Evidence check: popular health claims

The steps

1. 'My adrenals are exhausted'

   healthdirect states that adrenal fatigue is not a recognised medical condition. Tiredness that does not go away after resting deserves a check with your doctor.

   Adrenal fatigue (not a medical diagnosis)

   Source: healthdirect Australia, Adrenal fatigue

2. 'Antioxidant pills prevent disease'

   Rigorous trials have not shown that antioxidant supplements prevent cancer or heart disease, and high-dose beta-carotene increased lung cancer risk in people at high risk, such as smokers.

   Oxidative stress

   Source: NIH NCCIH, Antioxidants: in depth

3. 'Vitamin C stops colds'

   For most people, vitamin C supplements do not reduce the risk of getting a cold.

   Vitamin C

   Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin C fact sheet for consumers

4. 'Any probiotic will do'

   Different types of probiotics may have different effects, so the results for one product do not apply to another.

   Probiotics

   Source: NIH NCCIH, Probiotics: what you need to know

5. 'Folic acid protects your heart'

   Folic acid supplements lower homocysteine levels, but they do not directly lower the risk of heart disease.

   One-carbon metabolism

   Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Folate: fact sheet for health professionals

6. 'Only medicines can fix a fatty liver'

   There are no medicines to treat fatty liver disease, but lifestyle changes, including losing weight if needed, exercising and drinking little or no alcohol, can improve it and even reverse it.

   Fatty liver disease (MAFLD)

   Source: healthdirect Australia, Fatty liver disease

Quiz