Comments on: Durham fish oil (non)trial and science by press release: it’s unclear what the children were taking

By: dvnutrix

dvnutrix — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:11:53 +0000

Not in the least silly. Most people would find it reasonable to expect to be given the information to support such strong claims of efficacy.

By: Durham’s ground breaking Equazen EyeQ/fish oil initiative report released « Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:18:58 +0000

[...] breaking Equazen EyeQ/fish oil initiative report released Jump to Comments In response to a reader comment, I looked to see whether Durham’s fish oil trial initiative report had been published. When [...]

By: jonhw

jonhw — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:11:59 +0000

The report has been - oddly - put on the BATH website [PDF]. Not easy to find, though - and don't think I'd have found it if I didn't already have a draft of the report. The report finds that the initiative failed to show benefit from supplementing with Equazen EyeQ. We have doubts about the quality of the report and the underlying statistical work. You can read it online and make your own mind up, though.

By: mazz

mazz — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:12:47 +0000

why has the report not been published for the consumer? On the website it says that after 15 weeks one can see results? I am confused because even though this is a food supplement I would expect that if people are spending their money on this product that the box should still provide the scientific report so people know the benifits and any adverse effects…..am I being silly but it feels like the non-scientific people out there are not being given the right infomation to allow them to make an informed decision. The trial should be done on adults.

By: Durham (non)trial fails to show any benefit to fish oil (Equazen EyeQ) supplementation « Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:49:43 +0000

[...] report starts by saying that the initiative involved omega-3 supplementation. However, Equazen EyeQ tablets contain evening primrose (omega 6) as well as fish oil, and it is not clear why this is not mentioned. If the sciency write up of a (non)trial fails to [...]

By: jdc325

jdc325 — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:49:54 +0000

pv - I think Equazen was owned by Adam Kelliher and Cathra Kelliher (née Horrobin). Her father David Horrobin was, apparently, a very smart cookie with an, um, interesting history in fatty acids. He also edited the journal Medical Hypotheses and his obituary in the BMJ caused quite a stir. Obit; Rabid Responses; a bit about Equazen and Horrobin

By: pv

pv — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:40:01 +0000

Doesn’t Equazen, it’s founder or a significant relation thereof, have previous history with Evening Primrose oil?

By: Dr* T

Dr* T — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:02:16 +0000

Without reference to fishy burps, I find this whole saga incredibly distasteful. This was mass experimentation on children for purely PR means and with zero scientific value. (Irrespective that the products are Generally Regarded As Safe).

I honestly think that someone on Durham Council should swing for this – it stinks of abuse of power, interference of private money in local government and hoodwinking of parents and children as to what was actually happening.

Rotten to the core.