ICPHSP4003 

                                                                                                         

“Myths and Fallacies in Nutrition Science, as Communicated to the Public”                                                                                                 Click here to download Pdf file.

 

 

Author:          Georgios A. Fragkiadakis Associate Professor

 

Affiliation:      Technological Education Institute (T.E.I) of Crete

                        Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Trypitos area, 723 00 Siteia, Crete, Greece

 

 

Abstract:

There is a lot of nutrition information offered in modern mass media and unfortunately, some myths and fallacies appear.

Professional Nutritionists and Food Scientists have the duty to intervene, and circulate the most accurate information that possibly exists.

Focus should be paid to the individual foods and diets, mainly based on literature and especially statistically sound evidence, provided by expert institutions and groups in the field. In this paper we try to tackle myths concerning the "blood types diet", the "food allergy tests", the use of "potable collagen" in nutrition etc, based on international literature and meta-analysis.

 1). The main belief of "blood types or group's diet" is that, by following a food/diet scheme prepared specifically for one blood type, the human body digests and absorbs food more efficiently, and weight-control is achieved more efficiently. However, meta-analysis and extensive search of the literature shows that the theory is not based on solid proof, and most possibly there is no link between blood groups and specific food utilization by the human body. In addition, there is concern that this diet may result in poor intake of nutrients, present in dairy products, for example.

 2). Concerning the diagnosis of food allergies, it has become quite a market in many countries, occasionally offered not only by allergiolgists but also pharmacists, nutritionists and other professionals. However, many commonly used tests can be inaccurate, leading some people to change or limit their diets without a reason. The situation of offering allergy testing under not precise conditions and techniques to patients, results to "blaming" certain foods, without solving the problem; a situation than should be more austerely regulated by authorities.

 3). Pharmaceuticals and beauty products companies are constantly offering new products that are supposed to increase collagen synthesis in human skin, joints, cartilages etc. These products use animal collagen, combined with stabilisers and flavours; are easy to find and purchase, still, and at least to our knowledge, the European Safety Authority (EFSA) has given no clearance these products to be retailed with etiquettes and advertisements containing health claims, something unfortunately practised, although to different extent.

The problem demands the attention of health and commerce authorities, in the EU and other countries.

 

Keywords:

Professional Nutritionists, food allergies, pharmaceuticals /beauty products.