FNES 163 Research Assignment

NAME: Karen Yin

Purpose: ​To learn how to evaluate the credibility of media reports and other sources of
nutrition information from magazines, newspapers and commercial web based sites.

Instructions:
1. Use this sheet to type in all of your answers.
2. Choose a weight-loss claim using a supplement or diet from the web, magazine or
newspaper.

- Skinny Fit Detox Tea

3. After reading the claims made about the weight loss supplement or diet, answer yes or
no and explain the reasoning for your answer for the following statements:

Is there scientific evidence provided to support the weight loss claim?

- Yes there is scientific evidence provided to support the weight loss claim. This
product is formulated with 13 superfood teas, herbs and berries that speeds up
metabolism, releases toxins and fights bloating. The ingredients contain ​Sencha
Green Tea, Matcha Green Tea, Oolong Tea, Guarana, Dandelion Leaf, Ginseng
Leaf, Milk Thistle, Yerba Mate, Nettle Leaf, Lemongrass, Goji Berries, Citric Acid,
Peach Powder, & All Natural Stevia Leaf. Each tea, herb, and berry has a specific
job in doing one or more of the claims. Three ingredients for example do different
things to help your body. Oolong tea contains vital vitamins and minerals such as
calcium, manganese, copper, selenium, and potassium, as well as vitamin A, B, C,
E, and vitamin K. Ginseng, which is a herb, helps the body withstand mental and
physical stress. Goji berries are rich in antioxidants, contain all 8 essential amino
acids, and are a good source of protein and fiber. They are also low in Sodium, and
very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol.

Does it promote rapid weight loss; greater than 2 lbs. a week?

- No, it does not promote rapid weight loss. It aids in weight loss, it depends for each
person and their diet and exercise, some people are able to lose weight faster and
some are not.

Does it state weight loss can be obtained with little or no physical exercise?

- No, it doesn't state anywhere that you need to exercise for this to work. It is stated
 that consumers can also have it before workouts, but it isn’t stated anywhere on the
website that exercise is required for this weight loss supplement to work. Of course,
exercise and dieting will help in maintaining weight loss, but a lot of factors such as
age, weight, diet, metabolism, and activity level plays into effect. There are results
from some customers that have seen weight loss results without exercise however it
may not be the case for everyone. There are different supplements for exercise and
workout.

Is the diet rigid, requiring a limited selection of foods, avoiding certain foods or including
certain foods that can “burn fat” or “speed up metabolism”?

- Yes, they state that the best way for this supplement to work is by avoiding junk
food and eating more whole foods such as fruits and vegetables. This is
recommended because it is not good to eat junk food if your body is detoxing.
Dieting plays a huge part in maintaining weight loss.

Does the promoter state the supplement or foods must be purchased from the promoter?
- Yes, the promoter states that the supplement should be purchased directly from their
website or their Amazon site. Any products found anywhere else other than these
two sites might not be authentic.

Is the supplement or food costly?

- Yes, the supplement is very costly as it costs $69.95 for a one time purchase and
$59.95 for a monthly subscription on the product, however there is a 18 day trial for
new customers. The 18 day trial costs $9.95 for a full size package of the SkinnyFit
Detox Tea.

Besides weight loss, do they claim the supplement can cure or prevent a disease or delay
aging?

- No, they do not claim this supplement cures or prevents diseases. The product does
not prevent cancer/cancer nor does it delay aging.

4. From a scientifically supported resource, shown below, find a journal article not older
than 5 years that supports or refutes the claim made by the promoter of the product you
have chosen.

Scientifically Supported Resources​:

U.S. National Library of Medicine
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
National Center for complementary and Integrative Health https://nccih.nih.gov/
5. After finding a scientifically supported primary research article, ​in your own words​,
summarize the current research compared with the claims made for the weight loss
supplement or diet you selected, by answering the following questions. Provide details to
support your answer.

Describe the study population: humans, animals (number of subjects) or in vitro (outside
the living body in an artificial environment)?

- Article used: ​https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29204300

The study population for this article is 308 patients from 17 tertiary care centers
participating in US Acute Liver Failure Study Group.

What is the authors' conclusion(s)?

- I think that most herbal supplements/products being promoted may have positive effects
short term but long term they are very harmful. I think these products/supplements should
be taken carefully and in moderation. Going for daily check ups and tests for any
symptoms is very important in keeping your body healthy.

Does the scientifically supported article agree with the product claims? Provide details to
support your answer.

- No, the article does not agree with the product claims as acute liver failure increased due
to herbal supplements from 7% to 20% in 2007 to 2013. Evidence suggests the tea
consumption is associated with the patient’s acute change therefore consumers should be
careful when consumption. The SkinnyFit Detox Tea

Does the scientifically supported article indicate if there are health risks in taking the
product or using the diet? Provide details to support your answer.

- Yes there are health risk in taking this product as a part of your diet. This herbal
supplement had 6 ingredients that was associated with hepatotoxicity. This causes
oxidative stress-induced hepatocyte necrosis and apoptosis in murine models. The liver
biopsy of the rats were similar to the biopsy of the patient in the study. Some of these
 ingredients in this herbal supplement can be very dangerous. Not enough studies have
been made for every tea and herbal supplement on the market, therefore we are unsure if
most of the herbal teas and supplements on the market are even safe.

Based on the scientifically supported article would you recommend this product or diet
for yourself, a friend or family member? Provide details to support your answer

- No, I would not recommend this product to a family member or a friend. I have a
grandmother and I would not want her taking this product or products similar to this as it
might cause liver failure or any long term illness as she gets older. One of the patients in
the study was a 60-year old female with a past medical history of hypertension which is
similar to my grandmother and the patient became lethargic and developed asterixis and
soon her liver began to fail. Evidence suggests that the patients acute change is associated
with tea consumption therefore it is safer to stay away from these herbal
supplements/products.

6. Provide a reference list for your product and scientifically supported article using APA style
(​https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/​)

SkinnyFit Detox Tea | All Natural, Non-GMO Superfood Weight Loss Tea. (n.d.). Retrieved
from ​https://www.skinnyfit.com/

Dylan@smashtech.com. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Retrieved from

https://www.skinnyfit.com/faqs/

Kesavarapu, Keerthana, Kang, Mitchell, Shin, James, J., . . . Kenneth. (2017, October 24).
Yogi Detox Tea: A Potential Cause of Acute Liver Failure. Retrieved from
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crigm/2017/3540756/