Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements made from foods, herbs and their constituents are a rapidly growing market sector. Consumers often view food supplements as ‘natural’ and therefore safe; however, supplements are regulated as foods rather than as pharmaceuticals and so are not as closely monitored as may be necessary. With the commercial market in these products growing, this book provides essential research into their safety, efficacy and potential risk of interaction with pharmaceuticals. Following an introductory chapter, part one covers the chemical composition, manufacture and regulation of dietary supplements. Part two looks at the effectiveness of different types of dietary supplement and methods of evaluation. Finally, part three focuses on supplement safety. Reviews the design, production and regulation of dietary supplements. Analyses the potential for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics interactions between dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals. Offers reviews of important clinical studies on the efficacy of dietary supplements for range of conditions.

The growing consumer interest in health and fitness has expanded the market for a wide range of products, from yoga mats to the multiple dietary supplements now on the market. Supplements are popular, but are they safe? Many dietary supplements are probably safe when used as recommended. However, since 1994 when Congress decided that they should be regulated as if they were foods, they are assumed to be safe unless the Food and Drug Administration can demonstrate that they pose a significant risk to the consumer. But there are many types of products that qualify as dietary supplements, and the distinctions can become muddled and vague. Manufacturers are not legally required to provide specific information about safety before marketing their products. And the sales of supplements have been steadily increasingâ€"all together, the various types now bring in almost $16 billion per year. Given these confounding factors, what kind of information can the Food and Drug Administration use to effectively regulate dietary supplements? This book provides a framework for evaluating dietary supplement safety and protecting the health of consumers.

Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements presents peer-reviewed, objective entries that rigorously examine the most significant scientific research on basic chemical, preclinical, and clinical data. Designed for healthcare professionals, researchers, and health-conscious consumers, it presents evidence-based information on the major vitamin and mineral micronutrients, herbs, botanicals, phytochemicals, and other bioactive preparations. Supplements covered include: Vitamins, beta-carotene, niacin, and folate Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, isoflavones, and quercetin Calcium, copper, iron, and phosphorus 5-hydroxytryptophan, glutamine, and L-arginine St. John's Wort, ginkgo biloba, green tea, kava, and noni Androstenedione, DHEA, and melatonin Coenzyme Q10 and S-adenosylmethionine Shiitake, maitake, reishi, and cordiceps With nearly 100 entries contributed by renowned subject-specific experts, the book serves as a scientific checkpoint for the many OTC supplements carried in today's nutritional products marketplace. Also Available Online This Taylor & Francis encyclopedia is also available through online subscription, offering a variety of extra benefits for researchers, students, and librarians, including:  Citation tracking and alerts  Active reference linking  Saved searches and marked lists  HTML and PDF format options Contact Taylor and Francis for more information or to inquire about subscription options and print/online combination packages. US: (Tel) 1.888.318.2367; (E-mail) [email protected] International: (Tel) +44 (0) 20 7017 6062; (E-mail) [email protected]

The use of dietary supplements has continued to increase steadily in recent years with, for example, 40 per cent of UK adults said to be taking such supplements on a regular basis. Although they are widely used, the use of dietary supplements is controversial in relation to their efficacy and safety and much recent research has been published considering these questions. This comprehensive new edition of Dietary Supplements has been completed revised and updated to include the latest findings on the most commonly used dietary supplements.

Written by one of the foremost experts on sports nutrition and performance, A Guide to Understanding Dietary Supplements takes a critical look at the dietary supplement industry. With an estimated 60 percent of adult Americans using dietary supplements every day, the need for a thorough examination of the hundreds of products on the market is long overdue. This comprehensive guide (Selected as an Outstanding Academic Title by Choice Magazine) presents straightforward analysis from a consumer's perspective, giving you the facts on more than 140 supplements and information on which supplements work (and which don't!) for a wide range of health conditions—from preventing cancer and heart disease to fighting diabetes and depression. United States Department of Agriculture surveys show that more than 70 percent of Americans fail to achieve daily recommended levels for many vitamins and minerals. With today's emphasis on fitness, millions are investing their money and health in quick-fix solutions-supplements promoted as cure-alls to right nutritional wrongs, lower the likelihood of disease, and work dietary miracles. A Guide to Understanding Dietary Supplements presents a more realistic view of supplements as neither miracle cure nor nutritional sham, but as consumer products to be accepted or rejected based on scientific fact, not fitness fantasy. A Guide to Understanding Dietary Supplements looks at the pros and cons of dietary supplements in the areas of: weight loss bones and joints energy, brain, and mood heart, eye, and gastrointestinal health male and female health cancer, diabetes, and the immune system sports and ergogenic aids In addition, the book presents an overview of the dietary supplement industry and the regulations that govern it and looks at the process for developing new products. Designed to cut through the confusion surrounding dietary supplements, A Guide to Understanding Dietary Supplemens is an invaluable resource for students, educators and professionals who deal with nutrition, exercise, physical education, nursing, and anyone else interested in health and fitness.

This quick-glance reference helps students and health professionals educate themselves and their patients/clients about the scientific evidence for and against more than 120 popular dietary supplements. Supplements are logically grouped into 12 chapters based on their primary desired effect, such as weight loss, joint support, and sports performance enhancement. The authors give each supplement a one-to-five-star rating based on the level of scientific substantiation for each of its major claimed effects. The book highlights crucial safety issues regarding each supplement and sets forth recommended dosages for particular effects. A quick-reference appendix lists all the supplements alphabetically with their star ratings.

Caffeine in Food and Dietary Supplements is the summary of a workshop convened by the Institute of Medicine in August 2013 to review the available science on safe levels of caffeine consumption in foods, beverages, and dietary supplements and to identify data gaps. Scientists with expertise in food safety, nutrition, pharmacology, psychology, toxicology, and related disciplines; medical professionals with pediatric and adult patient experience in cardiology, neurology, and psychiatry; public health professionals; food industry representatives; regulatory experts; and consumer advocates discussed the safety of caffeine in food and dietary supplements, including, but not limited to, caffeinated beverage products, and identified data gaps. Caffeine, a central nervous stimulant, is arguably the most frequently ingested pharmacologically active substance in the world. Occurring naturally in more than 60 plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves, cola nuts and cocoa pods, caffeine has been part of innumerable cultures for centuries. But the caffeine-in-food landscape is changing. There are an array of new caffeine-containing energy products, from waffles to sunflower seeds, jelly beans to syrup, even bottled water, entering the marketplace. Years of scientific research have shown that moderate consumption by healthy adults of products containing naturally-occurring caffeine is not associated with adverse health effects. The changing caffeine landscape raises concerns about safety and whether any of these new products might be targeting populations not normally associated with caffeine consumption, namely children and adolescents, and whether caffeine poses a greater health risk to those populations than it does for healthy adults. This report delineates vulnerable populations who may be at risk from caffeine exposure; describes caffeine exposure and risk of cardiovascular and other health effects on vulnerable populations, including additive effects with other ingredients and effects related to pre-existing conditions; explores safe caffeine exposure levels for general and vulnerable populations; and identifies data gaps on caffeine stimulant effects.

Foods and Dietary Supplements in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease in Older Adults focuses on the ways in which food and dietary supplements affect the major health problems of aging adults. Researchers in nutrition, diet, epidemiology, and aging studies, as well as healthcare providers who work with elderly patients will use this comprehensive resource as a tool in their long-term goal of preventing and treating chronic disease within the elderly. This book brings together a broad range of experts working on the different aspects of foods and dietary supplements (vitamins, herbs, plant extracts, etc.) in health promotion and disease prevention. They have contributed chapters which define a range of ways in which foods, nutriceuticals, and dietary supplements prevent disease and promote health in older adults. They begin by reviewing the medicinal role of foods, herbal, and dietary supplements in health promotion in older adults, as well as some of the most commonly used supplements in elder "self-medication." They review the most recent studies of how foods, herbal, and dietary supplements are effective in the prevention and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other obesity associated diseases in older adults. Then they consider alcohol, other drugs, and plant based drugs of abuse which can adversely affect the health of older adults. Lastly, they consider foods and dietary supplements in gene regulation in older adults. Investigates the important nutritional requirements of the aging population in health and in relation to various acute and chronic diseases Explores the nutritional effects of botanical extracts and components that can have important health promotion benefits, and risks, to ensure safe consumption Reviews studies of common diseases within the aging population including cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, and infectious diseases that can alter the intake of foods, supplements, and/or requirements for various nutrients Investigates the mechanisms of action of components of foods and dietary supplements, in particular gene activation and epigenetics