Unit 25 Flashcards
Dietary Supplements and Functional Foods
What is included in the term supplements?
- vitamins and minerals
- probotics and pre-biotics
- herbal remedies
- homeopathic remedies
- traditional medicies such as traditional chinese medecines
- other products like amino acids and essential fatty acids
What are supplements called by health canada?
natural health products
Do supplements have vigorous testing by FDA or health Canada?
no
What does canadian legislation require natural health products to have?
a natural product number (NPN)
What is the USP dietary supplement verification program?
voluntary program open to manufacturers of dietary supplement finished products from around the world
Do manufacturers have to manafacture a supplement/drug product to the pharmacopoeial standard?
No, it can be to the manufacturers own standard
What are some regulations aorund natural health products?
- need to contain the ingredients listed on the label, in the declared potency and ammounts
- cannot contain harmful levels of specified contanminants (lead and mercury, microbes, pesticides
- will break down and release into body within a specified amount of time
- has been made according to FDA current Good Manufacturing Practices using sanitary and well-controlled procedures
Is vitamin E better absorbed as a supplement or food?
- natural is more rapidly absorbed and maintained in tissue (2x as potent)
Is vitamin C better absorbed as a supplement or food?
They are both the same (natural and synthetic have same potency)
What should you take a multivitamin with for better absorption?
meat
What should you take iron supplements with for better absorption? What should you avoid?
- take with meal or glass of juice
- avoid taking with tea or coffee
- if anemic – not at same time as Ca
What should you take calcium supplement with to increase absorption?
- calcium carbonate with a meal
- Ca + vitamin D a good idea in winter and if no multivitamin is taken n(vitamin D helps Ca set in bones)
Should you divide large doses of calcium?
Yes
What are some functions of whey protein?
- improving sport performance
- immunomodulation
- antibacterial, antiviral and antifunal activity
What are the main organs affected with abusive use of protein supplements?
- liver
- skin – acne
- kidney
- microbiota
What does creatine do?
increase bioavailability of phosphocreatine in muscle cells
- faster resynthesis of ATP
- brief high intesnity exercise
Can the body synthesize PCr?
yes from amino acids
Do vegtarians have higher or lower PCr stores?
Lower, may benefit more from supplementation
What is the recommendation for creatine supplementation?
~0.3 g/kg/day of creatine monohydrate for 5-7 days followed by 3-5 g/day after to mainatin elevated stores
What are some potential safety concerns of creatine?
- kidney and liver function
- muscle injury
- supress natural creatine synthesis
- promote dehydration and muscle cramping
Is creatine considered safe and beneficial?
yes
What do omega-3 supplements help with?
- heart health
- autoimmune diseases
- depression
- brain development in infancy
What are some negative side effectrs of very high doeses of omega 3 supplement such as fish oils?
- high blood sugar
- bleeding
- low BP
- diarrhea
- acid reflux
Why do people take herbal supplement?
- considered natural and therefore healthier and safer
- for a specific condition or general health
Are herbs effective?
- many have health benefits
- lacking well controlled research studies
- short-term and long term risks an benefits??
Is kombucha considered safe?
- acidosis from excess acid can occur in persons with underlying conditions such as diabetes
- ethanol value vlaues in excess of 0.5% can also be of concern to toddlers and infants and during pregancy
need to be careful with handling of kombucha
What are some considerations to take into account before taking herbal supplements?
- may interact with prescription medications and over the counter drugs
- advise doctor or pharmicist of all herb use
- take for only a short period of time
- follow label instructions
- if unsual side effects, stop immediately
- do not take in place of conventional medecine for chronic conditions
- not for children under 12, pregnant or lactating women, kidney or liver damag, immunocompromised (elderly or HIV), undergoing surgery
What are probiotics?
live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host
What are prebiotics?
substrates selectively utilized by host microorganisms that confer a health benefit (food for the microbes that provide health benefits)
Are pre/probiotics considered safe?
yes, but may cause problems in some
What are some side effects of probiotics?
- unpleasant digestive symptoms
- allergic reaction
- fillers might cause allergic reaction
- infection and sepsis in susceptible people
- interaction with some medicines
What are some side effects of prebiotics?
- unpleasant digestive symptoms
- gastroesophageal reflux
- worse sytmptoms of IBS
- not recommended for people with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Should you take supplements over the RDA?
no
Betacarotene supplements can increase risk of which cancer?
lung
Should you take supplements for a prolonged period of time?
No, only for a short period
