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Contrary to the image projected by the “interview,” Omega XL is not a DHA/EPA supplement. It is an extract of the “green-lipped mussel” found in New Zealand and is a complex mix of many compounds. There is some evidence for an anti-inflammatory effect, and for possible benefit in arthritis and perhaps even in asthma. But McQuillan’s enthusiastic recommendation for protecting the heart is not supported by evidence. As is revealed in the credits after the show, McQuillan, who is a GP specializing in “integrative, regenerative and aesthetic medicine,” was paid for her appearance.

Of course Larry King is not the only celebrity who has lent his or her name to promoting a product. In fact, back in 2000 when Larry was still on CNN, he featured Olympic champions Dorothy Hamill and Bruce Jenner as guests. Larry King Live was certainly not an “infomercial,” it was one of the most respected and most watched interview shows on TV. Both guests were there to talk about the painkilling drug Vioxx. “My doctor prescribed Vioxx for me, and it’s as if I’ve been given a new life,” Hamill told King. “It’s just, it’s been amazing. I feel 20 years younger.” Jenner, still Bruce at the time, had won the decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Olympics but subsequently had knee surgeries and shoulder problems that had left pain that resolved with Vioxx. Both athletes were paid by Merck, the drug’s manufacturer, something that was made clear on the program.