Is multi-level marketing of nutrition supplements a legal and an ethical practice?

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dc.contributor.authorCárdenas Zuluaga, Diana
dc.contributor.authorFuchs-Tarlovsky, Vanessa
dc.contributor.orcidCárdenas Zuluaga, Diana [0000-0002-0709-0307]
dc.date.accessioned2020-05-18T08:46:30Z
dc.date.available2020-05-18T08:46:30Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractenglishBackground Multi-level marketing (MLM) of nutrition products has experienced dramatic growth in recent decades. ‘Wellness’ is the second most popular niche in the MLM industry and represents 35% of sales among all the products in 2016. This category includes dietary supplements, weight management and sports nutrition products. The aim of this paper is to analyse whether this practice is legal and ethical. Methods: An analysis of available documentary information about the legal aspects of Multi-level marketing business was performed. Ethical reflexion was based on the “principlism” approach. Results We argue that, while being a controversial business model, MLM is not fraudulent from a legal point of view. However, it is an unethical strategy obviating all the principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence and autonomy. What is at stake is the possible economic scam and the potential harm those products could cause due to unproven efficacy, exceeding daily nutrient requirements and potential toxicity. The sale of dietary and nutrition supplements products by physicians and dieticians presents a conflict of interests that can undermine the primary obligation of physicians to serve the interests of their patients before their own. Conclusion While considering that MLM of dietary supplements and other nutrition products are a legal business strategy, we affirm that it is an unethical practice. MLM products that have nutritional value or promoted as remedies may be unnecessary and intended for conditions that are unsuitable for self-prescription as well.eng
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2018.03.118
dc.identifier.issn2405-4577
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12495/2923
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherElsevierspa
dc.publisher.journalClinical Nutrition ESPENspa
dc.relation.ispartofseriesClinical Nutrition ESPEN, 2405-4577, Vol 25, 2018, pag 133-138spa
dc.relation.urihttps://clinicalnutritionespen.com/article/S2405-4577(18)30104-9/fulltext
dc.rights.creativecommons2018
dc.rights.localAcceso cerradospa
dc.subject.decsFenómenos fisiológicos de la nutriciónspa
dc.subject.decsAnálisis éticospa
dc.subject.decsVigilancia de productos comercializadosspa
dc.subject.keywordsMulti-level marketingspa
dc.subject.keywordsDietary supplementsspa
dc.subject.keywordsEthicsspa
dc.subject.keywordsPrinciplesspa
dc.titleIs multi-level marketing of nutrition supplements a legal and an ethical practice?spa
dc.title.translatedIs multi-level marketing of nutrition supplements a legal and an ethical practice?spa
dc.typearticlespa
dc.type.hasversioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dc.type.localartículospa

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