LONG>Re: Re: dietetics-online - Mannatech again (fwd)

[Laura Larsson]

Friends:

This is a longish message responding to the Mannatech thread from a non
subscriber which I am posting for your information.

Apologies to the poster, but I added paragraph breaks to make the message
easier to read. Remember to break up your paragraphs into bit-sized pieces
to make your words easier to understand.

Regards,

Laura
larsson at u.washington.edu
listowner: PHNUTR-L, PNWHEALTH, HSR-L +

To: Annie Navarre <anne at maui.net>
CC: "Kathrynne Holden, MS,RD" <fivstar at webaccess.net>,
        phnutr-l at u.washington.edu, fnspec_mg at ecn.purdue.edu,
Subject: Re: dietetics-online - Mannatech again

Annie Navarre wrote:

> 

> Mannatech was/has been taking Hawaii by storm with their marketing methods,

> so it does not surprise me that they would use the approach you described.

> I attended a meeting with a friend who was being recruited to sell. I was

> not impressed at all; the researchers used scientific language that most

> people would not understand but would be attracted by. The personal

> testimonials are what sell in my opinion. When you look closely at product

> ingredients there is typically something assisting in giving physiological

> responses (such as caffeine). I posed a question to the National Council

> Against Health Fraud which provided an interesting response (check their

> newsletter web site http://www.ncahf.org/newslett/newslett.html under

> May/June 96). It's unfortunate this company make big money at selling lies,

> but they are very persuasive which is typical of most companies using these

> tactics. Another interesting site to visit with info on multilevel

> marketing is http://www.quackwatch.com/ (look under the M's).

> 

> Annie Navarre, R.D.

> 

>  At 02:53 PM 10/22/97 -0600, Kathrynne Holden, MS,RD wrote:

> >I just received a call from a Mannatech rep who wanted me to sell his

> >products. A polite refusal elicited the following information:

> >

> >So many doctors and other health professionals are requesting

> >information about the eight essential monosaccharides in a Mannatech

> >product that there is a special hotline for them to call on Sunday

> >evenings for specific information. To get the hotline number, one must:

> >

> >1) using one's own letterhead, fax:

> >       Barbara Holloway

> >       Fax: 972-471-7268

> >2) include a copy of one's professional license

> >3) request the toll-free number for health professionals to call for

> >journal references, scientific information, etc.

> >

> >Ms. Holloway will then fax you the toll-free number, which you may dial

> >Sunday evenings for more information.

> >

> >Do I sound at all skeptical? Nah, not me. But I'm wondering if anyone

> >else has experienced this approach. Is this a new way of snagging

> >customer representatives? Or what?

> >

> >Anyway, I thought I'd inform all interested health professionals that

> >this is going on, FWIW.

> >

> >Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD

> >

> >--

> >Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD

> >Editor-in-Chief,

> >"Spotlight on Food--nutrition news for people 60-plus"

> >http://www.fortnet.org/~fivstar

> >and NUTRITION TOPICS copy-ready handouts

> >http://www.dietetics.com/class/fivstar/

> >Tel: 970-493-6532   Fax: 970-493-6538

> >


Dear Annie:  As a professional (RD) educated in the likes of the medical 
profession I think we are at times quick to assume any new "natural" 
product is a hoax.  I agree Mannatech does use some sensationalisms to 
sell their products, but are our pharmacuetical companies  and 
nutritional supplement companies any different in lewering M.D.s and 
other health care profesionals, like ourselves  with fancy biased 
studies, wine & cheese socials at annual meetings, plus fancy pins and 
pads? And do we use these products??? 

I note your references for fraud in nutrition and I think these are okay
but I believe both are backed by the MD who knows very little about
natural medicine, never trained in this area, and are quick to bash
"Natural Things" that are not double blind studies or areas they know
nothing about.  I agree companies like Mannatech use alot of testamonials
and other gimics to persuade people into buying their products.It concerns
me that people who are no more than car salesmen or secretaries are
selling such products as the hottest thing since antiobiotics, and
learning sales techniques that intimidate sick people into thinking they
are "terrible and don't care about themselves" if they do not buy and use
all of these products(I work with very sick people and see it happen
alot!) but the point is I think there is some validity to the use of some
of these products and should not necessarily be shunned in its entirety. 

For instance the products which contain Dioscerea are being found to be
beneficial precursors for hormone production similar to the isoflavinoids
in soy products.  The polysacharride products that are in the aloe
products are being found to be of help in inhancing immune function - not
necessarily curing all diseases that face the world and of course are no
substitute for a healthy diet, exercise, etc.  but nonetheless are
something we should be aware of and of possible benefit in some
situations. 

I think we as dietitians can be a great bridge between these
two extremes and help patients use traditional medicine as necessary but
also help in screening alternative medicine and help them use some that
may be of benefit.  It's an area up for grabs and I think we as RD's have
the skills to bridge this gap!!!  Open minded, always learning!  Joan
Brookhyser, RD