Study casts doubt on supplements

Two hot-selling supplements used by millions of Americans are of little help to most people with mild arthritis, according to a large government study that is part of an effort to scrutinize unregulated health remedies.

For most arthritis patients with aching knees, the health food store supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate turned out to be no better than dummy pills. People who had more acute knee pain seemed to show some benefit.

Because of that hint of possible relief and other factors, the study may not settle the debate about these unproven treatments even though it’s considered the largest and most scientific test to date.

Rheumatologist Dr. Daniel Clegg of the University of Utah, who led the study, suggested people with severe arthritis talk to their doctors about trying the supplements for a short period to see if they work.

The arthritis research, published in today’s New England Journal of Medicine, is the third major study in a year to find no overall benefit from popular nutritional supplements. Recently, research showed the herb saw palmetto didn’t reduce symptoms of an enlarged prostate, and last year a study indicated echinacea didn’t prevent or treat colds.

New York

Raw hides may have given man anthrax

A New York City drum maker has been hospitalized with a case of inhaled anthrax that officials say he may have contracted from the raw animal hides that he imports from Africa.

Authorities said Wednesday the infection appeared to be accidental – not terrorism – and did not pose a serious public health threat. Vado Diomande, 44, had traveled recently to the west coast of Africa and fell ill in Pennsylvania last week shortly after he returned to this country with some goat hides, authorities said.

At least four other people may have been exposed to anthrax spores, including a family member of the infected man who worked with the hides, and three were being treated with antibiotics, city Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said.

Frieden said Diomande was breathing on his own and appeared to be “doing better than people with respiratory anthrax usually do.”

Atlanta

Flu shots urged for kids ages 2 to 5

Children ages 2 to 5 should get flu shots, an advisory panel said Wednesday, widening the group of Americans urged to seek protection from a virus that kills thousands in this country each year.

The recommendation, which covers 5.3 million healthy U.S. children, was unanimously approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The panel’s advice is routinely adopted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issues vaccination guidelines to doctors and hospitals.

Flu shots are already recommended for children ages 6 months to 23 months, pregnant women, people 65 and older, and people of all ages with chronic health conditions, along with a few other groups.

Los Angeles

Ex-priest convicted of molesting boy

A former priest was convicted Wednesday of molesting a boy, but the jurors deadlocked on four other counts.

Michael Edwin Wempe, 66, now retired from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, has admitted sexually abusing 13 boys during his 36-year career in the archdiocese – but not the one who led to his conviction Wednesday.

Both sides claimed partial victory in the case, which could send the former cleric to prison for a maximum of three years.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Curtis Rappe declared a mistrial on the other counts. Prosecutors said they will decide by March 10 whether to retry Wempe.