...he is somewhat correct... supplements in general as snake oil:
Percentage-wise, I agree, but only because of the sheer number of "supplements" that are sold, including ones never discussed here like cat's claw and horse chestnut seed extract.
The actual number that do work and have legitimate value is too great to make over-simplistic generalizations like, "supplements are snake oil," and, "I think supplements are fake."It is also important to remember that not all supplements have been given proper research. That doesn't mean they don't work, and we can't disqualify their effectiveness based on that fact alone, especially in the presence of anecdotal evidence to the contrary. We also cannot ignore the possible synergistic effects of combinations of certain supplements, on which even less formal research has been devoted many times.
I like the balloon chart idea, but it's a little hard to follow, particularly near the bottom. I'm unclear on how some of the items are categorized. Potassium, for instance, seems to be on its own, so I don't understand the reason for its placing. Then, some of the balloons near the top contain symptoms/conditions, again on their own. The organization is a little unclear in certain areas.
Interesting source, though. I hope they clean it up some and update it with more supplements and details.