Almost everyone nowadays searches online for health information. At the same time, recent studies show that three out of four people in Germany lack the necessary skills to critically evaluate such information. Social media is becoming an increasingly important source of information, yet it is largely unregulated.
Many channels deliberately foster mistrust of evidence-based medicine
Maximilian Huttasch, a physician and researcher at the DDZ who debunks myths in metabolic medicine on social media, explained at the DDG Congress that the goal of many channels is not to educate, but to sell products or generate attention. He presented typical patterns that can be used to identify misinformation. For instance, the narrative of suppressed knowledge is frequently exploited: the medical profession and the pharmaceutical industry allegedly deliberately conceal effective findings to protect their own economic interests. Equally common are personal testimonials presented as supposed proof, such as stories of healing without any scientific evidence. All of this deliberately fosters mistrust of evidence-based medicine and lowers the threshold for trying ineffective or dangerous remedies. He also pointed to the growing prevalence of so-called deep fakes—AI-generated videos or audio recordings in which well-known figures are imitated with startling realism—designed to deliberately abuse trust and promote supposed miracle cures.
False recommendations on dietary supplements
Alessandro Falcone, a medical student in his clinical year and a PhD candidate at the DDZ, demonstrated in his presentation the extent to which dietary supplements are promoted on social media today. Studies suggest that people exposed to health information on social media are more likely to take certain dietary supplements, particularly iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein supplements. Vitamin D, in particular, is promoted by influencers with claims of efficacy that are sometimes unapproved and in very high doses. While a deficiency is widespread among the German population, especially during the winter months, the dosage recommendations circulating could be dangerous. Anyone who suspects a deficiency should first have their levels checked by a doctor and then supplement specifically, emphasized Falcone, who is active on social media on topics including longevity and preventive medicine. As a second example, Falcone cited so-called longevity supplements such as NAD boosters. These are often marketed with promises of increased energy, improved concentration, or anti-aging effects and are sometimes sold for high prices. However, there is currently no robust evidence of any significant benefit in humans.
Exaggerated warnings about sweeteners and blood sugar spikes
Among the most common misconceptions is the claim that sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose promote obesity or disrupt metabolism, said Dr. Tim Hollstein, a senior physician at the Department of Endocrinology at the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, who educates the public on metabolic health topics via social media. He clarified that there is currently no solid evidence to support these claims. Based on current scientific knowledge, people who use sweeteners as an occasional sugar substitute have no reason to fear any health risks. Hollstein also warned against the growing popularity of advice regarding blood sugar spikes in healthy people, which is being spread by figures such as the French influencer Jessie Inchauspé, known as the “Glucose Goddess.” In people without diabetes, the body regulates blood sugar fluctuations after eating independently and reliably; a specific order of eating or continuous blood sugar monitoring is not medically necessary.
Downplaying elevated cholesterol levels
Dr. Catharina Hamm, a cardiologist who runs her own cardiology practice and is also active on social media, spoke about the misconceptions she encounters every day in her practice. Many people believe that high cholesterol levels are harmless or even beneficial—for example, for cell membranes or brain function. The scientific evidence tells a different story: Elevated LDL cholesterol levels are among the most significant preventable risk factors for heart attack and stroke. She encounters the greatest resistance when prescribing statins. Many patients come into the practice with the belief that statins are more dangerous than high cholesterol levels—often influenced by misleading content on social media.
Citing recent studies on the incidence of side effects, Hamm explained which risks associated with statins are actually scientifically proven: The most common are muscle aches, which are usually mild and harmless. Much less frequently, there may be slight changes in liver function tests or a marginally increased risk of diabetes. Memory problems, depression, or weight gain, on the other hand, are often claimed but cannot be conclusively proven in high-quality studies. In people with an increased cardiovascular risk, the proven benefits of statin therapy generally far outweigh any potential side effects. Long-term treatment is therefore medically well-founded in these cases, though the decision must always be made on an individual basis.
How to protect yourself from misinformation?
As a first step, the experts recommend checking the qualifications of influencers and watching for potential conflicts of interest—such as whether an influencer is promoting or selling the products they discuss. Channels without an imprint are a red flag. Maximilian Huttasch from the DDZ emphasized, however, that even this does not provide absolute certainty: “Even licensed doctors and pharmacists sometimes spread misinformation. Ultimately, a critical eye and a conversation with your own doctor always help, especially when it comes to major decisions such as starting or stopping a course of treatment.”
Media Contact:
German Diabetes Center
PR
Susan Jörges
Auf'm Hennekamp 65
40225 Düsseldorf
Phone +49 (0)211 3382-450
pressestelle@ddz.de
The German Diabetes Center (DDZ) serves as the German reference center for diabetes. Its objective is to contribute to the improvement of prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus. At the same time, the research center aims at improving the epidemiological data situation in Germany. The DDZ coordinates the multicenter German Diabetes Study and is a point of contact for all players in the health sector. In addition, it prepares scientific information on diabetes mellitus and makes it available to the public. The DDZ is part of the Leibniz Association (Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, WGL) and is a partner of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.). www.ddz.de/en
The German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) is a national association that brings together experts in the field of diabetes research and combines basic research, translational research, epidemiology and clinical applications. The aim is to develop novel strategies for personalized prevention and treatment of diabetes. Members are Helmholtz Munich – German Research Center for Environmental Health, the German Diabetes Center in Düsseldorf, the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Potsdam-Rehbrücke, the Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden of Helmholtz Munich at the University Medical Center Carl Gustav Carus of the TU Dresden and the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of Helmholtz Munich at the Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen together with associated partners at the Universities in Heidelberg, Cologne, Leipzig, Lübeck and Munich. www.dzd-ev.de/en
