TWO doctors registered their disapproval Monday on the promotion of food supplements as herbal products.

Doctors Suzette Quiaoit-Alegarbes and Francis Ho said they are among the medical society members who expressed disapproval on local advertisements that claim supplements can cure diseases.

"These advertisements expressly claim that medically-approved drugs can be replaced by food supplements in curing diabetes and other fatal ailments. But the fact that there are indications on their containers that it has ‘no approved therapeutic claim,’ means it has not been approved as an herbal product," Quiaoit said at Kapihan sa SM media forum.

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Ho said herbal products take a longer process before they are approved.

"Not being approved by BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drugs) means it has no proven effects, has not undergone rigorous studies and experiments," Ho said.

Quiaoit said a movement headed by Philippine College of Physicians-Southern Mindanao Chapter is now doing measures to inform the public on the matter.

"We posted posters in hospitals warning the public to avoid misconception. Kung informed ang public eh hindi sila mauuto," Quiaoit said.

The medical organization has also passed a resolution to the City Council in October to craft an ordinance that would regulate the promotion of food supplements as herbal medicines.

The resolution is now in first reading under the City Council committee on health, Quiaoit said.

She admitted their actions are limited to these as it is the Philippine Association of National Advertisers who can sanction misleading advertisements.

Quiaoit and Ho, as epidemiologists, also promoted a health forum on February 26 at Marco Polo Lotus Court that will be open to the public for free but will only entertain 100 guests.

The forum will tackle topics on cholesterol, goiter, diabetes, and osteoporosis, Ho said.

Data from World Health Organization (WHO) in 1998 showed the projected prevalence of overweight population in the Philippines. It said that from 23 percent in 2005, the number of overweight men will increase to 24 percent by 2015, while the number of overweight women will increase from 34 percent in 2005 to 44 percent in 2015.

Ho said the WHO also projected that in the country, chronic diseases accounted for 57 percent of all deaths in 2002, which is 253,000 out of the total deaths of 449,000.

Of all risk factors to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), smoking was the highest prevalence with 46 percent.

CVD is now the number one cause of death and the seventh leading cause of morbidity in the country, Quiaoit said.

Interested participants to the forum may contact Quiaoit in her office at the Davao Doctor's Hospital. (JCZ)