Drugs and dietary supplements with unproven effects in research and practice

It is evident for a reviewer of scientific literature that the quality of argumentation in some areas of medical research has deteriorated during the last decades. Publication series of questionable reliability have been continued without making references to the published criticism. Another tendency is that drugs without proven efficiency are advertised, corresponding products patented and marketed as evidence-based medications. Professional publications are required to register drugs and dietary supplements to obtain permissions for the practical use; and such papers appeared, sometimes being of questionable reliability. Several examples are discussed in this review; when substances without proven effects were introduced into practice being supported by publications of questionable reliability. Some of the topics are not entirely clear, and the arguments provided here can induce a constructive discussion.