5 ms·

People have no idea how successful big pharma’s info campaign has been since what I’m increasingly calling the real Web 3.0 (post-influencer social media and ar

People have no idea how successful big pharma’s info campaign has been since what I’m increasingly calling the real Web 3.0 (post-influencer social media and arrival of big corporate narratives). According to Reddit, Epsom salt has no effect (doesn’t absorb) - you’re wasting your time by using it. They’ll cite all sorts of real, funded studies that agree and yet always the comment section is filled with anecdotal evidence of the contrary - to which a typical response is “hot water in general is soothing” (ignoring efficacy of magnesium sulfate in ice baths). I digress - creatine is a similar situation. All this confusion at best. It’s also not unlike the health effects of cannabis just prior to going effectively legal - it either causes or cures cancer, or something? We need more research! That’s the real problem! Any time you see this sort of narrative it’s corporate politics and influence at play. By virtue of how hard it is to get any information on creatine, it probably threatens some market or vertical at least (whether or not it “works”). Like A. muscaria mushroom or sassafras, you’ll have to do your own research to really know.

nemomarx 2mo ago
if there's a strong measurable effect to any of these supplements, why can't it be studied? there are companies on both sides, so someone who sells creatine could fund one if they like.
- rubyfruit 2mo ago
  Magnesium? Its widely known that magnesium is used by the body lol What they “doubt” is that it can be absorbed through the skin. But anyone who takes magnesium tablets can tell you the effect is the same. And it is studied btw - problem is there are countless on both sides.
  - JumpCrisscross 2mo ago
    > Magnesium? Its widely known that magnesium is used by the body lol Who disputed this? > What they “doubt” is that it can be absorbed through the skin The science is helpful. Magnesium sulfate is absorbed less effectively than magnesium chloride. Of course, you're not eating the amount of Epsom salts one dumps in a bath. > And it is studied btw - problem is there are countless on both sides This is why meta analysis exists.
    - rubyfruit 2mo ago
      > Magnesium sulfate is absorbed less effectively Drinking the same Epsom salt in water that you soak in has the same effect as soaking in hot or cold water with it, and it's also the same effect as taking magnesium supplements sold over the counter. You can try it yourself - totally safe. You already eat magnesium all the time. Whatever you're doing with your comment, I'm not convinced.
- superhuzza 2mo ago
  There is an incredible amount of evidence for creatine being beneficial for making you stronger/muscle growth. Which is probably the primary reason it's sold. So it's not as if it's not studied or there are no known effects of supplements.
asdfman123 2mo ago
Lots of state actors criticizing the US too. Bots everywhere.
- red-iron-pine 2mo ago
  30-50% of social media at this point "look to the left of you, look to the right of you, one of you isn't real"
  - asdfman123 2mo ago
    It's me. I'm funded by a network of stodgy older devs to be a shill for clean code.
    - rubyfruit 2mo ago
      "clean code" is one of my favorite myths. Especially when the guy so into code cleanliness can barely dress himself, can't design well, and so-on. A lot more parallels between visual design / art and people who structure code nicely in files and use the "latest syntax" (omg so clean)
techteach00 2mo ago
That website examine is good for supplement info. They had to paywall most info because LLMS scraped the c$#p out of them m
- cinntaile 2mo ago
  They paywalled it before LLMs.
coke12 2mo ago
The Epsom salt meme predates your “Web 3.0” thesis by many decades. I have no idea if it’s true but it’s not indicative of any new trend.
- rubyfruit 2mo ago
  It doesn't predate advertising. Web 3.0 just means advertising found a new home
pibaker 2mo ago
Reddit is shit tier source for all kinds of information about commercial products. Even subreddits for niche hobbies are full of astroturfed advertising for random online businesses. There is no way the supplement industry isn't doing its own campaign over Reddit and other platforms especially when you consider how large of a market it is. But sure, keep believing they are on your side.
chabska 2mo ago
> By virtue of how hard it is to get any information on creatine What exactly is hard about that? You can get all sorts of information about creatine, it is one of the most studied supplement ever.

nemomarx 2mo ago

if there's a strong measurable effect to any of these supplements, why can't it be studied? there are companies on both sides, so someone who sells creatine could fund one if they like.

rubyfruit 2mo ago
Magnesium? Its widely known that magnesium is used by the body lol What they “doubt” is that it can be absorbed through the skin. But anyone who takes magnesium tablets can tell you the effect is the same. And it is studied btw - problem is there are countless on both sides.
- JumpCrisscross 2mo ago
  > Magnesium? Its widely known that magnesium is used by the body lol Who disputed this? > What they “doubt” is that it can be absorbed through the skin The science is helpful. Magnesium sulfate is absorbed less effectively than magnesium chloride. Of course, you're not eating the amount of Epsom salts one dumps in a bath. > And it is studied btw - problem is there are countless on both sides This is why meta analysis exists.
  - rubyfruit 2mo ago
    > Magnesium sulfate is absorbed less effectively Drinking the same Epsom salt in water that you soak in has the same effect as soaking in hot or cold water with it, and it's also the same effect as taking magnesium supplements sold over the counter. You can try it yourself - totally safe. You already eat magnesium all the time. Whatever you're doing with your comment, I'm not convinced.
superhuzza 2mo ago
There is an incredible amount of evidence for creatine being beneficial for making you stronger/muscle growth. Which is probably the primary reason it's sold. So it's not as if it's not studied or there are no known effects of supplements.

asdfman123 2mo ago

Lots of state actors criticizing the US too. Bots everywhere.

red-iron-pine 2mo ago
30-50% of social media at this point "look to the left of you, look to the right of you, one of you isn't real"
- asdfman123 2mo ago
  It's me. I'm funded by a network of stodgy older devs to be a shill for clean code.
  - rubyfruit 2mo ago
    "clean code" is one of my favorite myths. Especially when the guy so into code cleanliness can barely dress himself, can't design well, and so-on. A lot more parallels between visual design / art and people who structure code nicely in files and use the "latest syntax" (omg so clean)

techteach00 2mo ago

That website examine is good for supplement info. They had to paywall most info because LLMS scraped the c$#p out of them m

cinntaile 2mo ago
They paywalled it before LLMs.

coke12 2mo ago

The Epsom salt meme predates your “Web 3.0” thesis by many decades. I have no idea if it’s true but it’s not indicative of any new trend.

rubyfruit 2mo ago
It doesn't predate advertising. Web 3.0 just means advertising found a new home

pibaker 2mo ago

Reddit is shit tier source for all kinds of information about commercial products. Even subreddits for niche hobbies are full of astroturfed advertising for random online businesses. There is no way the supplement industry isn't doing its own campaign over Reddit and other platforms especially when you consider how large of a market it is. But sure, keep believing they are on your side.

chabska 2mo ago

> By virtue of how hard it is to get any information on creatine What exactly is hard about that? You can get all sorts of information about creatine, it is one of the most studied supplement ever.