CAM users have higher vaccination coverage than non-users, study says
Previous studies have suggested that some practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) discourage childhood vaccinations among their patients. A recent study, however, found vaccination coverage levels among recent adult CAM users to be higher than among non-CAM users.
Researchers at the CDC wanted to describe vaccination coverage levels of adults 18 years or older according to their CAM use status and determine if there is an association between CAM use and adult vaccination coverage.
Using multivariable analyses, the researchers looked at data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, in which 30,617 adults provided at least one valid answer to the CAM supplement. The participants reported if they had received an influenza vaccine during the past 12 months, and if they had ever received a pneumococcal vaccine or a dose of hepatitis B vaccine. The researchers also determined coverage levels for each vaccine by CAM use status for adults who were considered high priority for vaccination because of the presence of a high-risk condition, and for non-priority adults.
The researchers found that 36% of the respondents overall were recent CAM users. Among priority adults, adjusted vaccination coverage levels were significantly different between recent and non-CAM users for influenza (44% vs 38%) and pneumococcal (40% vs 33%) vaccines, but were not significantly different for hepatitis B (60% vs 56%). Among non-priority adults, recent CAM users had significantly higher unadjusted and adjusted vaccination coverage levels compared to non-CAM users for all three vaccines, the researchers say.
Some of this may be attributed to physician-patient interaction, they explain. Recent and past CAM users from the study were significantly more likely to have more doctor visits, and therefore more physician contact, than non-CAM users. "The positive association between CAM use and immunization coverage among priority adults also suggests that even if CAM users are receiving negative information regarding immunizations from their CAM providers, it is not affecting their receipt of immunizations at this time," the researchers conclude.
This study was published online on Feb. 22, 2008 on the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine Website (http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmccomplementalternmed).
Adverse reactions reported with "Total Body [Mega] Formula" supplements
The FDA has notified health care professionals and patients that it has found hazardous levels of selenium in samples of certain flavors of the dietary supplement products "Total Body Formula" and "Total Body Mega Formula."
Analyses of samples by the FDA have found most of the samples contain extremely high levels of selenium up to 200 times the amount of selenium indicated on the labels of the products. The FDA has received 43 reports of persons from nine states who experienced serious adverse reactions using these supplements. The adverse reactions generally occurred after five to 10 days of daily ingestion of the product, and included significant hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain, deformed fingernails, and fatigue.
The Total Body Formula products, in the flavors of Tropical Orange and Peach Nectar, are sold in eight-ounce and 32-ounce plastic bottles. The Total Body Mega Formula, in the Orange/Tangerine flavor, is sold in 32-ounce plastic bottles. Both products are solely distributed by Total Body Essential Nutrition of Atlanta, and have been voluntarily recalled.
The products have been distributed in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. For the complete MedWatch 2008 safety summary, including a link to the FDA News Release, see http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#TotalBody.
Previous studies have suggested that some practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) discourage childhood vaccinations among their patients.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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