[ RadSafe ] Radiation Protection In Pill Form please provide further insight

Fri Jul 3 12:47:23 CDT 2009

Dear list members,

The efforts made by a commercial organisation admittedly founded by a few individuals to promote "bioshield pill" need closer scrutiny.The web page of BIOSHIELD-RADIATION (http://www.biosheldpill.com) lists thee "professional publications" presumably to make a case for promoting their product. These are review articles authored by the persons who founded the company and are the promoters of the product. 

I was disturbed to note that the British Journal of Radiology allowed the authors to prescribe "protocols" for multiple antioxidants for radiation protection for humans, describing how and when radiation workers must take them.These suggestions do not have any proven scientific value.Using the BJR article the authors (promotors of the pill which they sell at the rate of $4.5 per package) apparently try to convince the "worried well" customers of the science behind their products!

The web page makes the following claim:
Bioshield radiation is the first patented formulation specifically designed to address oxidative stress by ionizing radiation. The promotors include every one who is exposed to radiation as their potential customers!

The BJR (2005) article,  concedes that "the efficacy of antioxidant strategy for biological radiation protection in humans against  low doses of radiation has not been tested"

Premier Micronutrient Corporation claims that in 2002,  it was
contacted by the Marine Corps Systems Command and was invited to
discuss its approach in the use of antioxidants as a mitigator against
low dose ionizing radiation. "The USMC was aware of Dr. Prasad's work in
this area because he was the first person to receive a Ph.D in
radiation biology in the United States. This meeting set PMC on the
path of being vetted by top military scientists over a two year period
and resulted in the reciept of a FY 2005 Department of Defense (DOD)
contract. The company is now entering its fifth year of Congressional
funding of DOD programs. Based on PMC's scientific foundation, clinical
and research data, and government programs, the company has developed a
unique approach to the micronutrient supplement market"

 Is it possible to get an idea about what the DOD programs were? 

I see a nexus between diagnostic radiologists and the promotors of the pill. The latter can use CT scan equipment (unmind ful of radiation doses!) if their patients consume the "bioshield pill"as recommended in the "protocol"

I request all those who knew  the backgound of the  magic pill to  contribute their insight  now.  Now a days products promoted in USA and other advanced countries reach the shores of India within days. India has its own share of "the worried well" ready to grab  such products 

The URLs provided by Mr.Cary Renquist in his message are very useful.

Regards
Parthasarathy

________________________________
From:"North, David" <DNorth at Lifespan.org>
To: radsafe at radlab.nl
Sent: Friday, 3 July, 2009 0:08:30
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Radiation Protection In Pill Form

My "snake-oil alarm" just went off. I notice that this pill is called a
"Nutritional Supplement". Is that so that it doesn't have to go through any
rigorous and lengthy FDA drug evaluation?

David L. North, Sc.M. DABR
Medical Physics
Main Bldg. Rm 317
Rhode Island Hospital
593 Eddy St.
Providence, RI 02903
(401)444-5961
dnorth at lifespan.org

On 7/2/09 1:55 PM, "Cary Renquist" <cary.renquist at ezag.com> wrote:

> 
> 
> 
> New Nutritional Supplement BioShield-Radiation(R) First To Offer
> Radiation Protection In Pill Form
> 02 Jul 2009  
> 
> After a series of comprehensive research studies and a governmental
> research initiative, a respected team of radiation biologists and
> antioxidant scientists at Premier Micronutrient Corporation has
> developed BioShield-Radiation(r) - a patented micronutrient formulation
> specifically designed to address oxidative stress produced by ionizing
> radiation.
> 
> Now offered for the first time direct to the public via the new
> http://www.bioshieldpill.com website and the only product of its kind on
> the market, BioShield-Radiation(r) contains a unique, proprietary
> combination of dietary and endogenous antioxidants which have each
> exhibited radiation protection capabilities. Completely safe and
> maximally effective in decreasing oxidative stress as demonstrated in
> numerous scientific studies, BioShield-Radiation(r) is recommended for:
> 
> - Patients undergoing medical or dental x-ray procedures, including CT,
> nuclear, mammography, and fluoroscopy
> 
> - Anyone regularly exposed to elevated levels of ionizing radiation such
> as healthcare, aviation, military and nuclear power plant personnel, as
> well as people living in high radon homes and environments
> 
> - Frequent fliers (on average, the amount of cosmic radiation roughly
> doubles with every 6500-foot increase in altitude)
> 
> In addition to being offered direct to the public,
> BioShield-Radiation(r) is now available for purchase by hospitals,
> imaging centers, physician practices and dental facilities as well.
> 
> Genesis of BioShield Radiation
> 
> The U.S. Pentagon's search for ways to protect its personnel from the
> adverse effects of radiation they might encounter led them to Premier
> Micronutrient Corporation (http://www.mypmcinside.com), co-founded by
> Dr. Kedar Prasad, the first person to receive a Ph.D. in radiation
> biology in the United States. Because of the company's unparalleled
> expertise in antioxidant science, it was encouraged to develop an
> approach to radiation protection on a biologic basis that entailed close
> research collaboration with the Department of Defense and NASA and which
> - among other important applications - ultimately led to the development
> of the BioShield-Radiation(r) pill.
> 
> ---
> Cary Renquist
> cary.renquist at ezag.com
> 
> 
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