Louisa Wall: Cambo entitled to supplement winnings

A friend of mine started taking food supplements last year and she gave me a taste of the kids' range of sugar-coated gummy bears, which claim to have the nutritional goodness of 12 fruits and vegetables.

I tried them, didn't like them and consequently didn't buy them. I don't think my mate is taking them anymore. They are too expensive and, like me, she would prefer her loved ones to eat 12 real fruit and veges.

But, as a busy mum, she was almost convinced her children would benefit from them, given the eating habits of young people today.

Michael Campbell endorses supplements by US company Mannatech. The primary ingredient of its supplements are glyconutrients. Glyconutrients are not prescription drugs and they are not used to "cure" or "treat" any particular condition. They are, in fact, a food, derived from plant sugars which help to maintain good health and wellbeing.

Mannatech claims that it has discovered our cells contain sugars at their core and without these sugars, the cells cannot communicate properly. It seems there are eight known sugars but most diets only contain two. Our bodies can manufacture the other six sugars. But stress and other factors can cause this process to decelerate or stop. When this happens, cells begin to miss-communicate and apparently a disease process begins.

Therefore, the theory is that when you add these sugars to your diet, your cells have the necessary components to communicate effectively and you maintain optimum health and wellbeing and, I suppose for sports people such as Campbell, perform to your potential.

Mannatech has been at the forefront of the dietary supplement industry and, leading up to the 2000 Olympics, targeted the sports market.

Among its clients are the the US Olympic Track and Field Federation, Athletics Canada, Olympic gold medallist Leroy Burrell, and Canadian 800m runner Freddie Williams.

This year New Zealand sporting hero Campbell was added to the list.

In 2002, the American supplement industry surpassed $18 billion and the wellness industry is reported to be worth a staggering $200 billion worldwide. It is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2010.

The healthcare industry has well and truly shifted from a reactive medical model to a preventative model and companies such as Mannatech have been creating and riding this wave for all its worth.

So, the Consumers Institute may be disappointed that Campbell is supporting a company widely criticised for its products and marketing practices, the Medical Association may say that there is no scientific evidence to suggest Mannatech's products do any good and the Ministry of Health may have issued warnings three years ago after claims from sales people that their products could cure diseases like cancer. But if you look at all the material from the company, it does not appear to make such therapeutic claims and neither does Campbell.

Consumers Institute is an independent, non-profit organisation with the aim of getting New Zealand consumers a fairer deal. It should stay focused and keep organisations such as Mannatech accountable for what they say and how they and their agents communicate the benefits of their products.

But suggesting that Campbell should stick to playing golf rather than advertising supposed nutritional supplements, goes beyond the brief.

If Campbell believes taking Mannatech products helped him win the US Open, as his endorsement implies, then what is the problem?

As a professional athlete, why shouldn't he endorse a nutraceutical that has personally benefited him?

Campbell is clearly highly regarded internationally and no one should begrudge him such opportunities. Golf prizemoney won't be available forever and, whether we like it or not, where there is a demand for such preventative healthcare products, suitable endorsements will always be sought.

Louisa Wall is a former New Zealand rugby and netball representative