Metabolism - Nutrition Flashcards
What does CAM mean?
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
What are the major characteristics of CAM?
— Considered outside the mainstream of healthcare
— Diverse set of therapies and healing systems
— Major characteristics
— — Treat each person as individual
— — Consider healthcare of whole individual
— — Emphasize integration of mind and body
— — Promote disease prevention, self-care, self-healing
— — Recognize role of spirituality
What are some examples of herbal supplements?
Garlic
Soy
St John’s wort
Cranberry
Ginseng
Bilberry
Characteristics of active ingredients in herbs?
- Usually found only in specific part of the plant
- May have multiple active ingredients, unlike most modern drugs.
- Potency can depend on where herb was grown or how it was grown or harvested.
DIetary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA)
- Regulatory act for dietary supplements
- Less rigid than the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Ac (FD&C Act)
- Dietary supplements are exempted from FD&C Act standards
- Gives Food and Drug Administration power to remove products considered to be harmful.
DSHEA Weaknesses
- Not necessary to demonstrate effectiveness prior to marketing
- Manufacturer not required to prove safety
- Labels not monitored for accuracy in product amounts or claims of benefits of products.
FD&C Act definition of Dietary supplements?
Products intended to enhance or supplement the diet
- Botanicals
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Metabolites
Dietary supplement and nonprescription drug consumer protection act (2007)
Companies must
- Include contact information on product labels for reporting adverse events
- Notify the FDA of any serious adverse event reports within 15 days of receiving such reports
- Keep extensive records on reports
FDA rules for dietary supplements?
Manufactures of dietary supplements required to evaluate the identity, purity, potency, and composition of their products and report on label.
Natural substitutes vs prescription?
- Some active chemicals are the same as in prescription and OTC medications
- Substituting alternative therapy for established medical treatment may prolong condition.
- Can have allergic reactions - start w/ small dose
What must be done before a patient takes herbs?
Obtain patient’s health history to prevent drug-herb interactions.
What should the patient be educated on for CAM?
- Strengths and weaknesses of CAM
- Encourage patients to seek information from reputable sources
- Tell pregnant/lactating women never to take supplements without approval from healthcare provider
- Ensure patient’s understanding of uses and limitations of CAM
- Encourage skepticism of claims on manufacturing labels
- Never condemn patient’s desire to use alternative therapies
What medications interact with Feverfew, Garlic, Ginger, Gingko?
- Aspirin
- Heparin
- NSAIDs
- Warfarin
- Any anticoagulants
- Results in possible increased bleeding risk
Interactions with Garlic and Ginseng?
- Insulin
- Oral hypoglycemics
- Results in increased hypoglycemic effects
Interactions with Ginkgo?
- Anticovulsants - decreased effectiveness
- Tricyclic antidepressants - decreased seizure threshold
Interactions with CNS depressants?
- Herbs that interact:
— Ginseng
— St John’s wort
— Valerian - Results in increased sedative effect
What vitamins can the human body produce?
Human cells cannot produce vitamins
— Exception: Vitamin D
— Vitamins or provitamins must be supplied in diet
— Deficiency will result in disease
What are RDAs, and what are they?
Recommended Dietary Allowances
— Minimum amount of a vitamin needed to prevent symptoms of deficiency
— Need for vitamins and minerals varies among individuals
— Supplements should never substitute for healthy diet
Roles of Vitamin B, A, D, and K?
Vitamin B Complex: Coenzymes essential to metabolic processes
Vitamin A: Precursor of retinal (pigment needed for normal vision).
Vitamin D: Regulates calcium metabolism
Vitamin K: Needed to produce prothrombin
What are some symptoms of deficiency?
- Usually nonspecific; occur over prolonged period
- Often result of certain factors
— — Poverty, fad diets
— — Chronic alcohol or drug abuse
— — Prolonged parenteral feeding - Patients often present with multiple deficiencies
— — poor nutritional intake
— — pregnancy
— — Chronic disease states
Lipid-soluble vitamins
- Must be ingested with lipids to be absorbed in small intestine.
- Excess stored in liver and adipose tissue
— Can be removed from storage areas and used as needed. - Excessive intake can lead to dangerously high levels.
Where can Vitamin A be obtained?
From foods containing carotenes.
Where can Vitamin D be obtained?
- D2 (ergocalciferol) - from dairy products
- D3 - from ultraviolet light
Where can Vitamin E (Tocoperols) be obtained?
- Found in plant-seed oils, whole-grain cereals, eggs, certain organ meats
- Primary antioxidant
