Myth: Holford recommends supplement pills without any competing interests
Up until 2007, Professor Patrick Holford of Teesside University sold supplement pills through Health Products for Life; in 2007, he sold this company to NeutraHealth (Biocare’s parent company) in a £464,000 deal. Holford now works for Biocare – a supplement pill company – as ‘Head of Science and Education’. He is also the Chief Executive of Food for the Brain – a charity which lists a number of supplement pill companies among its funders.
Myth: Holford is a highly qualified nutritionist
Holford has no accredited degree-level or postgraduate-level qualifications in nutrition; he has never taken any exams or been subjected to a critical appraisal of his knowledge of the sort one might expect with qualifications. Holford’s sole university degree is a BSc in Psychology from York (he earned a 2.2). Holford started an MPhil at Surrey University, but failed to complete this.
Holford’s only ‘qualification’ in nutrition is an honorary one: he was awarded an honorary DipION from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, while he was Director. Holford can legally call himself a nutritionist in Britain – ‘Nutritionist’ is not a protected title here, and anyone is free to use it. Despite Holford’s own lack of such qualifications, it is clear in this conversation with Dr Emer Keeling that Holford believes nutritionists should have 3-4 years of scientific training to be qualified as nutritionists and seems to be inappropriately reticent about his own status. For more information see: Myth: Holford Is A Qualified Nutritionist
Although the University of Teesside appointed Holford as a Visiting Professor at the School of Social Sciences and Law in the summer of 2007, in June 2008, Holford resigned this position.
Myth: Patrick Holford only recommends evidence-based supplements
Patrick Holford appears on GMTV with bottles of his own formulations. Holford advises the use of his formulation Cinnachrome for “natural blood sugar management” and for diabetes. He claims that there is clear clinical evidence for his recommendations. For more information: Myth: The Scientific Support for Chromium and Cinnamon.
Myth: Patrick Holford only recommends sensible, evidence-based nutritional interventions
Holford has actually recommended a range of healthcare modalities that do not just lack any good evidence of efficacy, but – given our current understand of the laws of physics – lack any feasible mechanism of action. For example, he has promoted health dowsing and applied kinesiology; he has written positively about homoeopathic alternatives to vaccination and has promoted and sold the QLink pendant. See Implausible Healthcare Modalities for more details.
Myth: Patrick Holford advocates evidence-based nutritional approaches to HIV/AIDS treatment
Holford’s New Optimum Nutrition Bible states that “AZT, the first prescribable anti-HIV drug, is potentially harmful and proving less effective than vitamin C.” However, he made this claim based on (incorrectly referenced) in vitro research, and it is not supported by in vivo human trials. Holford has argued at length about how to interpret this claim, but the quote is accurate and has not been retracted. While Holford has argued that the claim ‘AZT is proving less effective than Vitamin C’ is different from a claim that ‘Vitamin C is proving more effective than AZT’, most would view these claims as equivalent; anyway, this claim is so important that it should not require semantic contortions or discussions about syntax.
Myth: Holford recommends direct-to-consumer health tests because they empower people
Professor Patrick Holford argues that home-tests for health conditions empower individuals and this may account for their unpopularity with some health professionals:
some health professionals just haven’t kept up to date. Perhaps it’s because a ‘home test’ takes the power away from the professional and puts it in your hands.
This is a remarkable slur against “some health professionals”, particularly when there are well-formed objections based on expert opinion that some of these tests are irrelevant or dubious and may have been subject to extensive criticism. Just because it is easy for a trained professional to interpet a test-result, this is no guarantee that somebody at home can do this for themselves. There is no clear evidence that these tests are empowering for the individual no matter how rewarding it may be for individuals who promote them. For more information: Myth: Home Tests Empower Individuals.
Myth: Patrick Holford’s recommended food intolerance blood tests are scientifically validated
Holford claims that you can diagnose food intolerance with a blood test; he even endorses one by YorkTest and has written a book about your Hidden Food Allergies. Holford relies upon audits of customer satisfaction surveys for his evidence. The majority of published and peer-reviewed research states that this is not true. Dr Glenis Scadding expressed herself on this matter with some vigour when she presented evidence to the House of Lords Committee that investigated allergies and allergic disease. The ASA has recently reviewed the ‘evidence’ for such tests and concluded that there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that they can diagnose food intolerance. For more information: Myth: IgG blood tests diagnose food intolerance
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Hi Paul
Is there any website you can recommend that supplies nutritional info and an overview of the scientific literature which is sound, user-friendly and not a “rip off”?
I am reading Holford’s ‘Food is Better Medicine than Drugs’. I found the first section rather conspiracy theory against the drug companies etc. A number of his suggestions (part 2 onwards) seem helpful, although I am sceptical about the push for nutritional supplements. Also a look at his money-making website was a big turn-off.
Your website has highlighted Holford’s lack of nutritional bone fides, his undisclosed interest in companies manufacturing nutritional supplements, and his deficiencies in anaylsis/application of the scientific literature.
Although not ideal, do these things necessarily invalidate all of his recommendations? Where would you rate Holford’s advice on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being highly suspect and 10 being on the money)? – Clearly you would not rate it a 10, but is there anything he espouses that you agree with? A categorical ‘no’ would seem to call your own bias into question….
Any advice around “Eat food. Not to much. Mostly plants” is good – but that is Michael Pollan rather than Patrick Holford.
As for Patrick Holford’s advice – in general, the parts that are good aren’t original, the parts that are original aren’t good. We would always welcome anyone reinforcing the message that a good, varied diet is desirable – it is seldom that he stops there.
ETA: Patrick Holford is, of course, happy to endorse particular food products, even when they contradict his usual advice.
We at HolfordWatch are happy to say: “In the absence of any contra-indications or personal taste-bud rebellion, eat your greens, eat food that is recognisable as food and enjoy it”.
I’m curious. What is your motivation for running this blog? I understand that you feel the need to make public something perceived as wrong and misleading – but why Patrick Holford in particular? There are umpteen wrongs, mistruths, injustices, pedlars of inaccurate information in the world – many more prominent than Patrick Holford.
Why focus on him rather than anything or anyone else?
Why not read the blog? Yours isn’t an original question and it has been asked and answered more times than we care to think.
However, in summary:
*irritating tho’ McKeith et al may be, none has set up a training institute to train others in their ways/errors
*no other self-styled nutritionist in the UK is attempting to place their IONistas in the NHS where they may practise this error, extreme reductionism, and medicalisation of everyday symptoms as well as undermining the public understanding of science
*ditto, no other is attempting to place IONistas in schools to advise on ‘food allergies’, Hcy tests, unevidenced supplementation etc.
*no other is attempting to garner referrals from private insurers or other bodies for treatment for addiction using unevidenced approaches
*poor scholarship is a profound irritation and you will find many instances of such Holfordisms discussed on this blog
*when people signed a petition in support of Andrew Wakefield, a number of the co-signatories named Patrick Holford as the person whose work had persuaded them not to vaccinate their children: unfortunately, too many of Holford’s ostensible reasons for opposing vaccination are grounded in error.
Etc. etc.
It is profoundly irritating to have somebody wave a copy of Holford as “proof” that they have hidden food allergies etc. that are responsible for nebulous symptoms when there is no clinical evidence to support the role the ‘food allergy’ tests that he endorses. Yet, with the support of Holford and other ambassadors, companies are attempting to have their unevidenced products made available on the NHS – despite strong criticism from the House of Lords and the many professional bodies that represent clinical allergists and immunologists.
If people want to pay their own money for nutritionism, that is their own choice although it may have unfortunate consequences for their families (supplementation etc. can be very expensive). However, I see no reason why such a service should be promoted at the expense of the public purse.
If you care about other pedlars so much – as you characterise it – why don’t you blog about them, if you think that it needs to be done?
This is a very interesting site.
I have followed Patricks diet and have to admit that I have lost weight. I am vegetarian, and therefore just cutting the carbs & fat probibly did the work for me.
I was always reticent of buying the pills.
I didn’t believe the Chromium, and HTP -5 information, but took the Omega 3 & 6 onboard as I believe this to be true, and based on a positive change I’ve seen in myself. Again this could be due to lack of fish in my diet.
Overall, I think his diet works, really its just basic balanced diet information, with tweaks to vitamin & amino acid levels that have brought about my change.
Well done folks, expose all the dieticians for what they are..
PS I’m dyslexic, any why of fixing that with diet :-)
Cheers
Herbert.
Admin: sorry, but we edited out some parts of the comment, due to Britain’s horrible libel laws. Hope this is OK: please do feel free to post again, but just be a bit careful about any accusations made
Thanks for the comment. Certainly, we’re all in favour of healthy eating – but we feel there are better sources of dietary advice than Patrick Holford.
All this talk about Patrick Holford makes me want to learn more about him. I am now more interested in him, because of the attacks against him here. Something tells me that since you didnt identify yourself to the last enquiry, you may not want to be found out?? Who is writing this site? Why not reveal yourself. Patrick Holford may have a right to confront his adversaries (?)
Patrick Holford is very welcome to comment here, should he so desire. We have explained several times why we have not identified ourself; our position has not changed. Again, we have explained a number of times why we blog about what we do; our reasons for this have not changed.
Glad that we have encouraged you to read more about Patrick Holford. We would very much encourage readers to assess his work for themselves.
Sorry, at the end of the day it seems that you are well versed in and indeed perpetuating Holford mania. Why are you so concerned about his message? I mean, there are tons of medical and or nutrition-based discrepancies out there just waiting for you to create a new blog on.
This all sounds like old rhetoric to me. I see this as Holford vs. Big Pharma. I have read that you are not at all affiliated with or paid by Big Pharma. However I cant help but suspect there is a bit of Big Pharma invested in this site.
As Simon Cowell would say, “Sorry!”
Patrice Campion
M.Sc. Research Analyst
Holford vs Big Pharma? It’s a bit more complicated than that: one might note, for example, that Neutrahealth (which owns Biocare, who Holford works for and sold a business of his to) is part-owned by Elder Pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceutical industry has been quite happy to get involved in selling supplement pills. On the other hand, there is no big pharma “invested” in this site: none of us have competing interests in the pharma industry.
I am glad you feel that there are other important issues to blog about. I would warmly encourage you to do so. You are also welcome to comment on this blog, if you have anything to contribute. Rather disappointing that your MSc has – so far – only enabled you to engage with us by making a false accusation re our non-existent links with big pharma.
Hi
Just to say – I suffered every 3 or 4 weeks with a sore throat/infection/toncelitus (sp?) for up to 3 years. I started taking PH’s advanced multi whatsit – and I haven’t had a sore throat now in over 2 years.
Don’t know if it’s a coincidence – but for £30 every couple of months – it’s worth it for me. (You’re sposed to take 2 blisters a day – I just take the 1).
Good to know that you have improved from your previous state of health.
Did you ever consider an n=1 test of “PH’s advanced multi whatsit” against another brand? Genuine question because placebo research would suggest that an expensive, branded product, that is differently packaged to (say) a generic, would be more effective. [If I get time later, I'll add in the references but there are some relevant ones here.]
First let me say i absolutely love this, people who slate each other to pieces. I can agree he isn’t a real nutritionist, only an enthusiast and love when the woman asks him about his qualification. Holford vs Javis is aboslutely hilarious… “oh no your wrong, oh you’ve been floored!”.
Tell you the truth, even though there is a website trying to name and shame Holford, I have to agree with the philosphy of ‘optimum nutrition is the medicine of the future’. We as a society should be looking at prevention through nutrition and attempting to cure problems with nutrition first and with drugs second. Maybe, just maybe even though Holford is a psychologist and probably doesn’t know anything to do with nutrition or his self help questionaire have no grounds.
He and ION are trying to lead us away from the use of drugs. Drug companies are fighting a war on several fronts from an ever growing source of nutritionist, scientists, researchers, etc. 400 Million goes into making a drug, key word being A single drug which could of been prevented by nutrition, in turn costing the country Billions. You could also say nutritionists are at war but from other views of nutritionists. Without Holford I wouldn’t be aware of such as authors as Dr Michael Colgan.
You know, say what you will… Everyone is at this war of words and papers, claiming crap about rubbish which one got from researcher Dave and the other one research Bob. Then the biggest point ends up being whats your qualification, where did you qualify, who was your teacher, etc un till the person either starts talking woffal or stuttering like in the interview up there, in his case couldn’t answer properly. The only thing all “experts” have done in university is learnt, created a philosophy and attempt to defend it to the death (some do change as a result of persuasion)… Sarah jarvis could be right, Holford could be right… But I’ve never heard of the GL diet un till I read Holford’s book. She claims its been around for decades… Only thing i came across was Atkins GI diet being only about the quality not quality times quantity.
Advise: optimum nutrition bible is hard to follow (depending on time and meal management), their are irregulations to the texts, example for fat; one heaped tablespoon of ground seeds a day but gone on to say eat plenty of nuts and seeds… however the book is a collection information obtained from researchers, Drs, etc… which maybe right or maybe wrong depending who you talk to. It would help you though to actually buy the book he has quoted from or look up the scientist who has done the research as i did with Dr Michael Colgan, I absolutely love his publishings!
If you guys believe what your doing is right then continue and hope your doing the right thing.
If you hadn’t heard of the GL before then that is neither here not there is it? Part of the difficulty is that Holford has a record of giving references that don’t exist; or referring to a paper that doesn’t say what he says it does. That isn’t arguing over the interpretation, he gets verifiable facts wrong. See, eg, Holford’s claim that more people die prematurely from cardiovascular disease in the UK than actually die prematurely; or his special way of interpreting a blobbogram. There are many other examples (see this blog, for many of them or take a look through Ben Goldacre’s book, Bad Science).
However, if he suits you then that is absolutely fine. Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean that we would want the NHS to employ nutritionistas with his level of knowledge or understanding of evidence advising people on diet and lifestyle.
Those quotation are beautiful ;). I haven’t finished I am just at work, i’ll put more rubbish on here later. Follow through with your philosophy and tell me what are your views of Dr Michael Colgan.
You know what more and more I read this website the more and more I think to myself these bunch of unknowns (regardless if they are hiding their true identities cause holford may of been their bully at secondary school ha!) have a point. At the start of reading “his work”, not even past chapter 15 I had lost a stone, my GP said I was at a Slightly on the lower side of blood pressure mark. Then I went straight to Earl Mindle’s book revolutionise your life (or something like that). Then I had a few more Holford books then onto the specialists in areas. Udo Erasmus, Michael Colgan. All of this fueled by Hinduisms basic princples of what they believe as their gods (Nature, Mother and The Creater). This may all sound absolutely stupid but then alot of people believe in crazy rubbish and well normally all this stuff will tie in with certain subjects. Anyway enough of this nonsense.
Nutrition (as in micronutrients) is a very hard subject to get a grips with and should NEVER I mean Never be allowed in the NHS. The Nhs is a place for treating the sick and injured (+ anything I’ve missed out) and people on maintance stuff. Nutrition (as in micronutrients) should be learned from the ground up and not in from the deep end. Theres so many beliefs in levels for multi-vitamins and minerals its crazy. There are so many beliefs in levels of what should be taken and the huge list of synergies, I mean this is even where Holford forgets on explaining and its in his god dam book FFS. All This has to be explained in full detail or it will not work or go horribly wrong ahhhh… Man this is driving me nuts, too much stress. Colgan explains that synergy is vital, especially in antioxidant.
One more thing, yeah man nice I’ll read that book. Thanks, now the long wait for the book store to get me it
Nice good section, Brilliant! Ben Goldacre is good man. Everyone buy this book! Still staying will several suggestions, but have to take easy. Thanks my friend.
Hello,
Firstly, I like this website.
Secondly, to all those who get their knickers in a twist over the site and write comments such as: ‘The kind of emotional and intellecutal energy invested in such a site makes me wonder about your true motives’ are quite blind to the fact that when you are about to chose a new path in your life, for example:
a. Are looking into buying supplements
b. Changing you diets
Those with an ounce of a brain tend to research things first. Therefore, websites of this nature should be cherished for giving the public the ‘other side of the argument’. Otherwise, without it, you will think that anything with ‘chromium’ in it will change your life forever.
In addition, to the comment of ‘The kind of emotional and intellecutal energy invested in such a site makes me wonder about your true motives’… all I can say is ‘that’s rich’ you’ve also taken the time to write an equally critical response, so you are in the same boat and you look a fool for criticising.
There are numerous websites devoted to telling the ‘truth’ about Patrick Holford. All of these (apart from his own) are extremely critical, slam his non-clinically tested theories with zero evidence into a brick wall and shine a light of truth upon the man which is quite refreshing. So be grateful.
So basically, to all of you: read the label, do your research, eat a healthy balanced diet and don’t take sides too fast otherwise you look like a lemon. (Oh and ‘research’ does not include a degree… oh sorry I mean a ‘diploma’ from The Institute for Optimum Nutrition)
Also, just remembered something I forgot to add…
Someone posted ‘He and ION are trying to lead us away from the use of drugs’. All very well, however, when you study a proper pharmacy degree and do the years (yes a scary thought) of work to understand the subject you will know that you tend you learn an awful lot about Botany. Which as you all know is about plants. This is because all medication is derived from plant extracts and made into a form that can be mass produced.
I’m sorry alright, when your talking to alot of people who only know things classed under drugs or vitamins, minerals, etc. You then you start saying its classed as a drug or whatever. Anyway its me, congrats. You’ve actually answered probably another 15 different questions I had in my mind that i needed to answer from the statement “He and ION are trying to lead us away from the use of drugs”. These questions aren’t about where drugs are from dervived from.
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Hi guys,
I’m very suprised about coming accross your website. Why on earth I wonder would a group of people create a website dedicated to try and bring a man’s reputation down.
What are you trying to achieve?
We’re trying to achieve better health and science coverage. I’m not focussed on bringing Holford’s reputation down: if he started publicising entirely accurate, evidence-based advice I’d be delighted.
I cannot thank the work of Patrick Holford and his colleagues enough! I have done much of my own research and am really only a sample of one but… where my doctor told me categorically that I could not have children – I have three, thank you Patrick. When my husband was told he had to have insulin because his sugar levels were uncontrollably high – he took none – his sugar levels are normal. Thank you Patrick. Yes there is conflict of interest with his commercial activities – I guess he agonises over this – but why should he not make a living? As a culture we don’t value the work of many in the medical field, the NHS sees to that and we deride private practice but still pay for it to cue jump. We are more likely to knock and find holes in a new invention or creation or idea than to support a dedicated chemist, engineer, inventor, academic to find more. We need a more transparent system that enables the claims of alternative practitioners to be properly investigated so everyone can benefit, to sort the wheat from the chaf (there’s more damaging claims out there!) A sample of one is not enough but it’s a good start!
SuB- we already have a “transparent system that enables the claims of alternative practitioners to be properly investigated so everyone can benefit, to sort the wheat from the chaf”: scientific research and the randomised controlled trial. Alternative medicine should not receive any special treatment: we should aim to test all medical interventions to the same high standard.
Why? It’s completely different to a medical intervention, compare the relative potential harm through dietary changes or medical treatment. Absolutely ridiculous comparison. Poor comment.
Depends what treatment and what dietary intervention. There are significant risks of harm through malnutrition with – for example – a raw food diet; on the other hand, the risks of using some of the emollient creams available for eczema are considerably lower.
Dietary changes aren’t necessarily safe, and medical treatments aren’t necessarily high risk.
I note with concern that Patrick Holford is lecture touring in South Africa about his health products. Knowing his past track record should one do anything and how should one notify the gullible listening public? Obviously not having heard what he is about to claim makes it more difficult. Is his past enough to attempt anything? I have included the website advertising his dates and venues
Billy – do you have that website link?
Speaking to venues and media about your concerns – and encouraging others to do the same – would be a good start. Perhaps if you would be able to speak publicly, or know someone else who could, you could offer an advocate of more evidence-based approaches to the media?
Thank you for your hard work in exposing this. The acceptance of media and self-styled gurus by the public is horrifying and utterly widespread amongst the masses.
I take myself as an excellent example of ignorance: supposedly above average intelligence (member of Mensa *blushes*), Masters degree educated and I even published a a well-received piece of scientific research in an international journal (OK, in 1992 and my dad helped me write it 9*blushes even more*).
I am shocked to realise how much of this Holford-type claptrap I have sucked up unconsciously through media and urban myth over the years. My father – a very genuine and well-regarded scientist for 40+ years – has just given me the Bad Science book (which referenced you favourably hence my web visit) and I am now in the embarrassing process of ‘detoxing’ my addled brain from the poisonous claptrap Holford and many more peddle.
This blog clearly takes an enormous amount of time and energy to create and maintain. I wish you could see the massive grin on my face as a I have read through this – I hugely appreciate it and hope that you keep this up for a very long time. You are making a massive positive contribution to the general public.
Thank you.
Thanks Annie – and sorry about the delay in getting this comment up (lost in mounds of spam, I’m afraid).
Hi guys!
Just wanted to stop by and say good job with the site, thank god someone out there’s keeping an eye on the quacks.
I went to a Holford ‘seminar’ a few years ago that was advertised in my university (I’m in my final year of a nutritional science degree in Ireland) of all places and to say the least my Holford bubble was well and truly burst by the experience.
It cost me 45euro or so, Holford spent the whole time telling us why we had to buy every vitamin, mineral and herb formula under the sun just to stay alive another day whilst his work collegues set up shop in the hall outside the lecture theatre. On the break it was like a cattle mart with people climbing over each other to try and get their hands on as many bottles of pills (with his picture on them) as possible before they sold out. He managed to instil such a sense of urgency and anxiety that seemed to drive everyone a bit nuts for a while it was truely bizarre! Anyway since then I’ve burnt the books of his I owned and good riddance! Now all we need is a McKeith watch. People like them getting away with this nonsense isn’t fair on those of us who bother our arses going off and actually studying nutrition properly for 4 or more years before going and meddling in peoples health :(
How my experience relates to this item….I came across a book by holford while on holiday. Thank God I did as doctors were about to inject me with steroids for arthritis. I didn’t take the doctors advice, which to be frank, seemed insane to me. “We just need to damp down your immune system” they said, as if they were throwing a damp cloth on a burning chip pan. I followed the much longer path of Holfords nutrition advice, WITHOUT BUYING A SINGLE PRODUCT HE SOLD…. as I didn’t know he even sold any. After a few weeks I noticed a change, my big bloated stomach was shrinking, after 3 months my arthritis symptoms began to ease and a year later they are almost entirely gone.
I don’t give a toss if the guy has no qualifications, all I care about is “does the advice work?” I’ve seen enough highly qualified but moronic doctors over the years who quite frankly know Jack $%*& that I always do my own research and try the obvious and safe treatments first. If you have ever had a doctor tell you “it’s just a bad sprain” when you had a broken leg clearly visible in the xray you’ll know what I mean. Contrast this: Holford says “Cut out bread and gluten products and see if you feel better”, the consultant says “I’m going to inject you with immune system modulating drugs to stop your immune system from working so actively”….good grief…what would you try first? I’d tried the no bread diet and it worked. That £4.99 book on sale in a little Scottish bookshop was the best money I ever spent.
Glad you’re feeling better now. However, people do sometimes get better without any treatment – this is why good quality research into this type of approach is important.
Sorry to hear about your bad experience with doctors. As with any profession, a minority of doctors are incompetent, careless etc. Medical doctors are, though, at least qualified and regulated to a certain standard. I hope you complained about the one who misdiagnosed a broken leg, even after x-ray.
John, are you so arrogant as to completely dismiss what gene has told you. basically you have just told her that the changes that she made to her environment had nothing to do with her recovery. Bloody hell john you really are that brainwahed.
Lets slow the immune system that is causing infammation. No, let consider what is driving the immune response. How hard can that philosophy be to take on board john
Are you aware of the latest research on the gut microflora and our immune responses. Probably not, due to the fact that you seem incapable of linking body systems and how they drive disease processes.
I didn’t ‘dismiss’ anything – clearly Gene is feeling better. However, we can’t draw broad conclusions based on a single experience like this.
i am a t2 diabetic, i have lowered my hba1c from 10.4 to 6.1 in just 9 mths. i have 3st and 8″ off my waist. i have never heard of holford until today, i have never bought any supplements, all i did was change my diet. we all have a single motive in life and that is to earn money, some do it with morals some do it without, those who do it with morals dont make as much as those without………
Please do not think I am a supporter of Holford. I think he is abit of a knobber.