Consumer Health Digest, Issue #24-16

April 21, 2024
  • Experts detail healthy eating patterns.
  • KFF spotlights shortage of primary-care doctors.
  • FDA warns ammonia inhalant marketer about drug violations.
  • Two-day MLM conference open for free registration.

Experts detail healthy eating patterns. Nutrition experts affiliated with the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in the Louisiana State University System, Rutgers University, and the Rutgers–Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine have provided an overview of energy and macronutrients (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates) needed to minimize risks of chronic disease. They also suggest using an online calculator that outlines calorie needs based on a patient’s gender, age, weight, height, physical activity level, and pregnancy or lactation status. Modifications may be needed for patients with underlying health conditions. The calculator also gives intake recommendations for other macronutrients, total fiber, fatty acids, cholesterol, and water. The article gives this advice:

  • Healthy food intake patterns consistent with macronutrient Dietary Reference Intakes should be recommended for patients older than one year.
  • The core elements of healthy food patterns include vegetables of all types, fruits (especially whole fruits), grains (at least half of which are whole grains), dairy (e.g., fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese), protein foods (e.g., lean meats and eggs, seafood, beans, and nuts), and oils (e.g., plant and seafood oils). Healthy food intake patterns associated with relatively low all-cause mortality are also low in red and processed meat, high-fat dairy, and refined carbohydrates or sweets.
  • The Consumer Resources page connects to worksheets and other practical materials for healthful eating.
  • MyPlate, published by the USDA, presents a useful visualization that includes the five food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy), along with healthy recipes and their energy and macronutrient content.
  • The Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges for adults are 10–35% for proteins, 20–35% for fats, and 45–65% for carbohydrates. Available evidence is limited or insufficient with regard to disease-prevention effects of dietary carbohydrate levels below the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range.
  • The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025, addressed the question of alcoholic beverages as part of healthy food patterns. Alcoholic beverages can contribute to total daily calorie intake (ethanol is 7 kcal/g). The dietary guidelines state drinking less is better for health than drinking more. Adults of legal drinking age can choose to drink in moderation by limiting intake to two drinks or fewer in a day for men and one drink or fewer in a day for women. Some adults, including pregnant women, should not drink any alcohol.
  • Meet macronutrient needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages that provide health-promoting components that have little or no added sugars or saturated fat.
  • Keep saturated fat intake at less than 10% of total calorie intake starting at two years of age.
  • Keep added sugar at less than 10% of total calorie intake starting at two years of age and avoid foods and beverages with added sugars for children who are under two years of age.
  • Maintain healthy fiber and water intakes as outlined in the Dietary Reference Intakes.
  • Use Nutrition Facts labels to monitor calorie and macronutrient contents of purchased foods

[Heymsfield SB, Shapses SA. Guidance on energy and macronutrients across the life span. The New England Journal of Medicine 390:1299-1310, 2024]

KFF spotlights shortage of primary-care doctors. A series of investigative reports by KFF Health News reveals how primary care in the U.S. has been disrupted and what this means for patients. In a video primer, “How Primary Care Is Being Disrupted,” senior correspondent Julie Appleby notes:

  • More than 100 million Americans lack regular access to primary care, a number that has nearly doubled since 2014. Yet demand for primary care is up, spurred partly by record enrollment in Affordable Care Act
  • The U.S. is investing in primary care far less than other high-income countries and has a smaller percentage of primary-care physicians than most of its European counterparts.
  • Only about one-third of physicians in the U.S. are primary-care doctors.
  • It’s often hard to find a doctor and make an appointment that is not weeks or even months away.
  • In 1980, 62% of doctor’s visits for adults 65 and older were for primary care and 38% were for specialists. By 2013, that ratio had exactly flipped.
  • Too few medical students are opting for primary care, in part because they are paid less than specialists.
  • Some doctors now in practice say they’re burned out.
  • Many doctors are retiring or selling their practices.
  • Hospitals, insurers, corporate giants such as Amazon, and private equity firms are on a buying spree, snapping up primary-care practices.
  • About 48% of primary-care physicians currently work in practices they do not own.
  • Some younger patients are ditching traditional primary care, opting instead for MinuteClinics or other quick and more convenient options such as telemedicine.
  • If patients aren’t seeing the same doctor on a regular basis, there’s a risk concerning health patterns may be overlooked.

FDA warns ammonia inhalant marketer about drug violations. After reviewing the social media accounts of Skull Smash LLC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the company its “Skull Smash¼ Ammonia Inhalants,” “Badass Bitch,” “Double Barrel Ammonia Inhalant,” and “Silver Bullet Ammonia Inhalants” are unapproved new drugs marketed in violation of the Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act. [Skull Smash. TruthInAdvertising.org Ad Alert, March 28, 2024] Questionable statements made on the Skull Smash website have included:

  • “Smelling salts are common in strength sports to help mentally stimulate and ‘psych up’ the lifter on competition day or in training to give them a boost on their competitive lifts. They are also popular in combat contact and team sports to increase alertness and focus.”
  • “Increased levels of alertness”
  • “Elevated levels of focus”
  • “Instantaneous boost of power and energy in competitive strength sports”

Two-day MLM conference open for free registration.  The College of New Jersey School of Business is sponsoring its fourth annual conference on Multilevel Marketing: The Consumer Protection Challenge on Thursday, May 2 and Friday, May 3. This virtual conference brings together expertise from regulators, prosecutors former MLM distributors, social media consumer advocates, researchers, educators, and journalists to discuss ways to improve consumer protection and reduce consumer harm within the multilevel marketing (MLM) industry. Both sessions begin at 9:30 AM EDT. The conference is free, but registration is required. Videos of the previous three conferences are posted to the conference website.

Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D., It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; other news items; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; research tips; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. The Digest’s primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available. To subscribe, click here.


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