Company displeased with scientists' skepticism

Written byKerry Grens

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A company that develops "stem cell enhancers" as dietary supplements posted a linkurl:complaint;http://tinyurl.com/ypmjdy over 1,000 words in length on its website regarding an linkurl:article;http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/53194 I wrote in May about its product. StemEnhance is an algal extract linkurl:promised;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/53186/ to enhance circulating stem cells and promote wellness. In my article, responses from stem cell researchers on whether the product seemed like a plausible way to improve health ranged from "we simply don't know" to "great skepticism." The company, StemTech, did not enjoy the response. According to StemTech's comment, "We deplore the disinformation they offered their own readers." The comment accuses me of representing only the views of scientists who oppose their theory. "It seems rather obvious that if one wants to get a relevant answer about a product one should seek the opinion of scientists having knowledge and experience with that product. We could have given Grens the reference of many doctors and clinicians using StemEnhance in their practice." I appreciate StemTech's helpful offer, but in addition speaking with the developer of the product and representing the positive testimonials of users, I sought outside reviewers with an expertise in the field to comment on the merits of this product. Practitioners who give patients StemEnhance likely believe it works, and using them as a source would be biased reporting. The comment mentions an upcoming publication from an independent clinical study validating the effects of StemEnhance. As one of my sources mentions in my article (and about which StemTech did not complain), the mechanism of the extract seems plausible. I look forward to reading the results.

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Meet the Author

Kerry Grens
Kerry served as The Scientist’s news director until 2021. Before joining The Scientist in 2013, she was a stringer for Reuters Health, the senior health and science reporter at WHYY in Philadelphia, and the health and science reporter at New Hampshire Public Radio. Kerry got her start in journalism as a AAAS Mass Media fellow at KUNC in Colorado. She has a master’s in biological sciences from Stanford University and a biology degree from Loyola University Chicago.
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