for measles

Kennedy is probably most well-known for his fervent opposition to vaccination, full with an extended observe file 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 12 months—the most important seen within the state in three many years—RFK Jr. begrudgingly endorsed the usage of the MMR vaccine. However he additionally tried to prop up a number of different remedies, particularly cod liver oil, a complement recognized for having excessive ranges of vitamin A.

Individuals poor in vitamin A are at larger threat 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 frequent. However that doesn’t describe the U.S. in any respect, since solely around 0.3% of the overall inhabitants could have a vitamin A deficiency. What’s extra, Kennedy’s recommendation seemingly really endangered youngsters. At the least 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 frequently, and earlier this Might, 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 via 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 strategy 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 sort of lactose, so your tummy will harm simply the identical should you’re already illiberal to lactose typically.

Uncooked milk is significantly more likely to hold harmful, or a minimum of misery-inducing, foodborne germs like Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter. The continued risk of fowl flu and its current unfold to dairy cows has additionally made uncooked milk a potential vector for these infections as properly. Sadly, many right-wingers and RFK Jr. supporters seem to have solely grow to be more enamored with uncooked milk as of late.