10 health products you don't need
- Popular health products examined by experts
- Health product claims our experts said had no robust evidence
- £3billion spent each year on over the counter pharmacy products
We chose popular health products from the pharmacy shelves - from cough medicines to joint-care supplements - and found ten products with claims that our experts believe are not backed up by enough evidence to convince us to buy them.
Not all companies sent us the scientific evidence we requested: for example, Boots and the manufacturers of Benylin and Adios. They told us that the regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), thoroughly reviews the clinical evidence.
This isn't the first time we found products our experts said did not live up to their claims. We have found 10 eco products you don't need, and if you take out a £1 trial to Which? you can read all our reviews where we rate Best Buys - and Don't Buy products.
Unnecessary health items
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£10.69 for 100 tablets of this licensed herbal remedy. The company claims it helps speed up weight loss, but our experts didn't find robust evidence that it works.
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£8.99 for 60ml. The company claims include helping to improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks, but our experts didn't see sufficient evidence.
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At £5.41 for 150ml, the company claims include loosening phlegm and clearing bronchial congestion. Our experts weren't convinced.
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£1.85 for 16 tablets. Our experts queried the lower-than-usual Paracetamol dose, and ingredients such as vitamin C where the benefit is not proven.
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This £5.39 syrup claims to loosen troublesome mucus. But our experts saw no studies to back up the benefits claimed.
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At £12.45 for 30 tablets, you'd expect claims to be met. But our experts say linking glucosamine, chondroitin and omega 3 and joint health is not substantiated.
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Life Line Screening advertises 'affordable, reliable preventive medical screenings'. But our expert analysis concluded that the tests didn't have proven benefits.
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They cost £3.99 for 12 tablets. But our expert concluded that you don't need to pay nearly this much to get what is just a combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol.
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A 10ml spray costs £6.90 and promises include relief for everyday stressful moments. Our experts said tests found it no more effective at stress-relief than a placebo.
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A bottle costs £4.77 for 150ml. But the active ingredients are sugar (glycerol and sucrose) and their effectiveness is unproven.
Health claims examined
We believe that all companies should be transparent and show consumers and consumer organisations their evidence so we can see exactly what's behind their claims, even though they don't have to do this.
We'd like you to suggest products you think should be in our gallery of health products you don't need - email healtheditor@which.co.uk
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