This is a another very informative column in the continuing excellent “Healthy Skeptic” series in the Los Angeles Times. This column examines health claims made about certain energy drinks. It provided some insight about the grain of truth that could possibly be said to underlie the claims made about thes products and then provides a clear explanation as to why the asserted claim is not relevant in the context of the product making the claim. This was a real strength of the story. Perhaps readers will take away a more generalizable message about how they should think about product claims.
Kudos to the writer for making the informational points in an engaging fashion – and to the paper for finding time and space for such work.
The story included prices for several of the products described.
The story debunked the company claims of benefit about vitamin B supplementation of energy drinks.
The story provided accurate information about a potential harm of excess consumption of vitamin B-6.
The story debunked product information propagated by the companies with information from an individual with relevant expertise.
The story included anecdotal information about the ‘research’ findings of the writer. It couched this appropriately.
The story did not engage in overt disease mongering.
The story utilized product claims from advertisements and comments from an individual with relevant expertise in the field.
The story mentioned means, other than the featured products, for obtaining recommended levels of vitamin B-6 and B-12.
The story mentioned the availability of the products discussed.
The story mentioned that highlighted inclusion of B vitamins in energy drinks is a relatively new phenomena.
There is no evidence that this article relied on a news release.
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
Monday at #ADA2021, an infectious disease epidemiologist, a journalist, and a researcher shared perspectives on communication of risk in the era of COVID-19: http://ow.ly/ROfR30rMeE7 @AstleyCM @garyschwitzer @berthahidalgo @ADA_DiabetesPro
Shoutouts to @susan_bewley @drkevinknopf @MichaelBaum11 in this call for more than fawning coverage from press releases for these kinds of stories.
Also, linked history inside goes back 5 years just on Grail apparently trying to become Holy Grail. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1408849696416841731
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