Natural Health Products Flashcards
name 4 most commonly-used NHPs
vitamins
minerals
omega 3 fatty acids/fish oils
herbal teas
NHPs are regulated under which health act?
Food and Drugs Act
when did NHPs start being regulated in Canada?
2004
main components of NHP regulations?
definitions product licensing good manufacturing practices labelling and packaging adverse reaction reporting
how many years does a NHP need to have been used before claiming “traditional use”?
50
what’s the national organization where adverse reactions are reported?
MedEffect Canada
which groups contribute to echinacea’s immunomodulatory activity?
alkamides
glycoproteins
polysaccharides
caffeic acid derivatives
how is echinacea for treatment of colds? prevention of colds?
not sure about treatment…might be weak benefits. somewhat okay for prevention.
how good is ginseng for preventing colds?
decreased mean number of colds, decreased number of people that had 2+ colds (but no difference in 1+ colds), decreased # days with cold
which ginseng species is documented with clinical trials?
panax quinquefolius. (north american one)
side effects of ginseng?
lower blood sugar, estrogen-like effects. don’t give in hormone sensitive conditions.
which drugs does ginseng interact with?
MAOI, hypoglycemic agents, CCBs, digoxin, estrogen
does ginseng interact with warfarin?
probably not
what are the active constituents of garlic?
sulfur compounds. alliin, allicin, diallyl disulphide, ajoene
what does garlic do?
decrease cholesterol production (but no benefits seen), decrease GAGs, decreases clotting, some antibacterial action, may help prevent colds
what does garlic interact with?
anticoagulants (partly due to inhibition of thromboxane B2 synth), diabetic drugs, protease inhibitors
active constituents of ginger?
gingerols, shoagaols, zingerone, volatile oils
use of ginger?
anti-emetic (sort of)
ginger cautions?
anticoagulant (less thromboxane A2 synth), abortifacient
st john’s wort use? traditional use?
anti-depressant. sedative.
active constituents of st john’s wort?
hypericin, anthraquinone derivatives. hyperforin and adhyperforin.
which drugs does st.johns wort interact with?
induces CYPs and p-glycoprotein. digoxin (low), statins (low), cyclosporin (low), oral contraceptives (break-through bleeding), warfarin (low), some chemotherapy (low)
what is african plum tree used to treat?
benign prostatic hyperplasia
which mechanisms could african plum tree be working through?
5-alpha reductase inhibition, estrogenic effects, anti-inflammatory effects
