[quote]The3Commandments wrote:
I fully understand how much time and capital goes into drug research and testing. That doesn’t mean that the time and capital isn’t necessary to protect consumers (granted, not all at this point–but at least some. That’s a question of degree). All your argument to that point suggests is that if there were less oversight of drugs, they would be cheaper and hit the market sooner. It doesn’t speak to safety or transparency at all.
To your point regarding FDA regulation, see my issue is that while typical whey protein might be more like a “food” (which should itself be subject to some sort of oversight along those lines), I3G and similar supplements are quite similar to Bob using Enzyte.
And as to those able to make informed, intelligent decisions, I suppose my point is that it’s unclear as to how informed a purchaser could possibly be about what he or she is buying. Because the company is subjected to so little oversight, what exactly do you mean by informed, intelligent decision? That one reads the ingredients label and makes a decision based on that, or the nutritional content? That one bases a decision off reputation? I guess my point is that none of this speaks to either a) the truth of the product’s claims or b) the long-term effects of the product.
Now, some products have been much more extensively tested. Creatine comes to mind. But in general, I suppose that what’s surprised me about the reaction to I3G (and really any other “super-supplement” in general) is that folks are reading and willing to give it a shot without really knowing a whole lot about it.
That’s why I was interested in getting people like Stu’s opinions about this issue, as they’ve been at the iron game for a long time and have likely given such issues a good deal of thought.
I would be particularly interested in MODOK’s opinion on this if he sees this thread, as he’s a pharmacist. I know he’s still coming back to lifting now, but it is sort of interesting to me that he’s not one of the long-time posters who is pumping I3G.[/quote]
I’m not necessarily suggesting the drugs would be cheaper. If they fill a particular niche, they can be priced at whatever the developer feels is appropriate and I would think that people who need them would find a way to get them. However, the discovery and research process certainly does give the pharmaceutical companies an argument for charging what they do for some products.
The transparency issue was regarding your comment about how some companies might ‘spike’ their products with a little something extra in order to give dramatic results. That is why I mentioned the importance of finding companies with reputations for putting out quality products without that sort of tomfoolery; the issue regarding labeling was more a random offshoot that speaks to my opinion on various supplements and companies that rely too much on that method of labeling.
“Informed, intelligent” decisions comes not only from finding a company that you can “trust” (as much as you can any other entity out to make money), but also from doing your own legwork and do more reading on what you are going to be putting into your body than what you get from the nutrition label or the article that pimps the product.
As far as innovative supplements that haven’t hit the market before (I3G, for example), sure there is uncertainty regarding the potential long-term effects of this sort of drug, and it would be great if they took the time to thoroughly test these sorts of things on their own accord before marketing them… but I wouldn’t be too psyched if the FDA got in on regulating the supp biz any more than it already does and I’m sure not too many people would want to pay even more for I3G than they already do.
It isn’t a life-saving product that will cure a lethal disease. There is no compelling reason for someone to take this product outside of them wanting to get bigger or leaner. As such, there is little pressure for anyone to take it other than because they “want” to. If they are willing to absorb the risks of potentially unknown long-term effects, I say go for it. Buyer beware.
Besides, it’s not like the pharmaceutical testing is so rigorous that dangerous drugs are always weeded out before hitting the market.