Masters of Health Magazine October 2022 | Page 70

Does Death of Congressman’s Wife Prove Supplements Are Unsafe?

Misinformation and the tragic death of Lori McClintock, the wife of California Republican Congressman Tom McClintock, are being used as a justification for additional supplement requirements.

Here’s why these arguments are misguided.

 Action Alert!

 

Misguided Attack on Supplements

Alliance For Natural Health

Almost every major news outlet jumped on the story: “Death of Congressman’s wife linked to ‘white mulberry leaf ingestion’ – coroner” reports  The Guardian. “Death of Rep. Tom McClintock’s Wife Tied to White Mulberry Leaf,” reads the New York Times’ headline. Both articles then use the opportunity to claim that supplements are unregulated and plug Senator Dick Durbin’s “mandatory product listing” policy we’ve written so much about. There is no question that the death of Lori McClintock is tragic; the argument that her death proves that supplements need more regulation is, however, completely unjustified.

First, white mulberry leaf as an herb appears to be generally safe—which has been noted in at least some of the news coverage of this sad event. Other studies have similarly concluded that white mulberry leaf extracts can be considered safe. Millions consume white mulberry leaf without experiencing any adverse effects.

What the media are reporting is that McClintock had a “partially intact” white mulberry lead in her stomach, and the cause of death has been attributed to dehydration and gastroenteritis. Attributing her death to the white mulberry leaf is speculative. Botanical safety experts have said that white mulberry leaf “is a very unlikely culprit for a case of severe intestinal inflammation that could lead to fatal dehydration.”

It is also strange that a “partially intact” leaf was found, as supplement forms of white mulberry are generally whole leaf powders or powdered extracts contained in capsules; white mulberry leaf teas are available, but those leaves are also generally much smaller.

From the information we have, it is impossible to know what product McClintock used, how much, and for how long.