Debbie

Could anyone please tell me if there is a similarity between the molecular
structure of polystyrene and cholesterol? The reason that I ask, is that a
friend sells an omega 3 and 6 supplement, and uses a bizarre demonstration
(shown to her by the company for which she sells) using polystyrene balls.
Some polystyrene balls are placed into cups with some warm water. My
friend's omega supplement is dropped into one cup, whilst some rival omega
supplements are put into the other cups. After an hour, the polystyrene
balls in my friend's cup have completely dissolved. This demonstration is
meant to show the effect of the omega supplement on cholesterol as
'apparently' the structure of polystyrene and cholesterol are similar. The
company are therefore saying that taking their omega supplement will break
down cholesterol in the body. Is there any scientific basis for this? (I
must admit, what I found even more worrying is that if you leave my friend's
supplement in the cup overnight, not only will the polystyrene be gone in
the morning, but the cup will also start to be eaten away!!)
Any thoughts on this gratefully received
Debra

Nigel Simmons

Without wishing to be rude, there is an acronym which can be safely
applied:

Complete
Rubbish
And Cholesterol isn't
Polystyrene

There is no chemical similarity between the two, so whatever is
happening in the cups, won't happen in the body.

Using a visual model is a very powerful marketing tool, but it can
never replicate reality. Did all cups really contain water? Were they
all at the same temperature and were the supplements taken from
previously unopened containers with security seals intact?

I could go on, but I'm sure you get my drift.


Nigel
(Pharmacist and cynic)
On Sat, 18 Jun 2005 14:10:24 +0100, "Debbie"
<Debbie34Jones@hotmail.com> wrotd:

>Could anyone please tell me if there is a similarity between the molecular
>structure of polystyrene and cholesterol? The reason that I ask, is that a
>friend sells an omega 3 and 6 supplement, and uses a bizarre demonstration
>(shown to her by the company for which she sells) using polystyrene balls.
>Some polystyrene balls are placed into cups with some warm water. My
>friend's omega supplement is dropped into one cup, whilst some rival omega
>supplements are put into the other cups. After an hour, the polystyrene
>balls in my friend's cup have completely dissolved. This demonstration is
>meant to show the effect of the omega supplement on cholesterol as
>'apparently' the structure of polystyrene and cholesterol are similar. The
>company are therefore saying that taking their omega supplement will break
>down cholesterol in the body. Is there any scientific basis for this? (I
>must admit, what I found even more worrying is that if you leave my friend's
>supplement in the cup overnight, not only will the polystyrene be gone in
>the morning, but the cup will also start to be eaten away!!)
>Any thoughts on this gratefully received
>Debra
>

littlerussell

IIRC, lemon juice will also dissolve polystyrene. All that it proves is the
acidic content of the supplement, which is neither here nor there in terms
of reducing cholestorol.

Russell


"Nigel Simmons" <abuse@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:9ds8b1dc05nil9qsjfnp8dr26ja28kgsre@4ax.com...
> Without wishing to be rude, there is an acronym which can be safely
> applied:
>
> Complete
> Rubbish
> And Cholesterol isn't
> Polystyrene
>
> There is no chemical similarity between the two, so whatever is
> happening in the cups, won't happen in the body.
>
> Using a visual model is a very powerful marketing tool, but it can
> never replicate reality. Did all cups really contain water? Were they
> all at the same temperature and were the supplements taken from
> previously unopened containers with security seals intact?
>
> I could go on, but I'm sure you get my drift.
>
>
> Nigel
> (Pharmacist and cynic)
> On Sat, 18 Jun 2005 14:10:24 +0100, "Debbie"
> <Debbie34Jones@hotmail.com> wrotd:
>
> >Could anyone please tell me if there is a similarity between the
molecular
> >structure of polystyrene and cholesterol? The reason that I ask, is that
a
> >friend sells an omega 3 and 6 supplement, and uses a bizarre
demonstration
> >(shown to her by the company for which she sells) using polystyrene
balls.
> >Some polystyrene balls are placed into cups with some warm water. My
> >friend's omega supplement is dropped into one cup, whilst some rival
omega
> >supplements are put into the other cups. After an hour, the polystyrene
> >balls in my friend's cup have completely dissolved. This demonstration
is
> >meant to show the effect of the omega supplement on cholesterol as
> >'apparently' the structure of polystyrene and cholesterol are similar.
The
> >company are therefore saying that taking their omega supplement will
break
> >down cholesterol in the body. Is there any scientific basis for this?
(I
> >must admit, what I found even more worrying is that if you leave my
friend's
> >supplement in the cup overnight, not only will the polystyrene be gone in
> >the morning, but the cup will also start to be eaten away!!)
> >Any thoughts on this gratefully received
> >Debra
> >
>