Natural Health Products

Question 1

name 4 most commonly-used NHPs

Answer 1

vitamins
minerals
omega 3 fatty acids/fish oils
herbal teas

Question 2

NHPs are regulated under which health act?

Answer 2

Food and Drugs Act

Question 3

when did NHPs start being regulated in Canada?

Answer 3

2004

Question 4

main components of NHP regulations?

Answer 4

definitions
product licensing
good manufacturing practices
labelling and packaging
adverse reaction reporting

Question 5

how many years does a NHP need to have been used before claiming “traditional use”?

Answer 5

50

Question 6

what’s the national organization where adverse reactions are reported?

Answer 6

MedEffect Canada

Question 7

which groups contribute to echinacea’s immunomodulatory activity?

Answer 7

alkamides
glycoproteins
polysaccharides
caffeic acid derivatives

Question 8

how is echinacea for treatment of colds? prevention of colds?

Answer 8

not sure about treatment…might be weak benefits. somewhat okay for prevention.

Question 9

how good is ginseng for preventing colds?

Answer 9

decreased mean number of colds, decreased number of people that had 2+ colds (but no difference in 1+ colds), decreased # days with cold

Question 10

which ginseng species is documented with clinical trials?

Answer 10

panax quinquefolius. (north american one)

Question 11

side effects of ginseng?

Answer 11

lower blood sugar, estrogen-like effects. don’t give in hormone sensitive conditions.

Question 12

which drugs does ginseng interact with?

Answer 12

MAOI, hypoglycemic agents, CCBs, digoxin, estrogen

Question 13

does ginseng interact with warfarin?

Answer 13

probably not

Question 14

what are the active constituents of garlic?

Answer 14

sulfur compounds. alliin, allicin, diallyl disulphide, ajoene

Question 15

what does garlic do?

Answer 15

decrease cholesterol production (but no benefits seen), decrease GAGs, decreases clotting, some antibacterial action, may help prevent colds

Question 16

what does garlic interact with?

Answer 16

anticoagulants (partly due to inhibition of thromboxane B2 synth), diabetic drugs, protease inhibitors

Question 17

active constituents of ginger?

Answer 17

gingerols, shoagaols, zingerone, volatile oils

Question 18

use of ginger?

Answer 18

anti-emetic (sort of)

Question 19

ginger cautions?

Answer 19

anticoagulant (less thromboxane A2 synth), abortifacient

Question 20

st john’s wort use? traditional use?

Answer 20

anti-depressant. sedative.

Question 21

active constituents of st john’s wort?

Answer 21

hypericin, anthraquinone derivatives. hyperforin and adhyperforin.

Question 22

which drugs does st.johns wort interact with?

Answer 22

induces CYPs and p-glycoprotein. digoxin (low), statins (low), cyclosporin (low), oral contraceptives (break-through bleeding), warfarin (low), some chemotherapy (low)

Question 23

what is african plum tree used to treat?

Answer 23

benign prostatic hyperplasia

Question 24

which mechanisms could african plum tree be working through?

Answer 24

5-alpha reductase inhibition, estrogenic effects, anti-inflammatory effects