VegEPA: Bad Science, Good Public Relations
Hats off to the public relations team behind VegEPA, they’ve sold in the story of a diet pill that makes children smart so well that further research is now funded by TV production company Endemol for Five.
But sadly while stories like this make great PR, it’s also fallen foul of the Guardian’s Bad Science column, where Ben Goldacre has been quite reasonably questioning the science behind the claims. As it stands the claims for VegEPA should be treated no more seriously than those of climate change deniers who like to keep their research methods to themselves and shy away from peer review.
As Ben Goldacre’s Bad Science reveals all too often, pseudo-science (and the politicisation of research) is all too prevalent. It’s time the public relations industry’s own code of conduct was revised, or guidelines introduced, to deal with this matter. It should be made clear that the promotion of research authored by those who resist peer review – especially that on matters of great public interest, like medical research – is dishonest.
Comments (45 comments)
I am interested in buying this product, are you saying that it does not do what it professes to do?
Carol Monk / March 21st, 2007, 2:12 pm / #
I’m saying that the claims are, at best, unproven. I recommend you read Ben Goldacre’s piece in the Guardian, which explains that in some detail.
Here I’m concerned with the ethics of the public relations industry and questioning whether it’s right to make such bold claims for a product based on such woefully inadequate research.
Stephen Newton / March 21st, 2007, 2:51 pm / #
I have to say I am deeply saddened by the bitter criticism of natural health remedies. Of course, we all know that the media are prone at times to exaggerate and spin, but we can’t ignore the thousands of people that see real benefits from such products. God help us should the critics have their way – we’d all be popping pills created by corporate giants such as GSK. Let’s take a step back for a minute and put this all into perspective. There are children out there being given Ritalin and anti-depressants for behavioural and mood problems – it would be a more noble cause if Mr Goldacre would turn his critical eye to more important issues such as these.
James Sunderland / March 22nd, 2007, 9:27 am / #
If natural health remedies were tested as vigorously as pills made by GSK and the claims made held true, we would not be having this debate. It’s foolish to believe that natural ingredients are inherently safer than manmade; many of the most toxic substances are perfectly natural.
The claims for VegEPA are based on the experiences of just four extremely obese children who underwent a total change of diet and lifestyle. Few would deny that a total change of diet and lifestyle will affect anybody’s health.
Unfortunately, no attempt was made to isolate the effect of VegEPA on the children: VegEPA may even have retarded their development.
Stephen Newton / March 22nd, 2007, 11:05 am / #
VegEPA is an Omega-3 fish oil product. See my article: http://www.myomancy.com/2007/03/vegepa_does_it_.html for how it comes to other fatty acid / fish oil products.
Chris
Chris Tregenza / March 25th, 2007, 9:54 am / #
Oh dear, such ignorance. How many papers need to be written to confirm the truth. I have suffered depression most of my life. 8 years on seroxat. 1 year on vegepa and it is all but gone. I dont have the enzymes delta 6 and 5 because of my genetic irish inheritance. Vegepa “jumps over” these metabolic blocks and gives the body pure EPA and GLA. Over the last hundred years the middle omega 3 molocule EPA has vanished from our diet because of the food industries increase of vegetable oil to keep the shelf life of products. Vegetable oil is loaded with omega 6 cue a massive rise in depression during the last 100 years.
What saddens me is that 2 years ago the guardian published an article that agreed with the benefits of Omega 3 for health (EPA) it then lets in this bad science article in criticising this product. The only one on the market with pure EPA in it and nothing else.
You know it took 50 years after the initial discovery of oranges and lemons to cure scurvy for the british navy to incorporate oranges into sailors diets.
The same is happening with EPA. Sooner or later the food industry will have to change its ways of manufacture. It thinks it can get away with it by putting labels on food exclaiming omega 3 this and that when it is not enough for health.
The top brass of the food industry and pharmacetucial industry must be very happy when Bad science articles appear like this recent one. They can carry on with their merry ways as long as confusion reigns regarding the health benefits of omega 3.
Sadly the rates of depression, sucide, homicide anxiety will continue to rise and many more people with die cruel deaths.
The truth will be revieled eventually just like we now take it for granted that vit c cures scurvy. Until then cue the nonsense of bad science articles. Did they do their own double blind trials of vegepa? No.
Cheers guardian back we go again to saying omega 3 does nothing. Are well another 30 years to go until people finally get it.
James Shiels / April 5th, 2007, 11:57 pm / #
This issue comes down to a matter of choice and preference. If one feels that EPA is helpful to their health and well being than they have every right to believe that it is effective. There is nothing in the medical community that proves these suppliments ineffective and there are plenty of people who have recieved benefits from a wide range of omega substances for a number of years. Obviously there is more to hea;th than omega fatty acids, and yes rates of depression, sucide, and homicide will continue to rise. Firstly the population is growing and secondly there is an increasing demand for longer work hours and faster high stress lives. As for omega 3, well it is in food, we eat it, and there are undisputibla positive effects on cell repair, function, and the health of skin hair and nails. We really don’t need the suppliment if we eat flax, eggs, fish, and a balanced diet, so whats the controversy? If one is unable to get omega 3 through their diet than it is perfectly acceptable fot them to take the suppliment.
Gabriel McConkey / April 12th, 2007, 3:31 pm / #
Hi Gabriel
You seem to suggest that truth is matter of choice and that people have a right to believe these particular claims for VegEPA whatever the evidence.
It would be interesting to see how far you’d go with this. For example, if I chose to believe that there are fairies living in my garden, simply because I quite like the idea, I guess you’d have to respect that.
Stephen Newton / April 12th, 2007, 3:48 pm / #
Stephen,
Would appreciate a reply to James Shiels, since he seems to contradict what you feel about VegEPA. I look forward to reading your response.
Sue Lewis / April 20th, 2007, 9:39 am / #
Hi Sue
The problem in replying to James is firstly that he does not cite his sources and so his claims are unsubstantiated. It would be nice to be able to take James at his word, but as the VegEPA/Five example shows many papers turn out to be based on extremely biased research.
Here just four extremely overweight children went through a complete change of diet and lifestyle, of which VegEPA was just a small part. It’s impossible to isolate the impact of VegEPA on these children. For all we know, they may have done even better without. (Five pulled the programme after hearing how dodgy its methods were.)
James’ personal experience should not be discounted, but it remains no more than an anecdote. And depression is a catch all for so many conditions. We shouldn’t underestimate the power of placebo or the desire of somebody suffering a debilitating illness to believe in a cure.
Perhaps we should ask why the multi-million pound alternative therapies industry stubbornly refuses to test its products as rigorously as the pharmaceutical industry?
Stephen Newton / April 20th, 2007, 10:20 am / #
Hello every body its james shiels again! Well a few responses. Firstly doctors themselves have had to fund their own double blind trials in the discovery of EPA because the multi-million pound pharmacutical industry does not want to loose its millions of pounds by the public knowing a natural substance is available that is better than seroxat. EPA because it is already in the food chain cannot be patented, so they cannot make money out of it.
They are however very interested in not telling you about this. and coming up with their own trails to discredit it!
These trials only started in 1999, the one that kicked it all of was Dr Stolls self funded double blind using EPA and DHA for bipolar disorder, these trials only numbering a handful have had fairly consistent results.
Unlike the hundreds of trials done by glaxo on every single aspect of seroxat.
If you want references and sources go to a a very good website called “Bio Vita”. Here are the trial data so far. 1-2g EPA seems to be the best for depression.
Author/Link Condition Studied # patients
Fish oil dose (grams/d) Outcome
Wozniak et al
2007, USA Bipolar 20 children,
6–17 yrs,
no controls
1,3–4,3 g EPA+DHA
8 weeks Significant but modest reduction in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)
Frangou et al 2006, UK Bipolar 75/placebo 1 g/d E-EPA
2 g/d E-EPA
12 weeks
Significant improvement in both groups as compared to placebo and baseline status
Andrew Stoll et al, 1999
USA
Bipolar, recently in remission 80/placebo 9.6 g E-EPA + E-DHA
4 months Relapse rate sharply reduced by Omega-3
Nemets et al, 2002
Israel Depressed
(mean age 54 yrs) 10 E-EPA
10 placebo
(28–73 yrs)
4 weeks
2 g E-EPA (96%) + 0.2% vitamin E Highly significant benefits by week 3 in HDRS
Peet an Horrobin, 2002
England and Scottland Depressed
despite of “adequate” medication 70/placebo (18–70 yrs)
17 to 18 patients in each group 1, 2, 4 g
E-EPA
12 weeks 1-gram group did best; 2 gms did not improve, 4 gms trended better in HDRS
Zanarini et al, 2003
USA “Borderline”, women 30/placebo 1 g E-EPA Decreased aggression, depression
LLorente et al, 2003
USA Postpartum depression 44 DHA
45 placebo 200 mg DHA Plasma DHA increase 8%, no effect on depression
Marangell et al, 2003
USA Depressed 17 DHA
18 placebo 2 g DHA At 6 weeks, a trend but not significant benefit
Su, 2003
China Major depression
(mean age 35 yrs) 14 omega-3
14placebo
8 weeks 9,6 g =
4,4 g EPA
2.2 g DHA
(10 caps/d) Significant benefits versus placebo by week 4, bigger yet by week 8
Chiu, 2003 Depressed, pregnant case report one 4 g E-EPA
2 g DHA
Improvement by week 4, better yet by week 6
Sagduyu et al. 2005
USA Bipolar 37/no placebo 2,8 g DPA+EPA less irritability
Sagduyu, 2003 (letter, Psychiatric Times, March 2003 pg 9), USA Bipolar 19/ no placebo 0.5 to 6 g less irritability
Osher et al. 2005
Israel
Bipolar 12, no placebo 1,5 to 2 g Hamilton Score improved by 50 %
Case report and testimonial Bipolar 1/no placebo, but look at prior course of illness
2,2 g EPA
1,8 g DHA
Flax seed oil
Read report
Puri et al
case report
England Treatment-refratory 1/no placebo, but impressive outcome 4 g E-EPA Dramatic cure, read
report
Ayton et al. 2004
England
Severe anorexia 1 patient, impressive case report 1 g E-EPA Rapid recovery in 3 months, read report
Nemets et al. 2006
Israel Children´s (6-12 yrs.) m,ajor depression 28/14 400 mg EPA+
200 mg DHA
4 months Significant effect, recommended for treatment
Nemets et al. 2004
Israel
Major depression 1 woman
1 man 2 g E-EPA/d Dramatic recovery in 1 month, read report
Ayton et al. 2004
England Severe anorexia 7 patients, no placebo, impressive improvement 1–4 g E-EPA 3 recovered, 4 improved in 3 months, read report
Keck et al. 2006
USA Bipolar and “rapid cycling” 120/placebo 6 g E-EPA No difference from placebo
Amminger et al 2006
Wienna, Austria Autism 13 children
5–17 yrs 840 mg EPA
700 mg DHA
6 weeks Aberrant Behaviour (hyperactivity) decreased,
large effect size
Silvers et al 2005
New Zealand Depression 45/placebo 2,8 g DHA+EPA No difference from placebo
SO THESE ARE MY SOURCES ENOUGH?
James Shiels / May 7th, 2007, 9:49 pm / #
Hi James
You do quote a couple of the many studies that have been done. The studies you quote (which you admit are very small) support your view, the studies you ignore probably don’t. They may well have been included in this systematic review of published trials by researchers at Bristol University. Sadly, they found little evidence to support your position, but they do offer a glimmer of hope: ‘Larger trials with adequate power to detect clinically important benefits are required.’
VegEPA is the product of a multi-million pound alternative pill popping industry that could well afford to fund such a trial. To do so would be to put their business at risk, but let’s hope they do it anyway.
My concern, as a public relations professional, is that my industry has been actively promoting unproven cures (like VegEPA) to a naïve public. I think that’s wrong.
Stephen Newton / May 8th, 2007, 2:35 pm / #
Stephen/James
Neither of you appear to have actually read the excerpts James has given. The last concludes “No difference from placebo” and a couple refer to just one patient!!!
Mike / May 9th, 2007, 10:48 am / #
I came on line tonight to reorder some VEGEPA for my 8 year old. I bought some in March – he started taking it on 29th March -that’s 6 weeks ago and he is a transformed boy. He was moany and sluggish before with many other things I would complain about on top. After a few days we started to see a change and so does he. I suggested they were mood food and the first couple of nights he moaned and cried for a couple of hours over me making him take them – he was determined they were bad. However, he started to change and even he likes the new him better. The first thing I notice (oddly )was the the noise he made from his cello was entirely different. His mood then improved a whole lot. His hand writing has improved remarkably. This is something I’d tried to work on before and now suddenly it is very nice and improving all the time. He used to try to write well but described his own work as “ugly”, which made him very negative.
There are changes too numerous to mention. One thing I would add is that his social skills have improved greatly. We have other kids – this guy eats least fruit but very little actual junk food. He does like his pringles though. It will be interesting to see how things progress from here. we’re very optimistic.
liz / May 11th, 2007, 9:47 pm / #
There is a very good peer-reviewed research in some august medical journals about EPA.
Professor Puri is a highly regarded researcher with a multitude of publications in the highest quality scientific journals. It is highly unlikely that he would have been given the Chair at an institution such as Imperial College without a great deal of scrutiny by a panel of renowned scientists.
I have a great deal of admiration for Ben Goldacre’s writing, but I think that he should have researched his piece more thoroughly rather than jumping to conclusions about the television programme, which, from the article, is not clear whether he had actually seen. As with much tv journalism, they are free to edit as they please and the views that they report can often be somewhat or even wholly unrepresentative of those that they have interviewed. I would be very surprised indeed if Prof. Puri had made claims that the case study of such a small number of children proved anything at all.
andrew sandor / May 16th, 2007, 4:31 pm / #
I decided to give the VegEPA thing a go 6 weeks ago. My three children (girl age 13 and boys of 10 and 7) and myself. I was a bit cynical about the claims and was not expecting to notice a tangable change but these are our observations. I am 43 and have recently experienced a great deal of pmt/moodiness and tiredness associated with my menstal cycle. For the first time in 3 years very little period pain, no sore boobs and marginal moodines. I also feel “brighter”. My daughter had very little period pain and did not need to take the pain killers previously prescribed by the doctor. The 10 year old does not think there is any difference. Both these children are generally calm and easy going as they always have been. Child no 3 however is noticably on a more even keel, less prone to temper tantrums and less obnoxious. Could just be that he’s growing out of his “issues”. We intend to keep our family trial going for 6 months and then stop taking the supplement to see what happens. We are a generally healthy veg, fruit organic meat and fish eating family but we don’t normally eat flax!
Ruth / May 22nd, 2007, 1:05 pm / #
i never believe in hype or ad campaigns or tv programmes that might be biased.
i simply buy and try,and look for the results myself.
also a lifetime hater of “miracle” natural remedeys,as they are usually from snake oil sellers who wave crystals over a cancer victim and empty thier wallets.
i have just placed my second order for this product,as it works.
giving it to my lil girl,and shes showing a huge advances in learning curves etc.
basically,if it works,use it.
triple bypass at 36,so i`m also hoping theres a long term help with inherent coronary problems for her.
but will have to wait 30 years for that.
Max Mac / May 23rd, 2007, 2:51 am / #
Just like liz, I have come online to order some vegepa for my son and noticed this thread. For the record, my son is 9 and has ADHD. He has taken other medication for a few years and vegepa for a year. The improvements in the last year are extreme – from struggling in school in every way to top of the class and incredible memory retention. I don’t know anything about the product but it was recommended by his highly regarded child psychiatrist and I would not like him to stop taking it.
Ian / May 23rd, 2007, 2:05 pm / #
I must admit that when I first heard about the results from VegEPA I was intrigued. Like most people I’ve heard about miracle pills of one type or another and eventually it seems to be discovered that they aren’t as effective as they initially claim.
With some degree of scepticism I bought some VegEPA tablets. They are not hugely expensive and contain evening primrose oil and vitamin e so even if the claims were untrue at least there would be some goodness in the tablets.
My personal experience with VegEPA has been outstanding, as has the experience of family and friends that have also tried it.
As a sufferer of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea I often used to feel thick headed. I would find that my concentration would be poor, my memory was not as good as it had been, I was suffering moodswings and general felt rough. I have been receiving treatment for my OSA for over two years and although it helped me stop falling asleep mid afternoon there was no improvement in the other symptoims I’ve listed.
I started taking VegEPA just after Christmas and within days noticed significant changes. My head was far, far clearer, my memory was back to usual, my concentration was excellent and I felt much happier and mess inclined to worry about anything and everything.
Having noticed a change in me my mother asked whether the doctor had changed my meds. I advised that I was trying the VegEPA and as a result she ordered some for both her and my father. My mother has been depressed for years and has a real fear of leaving the house. She’s not entirely agrophobic but (in our GP’s words) she as close to it as you can get without a finite diagnosis. She hated leaving the house, broke out in sweats and cried if she had to go anywhere (the doctors for example). She hadn’t been out shopping for 4 years and hadn’t been to a hairdresser for 3½. Within two weeks of starting to take VegEPA she had returned to her old self and the depression far improved. More importantly she no longer fears leaving the house and can easily cope with what is now a mild level of anxiety rather than genuine panic.
My father, having suffered a stroke 6 years ago, had extreme mood swings, concentration and memory problems, insecurities, and used to slur his speech later in the day. Again, having started to take VegEPA, there were major changes and vast improvements to his behaviour, his memory and he no longer slurs his speech as he doesn’t get so confused when he’s tired.
Whether you want to believe that it is all a huge PR coup or not is up to you. Whether you want to believe an article in a newspaper or not is also up to you. I have experienced the results of taking VegEPA and would recommend it 100%. Unlike prescription medication it isn’t made up from various chemicals, it is entirely natural, non addictive and, even if it doesn’t work quite as well for you, it still contains other goodness and isn’t going to result in a massive adverse reaction.
Gary / June 21st, 2007, 2:05 pm / #
perhaps you should create a ” we know fuck-all, we journalists”column and stop spreading sensationalist, unsubstantiated rubbish about products u know nothing about and have no scientific training to disprove, ive had m. e for about 8 years now, i came across “vegepa” in 2004,may , when it was about to be released, i was in an horrific mess, 3 months later i was enormously better, just like prof. basant puri said i would be, too much detail to go into here but u can contact me whenever u like, but u probably wouldnt cos idiots like u have only one agenda: discredit those who dare to help man and better the human condition. u morons!
mike lloyd / June 22nd, 2007, 10:16 pm / #
oh dear, mr lloyd what an unpleasant and moronic post!
on the issue of M.E. and vegEPA, EPA is touted as something that can make a dramatic difference. Prof. Puri even wrote a book about it (which I have read).
I belong to a very large M.E. site and there are sometimes discussions on the merits of vegEPA. A minority do report an improvement, which is obviously good news (though not scientific proof, M.E. can get better or worse for all kinds of reasons). But lots of people report no real difference. So I am quite sceptical overall, though there is no harm in trying it, it may help someone somewhat.
Also it is not cheap! To take the quantity recommended by Prof Puri if you have M.E. it costs about £30 per month (a lot if you are on benefits).
fat kitten / June 30th, 2007, 8:34 am / #
Hello
I was sexually abused by my male form teacher when i was 9.
I am now 37 with 4 kids.
I have sufferd from depression since the age of 14.
I cant relate to my family & that is the hardest part.
I am on vegepa. I have been for the past 5 months. But i have found no real improvement in my condition.
I will not give up as there is nothing else out there that can help me.
Riz / August 1st, 2007, 2:20 pm / #
James Shiels here again glad my writings have generated so much debate! Well personally speaking its still working and i am still in employment. I really think this is the hidden deficiency of the millenium, because i could not convert ALA (the first omega 3 molecule) to EPA because I did not have the enzyme known as delta 6 i have not had EPA in my diet/brain all my life. NOW I AM BACK.
Something happened 250,000 years ago. The human brain started to double and triple in size before that 3 million years the human brain was the same size.
I believe it was the EPA in the marine diet that did it. Neanderthal man did not have EPA and became extinct. I recommend this to everyone still the recovery continues!
James Shiels / August 5th, 2007, 5:38 pm / #
Riz here
How long does it take to work?.
Dr Puri said it takes 3 months to see the real effects of vegepa.
I have e-mailed him about my concern of not really being favourabally affected by vegapa, but as yet he has not replied.
Anonymous / August 7th, 2007, 8:53 am / #
Having known Professor Puri both personally and professionally for over twenty years I am absolutely horrified at some of the negative comments written about him and his reasearch. He is indeed a very bright and eminent Neuro-Psychiatrist who even prior to Vegepa, has a distinguished career. I urge anyone who is in doubt of his professionalism and research ability to read some of his publications. I am not referring to his books but the many clinical trials that he has carried out and had published in Medical Journals. I don’t for one minute believe that he was claiming on the basis on such a small group that his study was a scientific piece of research.
Maybe his mistake has been one of naivity. To trust the media with his ideas.
Sandra / August 29th, 2007, 10:09 am / #
what kind of cretin calls themselves ” fat kitten ” ?, you should think twice before critisizing people you dont know about things you little understand…..or is it ” fat head ” ?
m.lloyd / September 2nd, 2007, 12:38 am / #
dear “RIZ”, the charming lady who was unfortunately ” abused by her form teacher at the age of nine, age 37, 4 kids”, i too have been thru an unholy shitstorm of hurt, and have found only a few things that have provided true and pactical help for trauma….vegepa for the organic, and sometimes emotional and the ” SEDONA METHOD/ FREEDOM-NOW TECHNIQUE” created by lester levenson, please email me for more info. or visit the website – http://www.sedona.com……my email addy. is “microego@hotmail.co.uk”, all the best and my heart goes with you, kind regards , mike x
m.lloyd / September 2nd, 2007, 12:44 am / #
i was of course refering to the brainless journalist/s whos best idea of article-creation and research is an incromprehensable squiggle on the the back of a damp bear mat…and thats on a good day! please ignore mr guardian, thier idea of an intelligent article is…….oh, they dont have one. shame.
m.lloyd / September 2nd, 2007, 12:55 am / #
Thank you M.Lloyd for the website.
I will look at it soon.
By the way, what made you think i was a lady?.
I am a man who is taking vegepa.
I still havent felt any improvement in my condition.
But i’m not giving up. This is my only hope.
RIz / September 6th, 2007, 1:45 pm / #
me here again, sorry RIZ! it kinda sounded like a girls/female name, usually slang-short for rebecca or something, my apologies. yes , dont give up hope, but i would also like to help you a lot more but this public posting is not the most private or discrete of places, i need to know certain things such as ” do u drink alcohol ? what prescription drugs are you on, questions like this, also stay clear of the artificial sweetener “aspartame”, it has been linked to low mood, depression and cancer, if u drink anything ” diet” these days, 9 times out of ten it will contain this substance, ( check the lable!), talk to me here or better yet email me, there are so many things that can help you and your situation, days can look black as dusk , but there will always be a dawn. Get in touch either way, any way i can be of help i will be here for you, warm regards, mike.( microego@hotmail.co.uk)
m.lloyd / September 11th, 2007, 5:32 pm / #
may i pay my utmost respect to professor Basant Puri, his work has helped me hugely in so many ways, and the books are a great and informative supplement to his worthwhile work, an adjustment of nutritional lifestyle, diet and common sense ensures the workability of vegepa, its no good having bad food intake, going down the pub and being amateurish regarding application, it must be taken to heart and the instructions followed and applied to the letter, only when this is done are the true results attainable and observable. My earnest and heartfelf respect to you, prof. puri. thankyou.
m.lloyd / September 11th, 2007, 5:40 pm / #
hey RIZ, another tip to boost mood and eradicate the blue is to detox your life of negative and harmfull chemicals, stop the 20th century killing you bu paula baillie hamilton is a great book that tells you of all the substances that harm ur body and mind, as well as informing you of the specific neuro-toxins, these are the worst, that can damage your brain and nervouse sytem and how to avoid these, it really is an essential book to own and use, especially in combination with prof. puri’s work ( recommended by myself, not prof. puri) good luck, keep in touch , all the best, mike.
m.lloyd / September 14th, 2007, 2:05 pm / #
hello,I was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was 15 and have battled long and hard with many different medications.I have been taking vegepa for nearly two years and have not had any hospital admissions since.My bipolar husband who had suffered severe psychotic episodes also began vegepa the same time and has had no admissions since.It is very difficult to pinpoint exactly what the difference is,which is perhaps why some people are so cynical.I just feel better,clearer.I feel relaxed yet alert.My husband has noticed the same effects.I agree more research should be done,but I think people should perhaps be a little more open minded and not discount the experiences of people that have taken vegepa,and had their lives given back to them.
helen / October 2nd, 2007, 11:06 pm / #
very well said HELEN, ive been taking vegepa since its early availability in march 2004 for M.E and related conditions such as low mood and depression which M. E can cause , i concer with many of your points, alertness and a relaxed ” just there” sanity, things that used to bother me dont anymore, i feel stronger and clamer and recommend it whenever i get the chance, happy for u and your husband, i cant wait till the two books on vegepa are published next year in january ( nutrition and diet/ recipes book/s to increase epa absorption), more power to you Helen, and all the others in need out there, spread the word! best wishes, mike .
m. lloyd / October 15th, 2007, 6:23 pm / #
I don’t know much about the research that has been done. Suffering from CFS/ME for 13 years I feel better after taking VegEPA for 4 months . Special the quality of my sleep has improved a lot. So please don’t be so negative Stephen.
Alexandra / November 5th, 2007, 6:14 pm / #
I agree with ALEXANDRA,I ALSO THINK the only reason why ” stephen newton” is negative about vegepa is because he is completely and utterly clueless of the product he is attacking, shoddy journalism, non-existent observation, ill thought through research ; tell me stephen, what research into vegepa did YOU do ???. the agenda-seekers are bending his ear ( pharmaceutical industry etc with their scandelous profit-making), isnt it about time he used some common-sense and talked to the people vegepa is benefiting every day, ive had M.E/CFS for 9 years and have found vegepa extreemly useful, not to mention a virtual life-saver…anyone else agree ?
m,lloyd / November 13th, 2007, 6:01 pm / #
Hi folks, I am very interested in your discussion. I have just recently been diagnosed with GAD and Depression. I am suffering mild Agrophobia but unfortunatley due to financial problems I am forced to leave the house for work every day. I do not want to go down the road of anti-depressants as taking any form of medication causes me more anxiety. I am planning on buying some vegEPA today and will keep you update with my progress!
Kelly / November 21st, 2007, 10:40 am / #
I am also very interested in this discussion. What is the harm in trying? Are there harmful side effects to fear?
I suffered from a combination of ME, GAD & depression for 2 years. Not wanting to take Prozac as offered by my GP – I decided to try the more natural products. I used many things(herbs, supplements etc) without success. I then started taking 4 VegEPA per day with a multivitamin and slowly but surely my previous calm mood and motivation to do former activities have returned.
This could be natural healing over time or the VegEPA. Certainly not placebo because I took other herbs and supplements before which did not work.
All I can add is that when you feel that ill, anxious and miserable – you try what you can to get better. I was very persistent with “alternative” treatments and managed to get well again – without becoming addicted to any prescription drugs with nasty side-effects.
Julia / November 26th, 2007, 4:00 pm / #
Hi folks, my ex-wife had lupus. She was prescribed Vioxx by a highly regarded gentleman in the field of Lupus. Vioxx was withdrawn from global use by its manufacturer Merck, on September 30th 2004, after new clinical trial results showed that it significantly increased the risk of serious cardiovascular events, in particular heart attacks, amongst users.
Various lawsuits have followed. She was also attracted to the idea of chinese medicines, some of which were uncontrolled and “laced” with steriods – its the steriods that make you feel great, not necessarily the “chinese” aspects of it. (I am sure some chinese medicies are great and and don’t contain steroids etc). Sugar might taste great, teeth an isue. Alcohol might make you feel on top of the world for a while, but … I am just pointing out that it is natural that we should try and obtain balanced views on side effects of all drugs and supplements, prescription or otherwise. Both stephen and fat kitten do make some interesting points. Oddly enough my interest in VegEPA are to aid anger management – reading someone’s angry ratings here about its success, it does make me wander if it helps in that department…
Jimmy B / December 4th, 2007, 6:09 pm / #
I’ve just read through the diverse comments on this thread and thought I’d like to add my own. I’ve also had M.E. for nigh on 8 years and can confess that VegEPA has helped me enormously too. I have periods whereby I don’t take the supplement because either I can’t afford it (or any other supplement) or because of sheer forgetfullness and lack of time. I have recently looked back over the chequered past of taking VegEPA and can now see very clear ups and very low downs that coincide with when I take the capsule and when I don’t. Normal Omega-3 just doesn’t seem to make much difference. I also suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and it also helps tremendously with the depression that comes with it. I have two children, one 5, one 2, and boy!, do I need “lifting” otherwise their lives become a misery too. I know this is only anecdotal and not clinical research but it is true and real. Unlike the apparent “rigorous” testing that is carried out by the multi-million pound companies with products that are later removed from circulation because of horrendous and sometimes fatal consequences that were glossed over at the initial stages of research (or clearly not “rigorously” researched at the time). Long may freedom of choice reign!
B Rolfe / December 6th, 2007, 2:02 pm / #
I was given a pot of 60 Vegepa tabs by a friend over a year ago. I suffer from depression, ME, and numerous allergies.
Having had most of these conditions from early childhood, I believe that I am naturally sceptical when trying anything new. Nothing has cured me so far, why should this be any different.
To be honest, when I first started trying to take 4 tabs a day, I remember feeling well but having so many different conditions that are affected by various factors such as time of year etc, it can make it hard to monitor. I just assumed I was having a well patch anyway.
I do have definite breakthroughs such as the day that it dawned on me that it was the effects of coffee that would flare my eczema up beyond control. The reason I had never attributed it before was because the effects were not immediate, I can expect to have very painful irritated skin, only beginning two days after drinking any coffee.
I recently decided to use the unfinished pot of Vegepa up, rather than chucking it away. I took them along with my regular vitamin tablets and thought no more about it.
It wasn’t until quite a few days into a period of very painful eczema flair-up, and a bad case of depression that it occurred to me that it had maybe coincided with the fact I was no longer taking those tablets.
For me this kind of ‘dawning on me’ realization, are my best gage, rather than times when I waking each morning hoping for some change. I am able to be sure that I haven’t simply been so desperate to see results.
So here I am. I have come online to find out more about this Vegepa and am very confused!
I am very disappointed that the company has not conducted it’s own research. Ordinarily an issue like this alone would make me sceptical enough to believe that the company is no better than the email spammers suggesting a miracle pill, but there are also so many testimonials from real people as well as possibility they may have helped me a small amount already.
So feeling slightly apprehensive at the idea I may possibly still be duped, I think I will part with a small amount of cash and give these tabs another try.
If these really do work as well as so many people say they do, wouldn’t it be nice if the company itself had enough faith was willing to part with some cash to conduct it’s own extensive medical trial.
han / January 5th, 2008, 1:23 pm / #
hey HAN ( and u guys ), vegepa works, give it a chance to do so, remember there are so many unknowns and variables when taking any supplement ; feel free to eliminate things like alcohol, smoking, any other drugs etc, the cleaner and more chemical-free you are the better chance vegepa has of working, ive been taking it for for years, i had lost all hope after having M.E for about 5 years before taking it, i even had the pleasure and privelidge of talking to its creator on the phone, prof. basant puri, there are books available that he has written covering everything you need to know, just type in his name into google and bobs ya uncle, also think of taking more capsules a day, like 7 or 8, the more u take the better u get and quicker too; remember eliminate all possible blocks to it working and enhance its ability to work ( take other oils, such as salad dressing etc; primrose oil, study these different oils and you will get better, experiment with combinations anddosages, the brain is mainly water and FAT , this is why vegepa works, they are FATTY ACIDS, and whatever heals the brain heals the body, for it is its command centre, vegepa works, im still taking it and i hope to take it for the rest of my life, i have a motto : USE WHAT WORKS; GIVE IT THE BEST CHANCE TO WORK, all the best and never give up! , mike.
m .lloyd / January 22nd, 2008, 7:29 pm / #
Guys I studied Biochemoistry at uni and I say that not to impress you but to impress upon you that this stuff WORKS!!!
Now.. why it works may have a lot to do with the fact that in the first place the diets of those involved is somehow lacking in essential oils required to overcome certain problems. One of those problems in obsese children is the that the diet consists of so many bad oils and refined products the brain cannot funtion properly. As such DHA is one of those requird products but it is often inhibited and made less effective by the presence of other MASKING oils or products. Its that simple.
I have noticed my nieves and Nephews concentrate better at school on it.. I have noticed one of them who suffers from NeuroFibroids to be significantly less jumpy and spasms less in the odd movement.. and he says he figits less at school!!!
Theres gold in them VegEPA hills.. dont listen to the naysayers.. start using at will.PS DO NOT OVERDOSE ON THIS STUFF.. my sugestion is NOT a tablet a day.. rather a tablet/capsule every 2 to three days and whatever you do CUT OUT DAIRY PRODUCTS AND RED MEAT from your diet.. dont even think about it these foods as well as SUGAR/CARBOHYDRATE are the absolute curse of your diets replace carbs with lentils and veg.. it even tatses better and once you go there youll never go back after 2 weeks like this..PS I have not caught a cold in almost 3 years now… my skin is unbelievably radient and I even get chatted up by ladies its astonishing.. never ever again will I eat chips/potaoes and starchy foods other than a single odd mouthfull.. My main stay is fish and vegetables and prawns and its like eating gormet food every night.
PPS Dont microwave anything thats in or on plastic… or your looking for trouble in future…
Peace out
the Paul
Paul London / February 13th, 2008, 7:26 pm / #
CORRECTION DHA IS ONE OF THOSE INHIBITING OR COMPETING OILS!!!!!!!!!!!!! SORRY ABOUT THAT MY MISTAKE
Paul London / February 13th, 2008, 7:31 pm / #
THE COMMENTS ON THIS POST ARE NOW CLOSED AS THE FACILITY HAS BEEN ABUSED. SOME COMMENTATORS HAVE USED MULTIPLE PEN NAMES AND SUBSEQUENTLY ASKED FOR COMMENTS TO BE REMOVED AND I DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO POLICE THAT KIND OF THING.
Stephen Newton / February 20th, 2008, 9:05 am / #
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