Sugar pill sold as AIDS drug 

The Ministry of Health is demanding answers from the distributors of a sugar pill that's being promoted as beneficial in the treatment of AIDS, cystic fibrosis and Downes Syndrome.

Ambrotose, a pill made of sugars and rice powder by American company Mannatech, is distributed through a pyramid sales-type scheme called network marketing in New Zealand.

"The availability of a product like this is going to appeal to someone who is clutching at straws," says Aids Foundation director Kevin Hague.

"In reality I think it's a cynical manipulation of some of the desperate and vulnerable people in our society."

Cystic fibrosis is a disease which affects just under 400 people in this country.

They will be lucky to live past 30.

"Parents will try anything and it's really building on the hopes of people... It's false hope," says Sally Carron of the NZ Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Her group is angry that parents have been roped in to sell a product which claims to treat cystic fibrosis.

And the claims, that children can be cured of cystic fibrosis with the drug, have prompted complaints to the Health Ministry.

Now ministry staff say they have written a letter of warning to the company involved and will decide on Monday what action to take against them.

Hague says it is being sold by people with no known medical training, and that Mannatech's website makes many dubious claims.

Officials claim local distributors have downloaded their information from the US-based website.

The information may be fine overseas, but a New Zealand advertising standards expert says such claims have to be backed by scientific information.

"There are six principles involved," says Nigel Andrews. "And from what I can see, I would think that the claims and advertising of this product would breach almost all six principles."

While there are some who swear by this product, others just want the proof.

Mannatech says it makes no therapeutic claims for its product and will be looking at any distributors who do.