Editing Matthias Rath (section)

==Efficacy and marketing claims==

=== SKAK ===
In 2004 the Swiss Study Group for Complementary and Alternative Methods in Cancer (SKAK), an independent group that evaluates [[alternative medicine|alternative medical treatments]], examined Rath's vitamin preparations and marketing claims.<ref name="swiss">[http://www.swisscancer.ch/dt_fr/content/orange/pdf/skak/04_rath_e.pdf Report from the Swiss Study Group on Complementary and Alternative Methods in Cancer], stating that there is no evidence that Rath's treatments are effective. Retrieved 21 September 2006.</ref> SKAK reported that it "found no proof that the vitamin preparations of Dr. Matthias Rath have any effect on human cancer" and "advise[s] against their use in cancer prevention and treatment while recommending a diet rich in fruit and vegetables."<ref name="swiss"/> SKAK's report specifically criticised Rath for:

*Making sweeping, unsubstantiated claims of efficacy. Rath has claimed that his vitamin treatments can cure all forms of cancer, as well as most [[infectious disease]]s, including AIDS.<ref>Rath, M.: Durchbruch der Zellforschung im Kampf gegen den Krebs. 3d ed. 2002, MR Publishing B.V., Almelo, NL</ref><ref name="brochure">Rath, M.: Cellular health Series – Cancer. 2/2001, MR Publishing, Sta. Clara, CA 95054</ref>
*Citing anecdotal reports of success that could not be confirmed. In the case of one patient allegedly "cured" by Rath's methods, SKAK found that "it is not even certain from a medical perspective if cancer was present."
*Using a self-developed test of efficacy rather than widely accepted and verified tests and endpoints.

SKAK's conclusion regarding Rath's vitamin formulations was:

<blockquote>A cancer-curing effect has not been documented for any of these substances. Nor is there any proof that the preparations sold by Matthias Rath, some with high dosages, are useful in cancer prevention—leave alone curing cancer. Rath still owes proof regarding the correctness of his claims. Proof of effect cannot be provided by analogy with in vitro, animal or cell experiments. Because there is no proof for effect nor for the harmlessness of the preparations, SKAK advises against their use.<ref name="swiss"/></blockquote>

===Harvard multivitamin study===
Rath claimed that a [[Harvard School of Public Health]] study published in the ''[[New England Journal of Medicine]]''<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Fawzi W, Msamanga G, Spiegelman D, Wei R, Kapiga S, Villamor E, Mwakagile D, Mugusi F, Hertzmark E, Essex M, Hunter D | title = A randomized trial of multivitamin supplements and HIV disease progression and mortality | journal = N Engl J Med | volume = 351 | issue = 1 | pages = 23–32 | year = 2004 | pmid = 15229304 | doi = 10.1056/NEJMoa040541| s2cid = 674022 | url = http://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/9896/1/nejmoa040541.pdf }}</ref> validated claims that multivitamin supplementation slows the progression of HIV to AIDS. The study's authors released a statement condemning Rath's "irresponsible and misleading statements, as in our view they deliberately misinterpret findings from our studies to advocate against the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy."<ref name="harvard">[http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/press/releases/press05062005.html Statement from the authors of the Harvard School of Public Health study], stating that Rath has misused their study results. Retrieved 20 September 2006.</ref> The authors felt that Rath had misused their results to argue that multivitamins should be used ''in place of'' antiretroviral medication. They affirmed the central role of [[HAART|antiretroviral medication]] in treating AIDS and indicated that multivitamins should be at most a ''supplementary'' treatment.<ref name="harvard"/>

===Use of published medical literature===
A 1998 ''[[British Medical Journal]]'' article examined some of Rath's and Health Now's claims in support of Rath's multivitamin supplement blend.<ref name="bmj">{{cite journal |vauthors=Tröger U, Meyer F | title = Validity of advertising claims for multivitamin preparation Vitacor 20/90 on the internet | journal = BMJ | volume = 317 | issue = 7165 | pages = 1069–71 | year = 1998 | pmid = 9774300 | pmc = 1114069 | doi=10.1136/bmj.317.7165.1069}} – article also [http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/317/7165/1069 available online] in its entirety.</ref> The authors found that Rath listed 40 citations to support his product but that only eight of them were of actual clinical trials. After examining these clinical trials, the authors concluded that despite Rath's claims to the contrary, "no general clinical benefit of vitamins C and E and carotene can be proved from the works cited by Health Now."<ref name="bmj"/>

=== Claims of WHO and UN support ===
Rath's advertising material has suggested that his nutritional supplements are superior to antiretroviral therapy in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and implied that his claims were endorsed by the [[World Health Organization]], [[UNICEF]], and [[UNAIDS]]. These agencies issued a joint statement condemning Rath's advertisements as "wrong and misleading".<ref name="unreuters"/><ref name="WHO.UNICEF.UNAIDS">{{cite news | title = UN condemns irresponsible attack on antiretroviral therapy | date = 30 March 2005 | publisher = WHO, UNICEF, and UNAIDS | url = http://www.unicef.org/media/media_25810.html | accessdate = 15 January 2011 | archive-date = 28 May 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110528211521/http://www.unicef.org/media/media_25810.html | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = Watson J | title = Vitamin guru provokes wRath of scientists, activists | journal = Nat Med | volume = 11 | issue = 6 | pages = 581 | year = 2005 | pmid = 15937452 | doi = 10.1038/nm0605-581a| s2cid = 26445900 | doi-access = free }}</ref>