食品伙伴网导读：已公布的由美国政府问责办公室（GAO）在本周的报告中提到，膳食补充剂被作为误导消费者的基因检测的一部分，被具有欺诈性的出售。与这一新闻相对应的是目前中国国内的保健品市场也鱼目混珠，状况较为混乱，食品伙伴网翻译整理此篇文章，希望为有关部分提供作为参考，为不法的保健品生产者及经销商敲响警钟，希望国内的保健品市场能加以规范，消费者的权益能得到更好的保障。
在美国政府问责办公室（GAO）秘密进行的调查中，GAO购买了各种各样的直接面对消费者的基因检测，这些检测声称可以检测到消费者的健朗状况是否存在高风险。作为他们健康服务的一部分，这些检测的经营者们会向他们的服务对象提供一种针对个人身体状况的膳食补充剂，以帮助他们避免这些健康风险。
GAO的报告已和在早些时候（2006年）进行的调查一起提交给了美国国会众议院。上一个调查的结果已促使美国疾病控制和预防中心（CDC），美国食品药物管理局（FDA）和美国联邦贸易委员会（FTC）发出警告，警告消费者要对这些测试的结果持谨慎态度。
然而，因为更多新的被报道的基因测试的公司也出现在这个直接面向消费者的产品市场，促使能源和商业委员会附属委员会对此事监督和调查，附属委员会目前要求GAO进行调查。
秘密调查
GAO 从四家公司购买了从299美元到999美元的价格不等的10个测试。该机构选定五个捐助者伪装成消费者，每个捐助者向这些公司送出2个DNA样本。
的结果提供了15种疾病的风险预测，GAO以消费者的名义打电话给这些公司寻求健康咨询，并询问这些公司关于膳食补充剂的销售。然后，然后GAO向遗传专家咨询，检查并整理了研究资料。
矛盾的结果
在对结果的检查中，GAO发现，同样的DNA样本通过不同的测试取得了不同的结果。例如，一个伪装的消费者被告知，他低于前列腺癌的发病风险的平均水平和高于平均水平。 其他结果发现与实际病史相冲突。例如，一个不规则的心跳起搏器植入消费者被告知，他在此项疾病上的风险水平较低。
膳食补充剂
GAO的报告显示，公司声称这些膳食补充剂可以治愈消费者的DNA中检测的疾病风险，并欺诈性的由知名度高的运动员做代言，以鼓励购买。.一公司标价为每月$ 145的膳食补充剂，实际上是维生素和营养物的混合物。
虽然GAO没有进行测试以验证他们的膳食补充剂的具体内容，但从包装上的配料表中可发现树莓果汁粉，绿茶提取物，大蒜粉等。.另外，还有其他所出售的膳食补充产品上未标注成分表。
消费者者被告知，这些产品可以治疗如关节炎、高胆固醇或防止高血压等疾病。
GAO介绍了美国FDA，国家卫生研究院和联邦贸易委员会的调查结果，并还提到FDA和联邦贸易委员会”会对所有的此类公司进行调查的“适当的行动”。
完整调查结果下载
原文导读：
GAO uncovers fraudulent ‘personalized’ supplements
By Lorraine Heller, 29-Jul-2010
Dietary supplements are being fraudulently sold as part of misleading genetic tests, according to a report published this week by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO).
In an undercover investigation, GAO purchased a variety of direct-to-consumer genetic tests, which claim to identify which health conditions consumers are at a high risk for. As part of their health package, the marketers of these tests offer ‘personalized’ dietary supplements to help prevent the onset of these conditions.
GAO’s report, which was presented to the US House of Representatives, followed an earlier investigation conducted in 2006. This had prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to warn consumers to be wary of the results of these tests.
However, new – and reportedly more reputable – genetic test companies have since appeared on the market with direct-to-consumer products, prompting the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce to request the current GAO investigation.
Undercover investigation
GAO purchased 10 tests from each of four companies, which ranged in price from $299 to $999. The agency selected five donors to pose as fictitious consumers, and sent two DNA samples from each donor to each company.
On reception of the results, which provided risk predictions for 15 diseases, GAO made undercover calls to the companies seeking health advice, and also asked the companies about supplement sales. It then consulted with genetic experts to examine the information collated.
Contradictory results
On examination of the results, GAO found that different tests yielded different results for the same DNA samples. For example, one fictitious consumer was told that he had below average, average and above average risk for prostate cancer.
Other results were found to conflict with actual medical histories. For example, a consumer with an implanted pacemaker for an irregular heartbeat was told that he was at decreased risk for developing this condition.
Supplements
GAO’s report reveals that companies claimed a consumer’s DNA could be used to create personalized supplements to cure diseases, and often used fraudulent endorsements from high-profile athletes to encourage purchases. One company charged $145 per month for these personalized supplements, which were blends of vitamins and nutrients.
Although GAO did not test the supplements to verify their contents, the ingredient lists identified compounds such as raspberry juice powder, green tea extract, and garlic powder. Other supplement products were sold with no ingredient lists.
Consumers were told that these products could cure diseases such as arthritis and high cholesterol, or prevent conditions such as high blood pressure.
GAO has briefed FDA, National Institutes of Health and FTC on its findings, and has also referred all the companies it investigated to FDA and FTC for “appropriate action”.
Dietary supplements are being fraudulently sold as part of misleading genetic tests, according to a report published this week by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO).
In an undercover investigation, GAO purchased a variety of direct-to-consumer genetic tests, which claim to identify which health conditions consumers are at a high risk for. As part of their health package, the marketers of these tests offer ‘personalized’ dietary supplements to help prevent the onset of these conditions.
GAO’s report, which was presented to the US House of Representatives, followed an earlier investigation conducted in 2006. This had prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to warn consumers to be wary of the results of these tests.
However, new – and reportedly more reputable – genetic test companies have since appeared on the market with direct-to-consumer products, prompting the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce to request the current GAO investigation.
Undercover investigation
GAO purchased 10 tests from each of four companies, which ranged in price from $299 to $999. The agency selected five donors to pose as fictitious consumers, and sent two DNA samples from each donor to each company.
On reception of the results, which provided risk predictions for 15 diseases, GAO made undercover calls to the companies seeking health advice, and also asked the companies about supplement sales. It then consulted with genetic experts to examine the information collated.
Contradictory results
On examination of the results, GAO found that different tests yielded different results for the same DNA samples. For example, one fictitious consumer was told that he had below average, average and above average risk for prostate cancer.
Other results were found to conflict with actual medical histories. For example, a consumer with an implanted pacemaker for an irregular heartbeat was told that he was at decreased risk for developing this condition.
Supplements
GAO’s report reveals that companies claimed a consumer’s DNA could be used to create personalized supplements to cure diseases, and often used fraudulent endorsements from high-profile athletes to encourage purchases. One company charged $145 per month for these personalized supplements, which were blends of vitamins and nutrients.
Although GAO did not test the supplements to verify their contents, the ingredient lists identified compounds such as raspberry juice powder, green tea extract, and garlic powder. Other supplement products were sold with no ingredient lists.
Consumers were told that these products could cure diseases such as arthritis and high cholesterol, or prevent conditions such as high blood pressure.
GAO has briefed FDA, National Institutes of Health and FTC on its findings, and has also referred all the companies it investigated to FDA and FTC for “appropriate action”.
