Stem cells seem to be a great addition to the packages of products that claim to be effective and organic. So far, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved stem cell based products that are used in treating immune system disorders. However, there are numerous clinics in the US who claim to offer stem cell treatment for disorders such as Alzheimer’s and muscular dystrophy. In fact, a 2016 study recognized more than 500 clinics who were advertising unapproved and unproven stem cell products.
A new study published in JAMA journal analyzed 166 websites associated with different stem cell companies. It was then found that only 81 of such companies have employed physicians with medical training relevant to the claimed stem cell treatment. Surprisingly, there were nine companies who did not list any physicians on their website. Zubin Master, a bioethicist who led the study, warns patients about this matter and encourages patients to check the backgrounds of physicians when looking for stem cell treatments in different clinics.
In the US, the extraction and re-injection of stem cells that have been minimally manipulated do not require the approval of the FDA. This has always been a concern for bioethicists since they believe that stem-cell-based procedures should be classified in the category of drugs and biologics, which are eligible for FDA considerations.
Read the full research paper by JAMA Journal here:
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