RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - Pat White is fighting breast cancer and wonders if supplements should be part of her daily routine. Her doctor asks her if they make her feel better.

Oh yeah, says Pat, Ive been taking them for years.

Some supplements are known to make certain chemotherapy drugs less effective, or might increase the side effects.

Experts say that's not the only scenario where supplements and vitamins, along with prescription drugs, may result in health problems you never counted on.

I think that is probably a pretty common misperception, is that if something is natural or plant-based, that it doesn't have many side effects or risks associated with it. But in reality, a lot of our most potent or commonly used prescription medications come from natural or plant-based sources, says Amy Pullen, a pharmacist with VA Sierra Health Care.

Pullen says there hasn't been extensive research on many vitamins and supplements and prescription drugs, so many of the warnings can be theoretical. But there are knowns--like the fact that Omega 5 fatty acids, including fish oil, combined with anti-clotting medicine, could increase your bleeding risk.

Pullen says garlic or other food supplements contain concentrated amounts and could increase side effects of other medications, as opposed to eating the food alone.

The best advice is to make a list of the supplements you take, how many, how often, and when you are taking them. Take that list to your doctor or pharmacist to see if you are headed for any dangerous interactions.

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Supplements and prescriptions: a risky combination - KOLO

Seattle, WA Amazon.com, the largest internet-based retailer in the world by total sales and market capitalization, which started as an online bookstore, and later diversified to sell everything from video and MP3 downloads and streaming to electronics, furniture, food, and jewelry, recently launched their own dietary supplements under the Amazon Elements brand.

Amazon first announced the launch of the Amazon Elements brand over two years ago. Its 2014 press release describes the brand as a line of premium, everyday essentials with transparent origins. At the time, Amazon Elements offered diapers and baby wipes, but the brand was not very well known and the diaper line was discontinued in 2015.

Now, Amazon Elements has expanded from diapers to dietary supplements. While still maintaining its commitment to transparency, Amazon Elements has shifted its focus to the supplements industry with its initial launch of four products: turmeric root extract, calcium complex, vitamin D, and vitamin K. The products are currently available exclusively by invitation to Prime members.

Amazons initiative in the supplement space is well-placed according to Dr. Kurt Jetta, founder of TABS analytics. Jetta noted that private level supplements carry extremely high margins, and Amazon needs to find ways to improve their margins in e-commerce. With its approximately 300 million users, more than half of which are Amazon Prime members, Amazon has a large user base. And what Amazon can do better than a GNC or any other of these niche products is expand on their already-user base, and they can knock down the margins of the industry.

In addition to its large user base, the Amazon name is trusted among consumers. Amazon has built on this trust with its new QR code reader. In accordance with its original press release from 2014, the Amazon Elements brand offers consumers an unprecedented level of information. Each Amazon Elements product includes a unique code on its packaging that consumers can access through the Amazon app to learn when and where items were made, why each ingredient was included, where the ingredients were sourced and much more all at their fingertips from the time they start their shopping experience until the items arrive at their door.

Although the effects of Amazons entry into the supplement industry can be critical in the online space, Jetta doubts negative impacts on actual dietary supplement stores. We would project the impact to brick-and-mortar to be minimal, based on the fact that history has shown both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar can both grow concurrently in vitamins, he predicts.

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Amazon Launches Amazon Elements Supplements | Whole Foods ... - WholeFoods Magazine

By Daniel H. Chong, ND

Americans are now spending more than $17 billion a year on supplements for health and wellness. Strangely enough, the rates of some forms of chronic disease have not changed, while the rates of others have actually increased. There are a number of reasons for these poor statistics and many things remain a mystery.

One thing seems fairly clear, however. Most supplements aren't helping very much.

I'm not saying there are no helpful supplements out there. There certainly are. What is becoming more apparent, however, is supplements will not help much if one does not first address the necessary basics of health and healing.

What is also clear is that not all supplements are created equal. The basics of health and healing were discussed in another of my articles, The Six Foundations of Healing. I believe these areas must be addressed for true healing to occur in any chronic disease. In this article, I will discuss some things you should consider if you need to or want to take some supplements. Specifically, I will address the differences between whole foods versus synthetic or isolated nutritional supplements.

Whole Food Nutrients Vs. Synthetic, Isolated Nutrients

Most people who read the eHealthy News You Can Use newsletter are at least somewhat familiar with the idea that whole foods are better for you than refined foods. Although there are numerous viewpoints on what kind of foods we should or should not be eating, as well as the ideal ratio of these foods, everyone from all corners of the diet and nutrition world seems to agree on one thing: No matter which foods we choose and in what ratios we eat them, whole foods are better for you than refined foods.

This fact has never really been argued. Everyone agrees raw honey is better for you than white sugar or that brown rice is better for you than white rice. Why should it be any different for vitamins?

Often, I have been puzzled by the average naturopath or nutritionist who goes on and on about the value of whole foods and how refined foods -- having been robbed of all the extra nutrients they naturally come with -- are not healthy for you. Then, they go on to prescribe a shopping bag full of isolated, refined vitamins for you to take!

Just like refined foods, these refined vitamins have been robbed of all of the extra accessory nutrients that they naturally come with as well. In turn, like refined foods, they can create numerous problems and imbalances in your body if taken at high levels for long periods of time. They can also act more like drugs in your body, forcing themselves down one pathway or another. At the very least, they won't help you as much as high quality food and food-based supplements.

Whole Food Supplements

Whole food supplements are what their name suggests: Supplements made from concentrated whole foods. The vitamins found within these supplements are not isolated. They are highly complex structures that combine a variety of enzymes, coenzymes, antioxidants, trace elements, activators and many other unknown or undiscovered factors all working together synergistically, to enable this vitamin complex to do its job in your body.

Nutrients from within this complex cannot be taken apart or isolated from the whole, and then be expected to do the same job in the body as the whole complex is designed to do.

The perfect example of this difference can be seen in an automobile. An automobile is a wonderfully designed complex machine that needs all of its parts to be present and in place to function properly. Wheels are certainly an important part of the whole, but you could never isolate them from the rest of the car, call them a car or expect them to function like a car. They need the engine, body and everything else.

The same analogy applies to the vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or vitamin E (delta tocopherol) you can find on most health food store shelves. They are parts of an entire complex that serve a purpose when part of the whole. However, they cannot do the job of the entire complex by themselves.

With similar logic in place, one can analyze what a typical multivitamin truly is. The automobile equivalent of creating a multivitamin would be going to a junk yard, finding all of the separate parts you would need to make up an entire automobile, throwing them together in a heap (or capsule in terms of the multivitamin) and expecting that heap to drive like a car!

Obviously, there is a difference. Science cannot create life. Only life can create life.

Synthetic or Isolated Nutritional Supplements

Isolated nutrients or synthetic nutrients are not natural, in that they are never found by themselves in nature. Taking these isolated nutrients, especially at the ultra-high doses found in formulas today, is more like taking a drug. Studies show the body treats these isolated and synthetic nutrients like xenobiotics (foreign substances).

By the same token, food-based supplements are never treated like this by your body. For example, your urine will never turn florescent yellow, no matter how much meat (a good source of B vitamins) you eat. This sort of rapid excretion happens only with foreign substances in your body.

Not only are isolated nutrients treated like drugs or other chemicals by your body. Like drugs, they can create problems for you too. Nature does not produce any nutrient in an isolated form. The nutrients in foods are blended together in a specific way and work best in that format. For an isolated nutrient to work properly in the body, it needs all the other parts that are naturally present in the food too.

If the parts are not all there from the start, they are taken from the body's stored supply. This is why isolated nutrients often work for a little while, then seem to stop working. Once your body's store of the extra nutrients is used up, the isolated nutrient you're taking doesn't work as well anymore. Worse yet, a deficiency in these extra nutrients can be created in your body.

And, because most nutrients are isolated from the foods they come in -- using a wide array of potentially nasty solvents and other chemicals -- taking high amounts of these products can also expose you to these potentially toxic chemicals, if care is not taken to remove them. With the burden we are already facing from the high number of chemicals in our environment, why would anyone want to add more?

Synergy and Potency

The various parts of a natural vitamin complex work together in a synergistic manner. Synergy means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Nutritionist Judith DeCava puts it best: "Separating the group of compounds (in a vitamin complex) converts it from a physiological, biochemical, active micronutrient into a disabled, debilitated chemical of little or no value to living cells. The synergy is gone."

In other words, the automobile, in its original form, will drive better than a pile of its individual parts. Most people don't follow this logic when examining a nutritional supplement.

Supplement makers typically try to stuff as much as possible in a capsule, telling us that the more we take, the better it is for us. This is simply not the case. As you now know, it is not necessarily the amount of a nutrient you ingest that is important, but its form and how much is bioavailable that counts the most. In fact, remembering that ingesting single nutrients can actually create imbalances in the body, logic would dictate the higher the level of a single nutrient that you take in, the quicker this imbalance will occur.

What all of this means: The potency of a supplement has much more to do with synergy than with actual nutrient levels. It is a combined effect of all the parts of the food, rather than the chemical effect of a single part, that is most important.

Don't Forget the Basics

I fear all of this talk of supplements -- food-based, isolated or synthetic -- has detracted from the most important part of health and healing. The basics of proper diet, exercise, detoxification, structure, mental/emotional and spiritual health must all be in order for true healing to occur. No supplement will work on its own if these foundations are not in place.

However, even when these foundations are in place, or if the situation is acute enough to necessitate a more immediate treatment response, supplement support may still be needed for a while. You may also want to take one or more food-based supplements to ensure you are getting an adequate array of nutrients in your diet. When these situations arise, I strongly recommend food-based supplements be your first choice.

Keys to a Good Nutritional Supplement

How do you tell whether or not a supplement you're looking at is a good choice? For starters, make sure it has the following characteristics:

Dr. Daniel Chong is a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in Portland, Ore. His practice focuses on chronic disease and pain management. Contact him at:

Chiropractic and Naturopathic Physicians Clinic 12195 SW Allen Blvd. Beaverton, OR 97005 (503) 646-0697 http://www.drdanielchong.com

Resources

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Real or Synthetic: The Truth Behind Whole-Food Supplements

A dietary supplement study has revealed that long-term dietary supplement usage is consistently associated with the lowering risk of heart and brain-related diseases, cancer, as well as diabetes.

From the study, it was found that multiple dietary supplement users had:

11% lower cholesterol ratios and 33% lower levels triglyce-rides

36% lower levels of homocysteine

59% lower levels of C-reactive protein

Conducted by the University of Berkeley in the United States, the cross-sectional study involved 1,056 participants across three sample groups long term non-dietary supplement users, single supplement users and multiple supplement users.

The study was designed to observe dietary supplement usage patterns, health and nutritional status among dietary supplement users, with 50% of the multiple supplement users, on average, consuming supplements such as multivitamins, vitamin B-complex, vitamin C, carotenoids, calcium with vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, glucosamine, probiotics supplement (for women) and soy protein supplements (for men), for over 20 years.

Long-term multiple dietary supplement users who consumed high bioavailability dietary supplements were also found to have improved health.

Bioavailability is a term used to describe the proportion of a nutrient that is absorbed from the diet and is used for regular body functions.

These users were more likely to have lower concentrations of chronic disease-related biomarkers including serum homocysteine, C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as more likely to have optimal blood nutrient concentrations including folate, vitamin C, alpha and beta carotene, and vitamin E.

Based on the findings of the study, the prevalence for general and chronic diseases were found to be lower in multiple dietary supplement users compared to the non-dietary supplement and single-dietary supplement users.

At the Reality Check: Do Supplements Work? roundtable session held recently in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Shaklee Corp chief science officer and Research & Development senior vice-president Dr Bruce Daggy said, It is important to know the efficacy of the dietary supplements we take, to ensure that we are absorbing the fullest of the focused nutrients.

The dietary study gives us a clear snapshot of how important dietary supplements are in our daily life, and that it plays an equally important role in providing quality nutrients together with a balanced diet. The key take-away is that we should always supplement wisely.

Also present at the expert roundtable discussion was Malaysian Wellness Society president Datuk Dr Rajbans Singh, who discussed the holistic approach to leading a healthier lifestyle.

Holistic health is not the absence of sickness. That is why it is important that Malaysians understand the key components to leading a healthy lifestyle.

Leading a healthy lifestyle starts with making smart choices from every food group and emphasising on key nutrient benefits that your body requires. While we live by the term everything in moderation, we must ensure that a balanced nutrition is not compromised, he stressed.

The 2015 National Health & Morbidity Survey (NHMS)revealed that half the Malaysian population is either obese or overweight, making losing weight a crucial step to improving ones health for Malaysians.

A sedentary lifestyle leads to weight gain and obesity, which would then increase the risk of various chronic diseases.

Sunway Medical Centre Dietetics manager Celeste Lau Wai Hong said, Unhealthy eating and sedentary lifestyles are the main drivers towards obesity.

While optimal weight is key to reducing risks of diseases, an active lifestyle should be a priority for all and not just the obese.

Malaysians need to undertake healthy eating habits and they can start by cutting down sugar or foods thatre high in fats.

While the studys findings indicate that dietary supplements play a positive role as an important source of nutrients and lowering disease prevalence, it is fundamental that Malaysians are aware of the three key components to leading a healthy lifestyle eating healthy, staying active and wise supplementation if necessary.

At the event, Shaklee Malaysia president Helen Lam said, We have been championing wellness and encouraging Malaysians to take charge of their health.

We have put in place health and wellness-focused programmes to educate the public. We hope that many more Malaysians will be empowered to start by making small changes in their diet and lifestyle towards a longer and healthy life.

The expert roundtable marked the beginning of Shaklee Malaysias wellness education campaign, Live Well, Be Well.

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Supplemental living - Star2.com

PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis. (WISC) -- A business that had been steadily growing over the years has seen a spike in sales after a recent dog show.

The Doctors Choice Supplements is the provider of a dog food supplement for Rumor, the winner of this years Westminster Dog Show.

Probably 20 to 25 percent busier, and I think this is just the tip of the iceberg, says Karen Duhr, warehouse and office manager for Doctors Choice Supplements.

The company has been providing Fido-Vite supplements to Kenlyn Kennels for several years. Kenlyn, an Edgerton kennel, is the owner of Rumor, a female German shepherd.

When it got down to the finals, I was thinking she cant lose, she cant lose. Then, all of a sudden when she won, Im like, I cant believe she won, says Jon Sawle, a part owner of Doctors Choice Supplements.

While the employees of the Prairie du Sac company celebrated Rumors win, they realize they are just one part of what went into the success.

You know, were just one brick in the wall, but you know youve got to have all those bricks to make the wall, says Sawle.

The Fido-VIte supplements provide a probiotic and enzyme that improves the health and appearance of a dog.

It helps the food work better, helps the overall digestion and then they absorb more nutrients from their dog food, says Sawle.

While the increase in sales is welcomed at Doctors Choice Supplements, they joke it has made for more work for the UPS drivers.

Yeah, especially on Mondays, I feel a little sorry for the UPS man, says Sawle.

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Dog show win is a win for food supplement company - WSAW

Rumor turns business to reality More Headlines

PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis. - A business that had been steadily growing over the years has seen a spike in sales after a recent dog show.

The Doctors Choice Supplements is the provider of a dog food supplement for Rumor, the winner of this years Westminster Dog Show.

Probably 20 to 25 percent busier, and I think this is just the tip of the iceberg, says Karen Duhr, warehouse and office manager for Doctors Choice Supplements.

The company has been providing Fido-Vite supplements to Kenlyn Kennels for several years. Kenlyn, an Edgerton kennel, is the owner of Rumor, a female German shepherd.

When it got down to the finals, I was thinking she cant lose, she cant lose. Then, all of a sudden when she won, Im like, I cant believe she won, says Jon Sawle, a part owner of Doctors Choice Supplements.

While the employees of the Prairie du Sac company celebrated Rumors win, they realize they are just one part of what went into the success.

You know, were just one brick in the wall, but you know youve got to have all those bricks to make the wall, says Sawle.

The Fido-VIte supplements provide a probiotic and enzyme that improves the health and appearance of a dog.

It helps the food work better, helps the overall digestion and then they absorb more nutrients from their dog food, says Sawle.

While the increase in sales is welcomed at Doctors Choice Supplements, they joke it has made for more work for the UPS drivers.

Yeah, especially on Mondays, I feel a little sorry for the UPS man, says Sawle.

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Dog show win for Rumor is a win for food supplement company - Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3

Amazon has quietly added a new product to its private label, Amazon Elements, which previously only carried Amazons own brand of baby wipes, after pulling its diaper line from the label in 2015. Now Elements is movingbeyond baby products, having introduced its own line of vitamins and supplements under the brand.

Launched on February 21st, 2017, this is the first addition to the Elements brand in years.

The label, which first arrived in 2014, had grown fairly stagnant following its exit from diapers the following year. And with last years rumors that Amazon was considering rolling out diapers again, this time under its newer, now baby food-focused brand Mama Bear, it wouldnt have beenall that surprising to see Amazon shutter the Elements brand entirely by movingthe wipes tothe Mama Bear label.

But thats not the case, as it turns out.

Instead, the brand has expanded to include a small selection of new vitamins and supplements products. Listed on the site currently is Amazon Elements Vitamin D2, Turmeric Root Extract, Calcium Complex, and Vitamin K2. Thats a small, and interesting, selection to kick off the launch but one thats likely informed by Amazons customer shopping data.

The products are branded on the site as premium and of transparent origins.

Highlighting the origins of its products is something Amazon has put more emphasis on with several of its private labels. Mama Bears baby food, for example, touts its organic nature, with no GMOs, pesticides, artificial flavoring or chemicals; while the Elements baby wipes product pagelets you click through a large slideshow that shows where and how theyre made from the water to the extracts used, and even the supplier details.

Theres alsoan Amazon mobile appyou can use to scan a transparency barcode on your item to learn about its origins and authenticity.

The transparency focus is emerging as consumers have grown more concerned about how products are sourced, made and what chemicals they contain.

Amazon today faces competition from newer e-commerce players like Jessica Albas The Honest Company, which wasin acquisition talks with Unilever last fall, but didnt sell. (Unilever bought Seventh Generation instead.) The Honest Companys baby, household and beauty products claim to avoid using the harsh chemicals found in rivals lines, and despite some missteps, have grown popular with consumers to the tune of $300 million in sales in annual sales.

With Amazon Elements vitamins and supplements, each product gets a big, splashy marketing page that details the itemsorigins and contents. Product descriptions say things like does not contain allergens, artificial colors and flavors, chemical preservatives, or gluten, and states the product was made in a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facility in the USA.

Amazon also verifies the potency, purity and integrity of the ingredients, and shares its test results on the site a move designed to gain consumer trust in a fairly shady industry.

The supplement markettoday is rife with fraud. Many brands even top sellers have been found to sell products that were contaminated or didnt even contain the ingredients on their label.

Amazon basically guarantees thats not the case with its own products, by stating that the product is tested both by the supplement maker ( Arizona Nutritional Supplements) and ISO accredited third-party labs.

Also worth noting is that Amazon Elements vitamins and supplements are not available to all Amazon shoppers you have to be a Prime member to order them, for starters.

But even more oddly, you have to request an invitation to buy the product at this time. According to the site, those who register their interest in shopping these products will be notified by email in the coming week when the products become available.

According to early testers, none have received their email invite yet. However, some Amazon Vine reviewers have received samples, we understand.

Amazon has been highly focused on expanding its private labels in recent months, with moves into consumables, food / consumer packaged goods, baby food, fashion, and more.

According to retail analytics firmOne Click Retail, Amazon has launched over 50 products in the past three months,with varying degrees of success. Happy Belly and Wickedly Prime sales are still small and show only mild growth, One Click Retail said, with less than 1 percent of thecategory share.

But Amazon Elements wipes have doubled sales year-over-year, and have a 12 percent share of their category.

When the new Elements products golive, expect themto be heavily promoted on the site, One Click Retail says.

We expect to see Gateway placements, Sponsored search, and Fly out banner ads if they follow the same pattern they did with other Amazon Private brands, notedSpencer Millerberg, One Click RetailCEO.

Read more from the original source:

Amazon's private label Elements expands for first time in years with invite-only vitamins and supplements - TechCrunch

Salmonella in soup and broths was among the unappetising discoveries in a record number of Irish food alerts last year. Photograph: Getty Images

Salmonella in soup, broths and condiments, pieces of plastic in confectionery and food supplements with an amphetamine-like substance were among the unappetising discoveries in a record number of Irish food alerts last year.

Ireland experienced the highest rate of such incidents in a decade during 2016.

These tend to follow the identification of pathogens like bugs or chemicals and can lead to products being taken off shelves or even withdrawn from the Irish market altogether.

Other grim discoveries included listeria monocytogenes, the bug that leads to Listeriosis, in prepared food dishes, snacks and milk products, and one case of insufficient product sterilisation.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), which issues warnings, said there were 39 food alerts last year compared to 31 in 2015.

There were also 28 food allergen alerts where certain products did not have specific ingredients listed correctly.

In total the FSAI responded to 554 food incidents last year.

In the EU there are 14 categories of allergens that must be labeled. Last year in Ireland milk, soybeans, eggs and nuts were the most common of those incorrectly included in food packaging and prompting a number of such public alerts.

Three in every 100 people in Ireland have a food allergy and the seriousness of these occurrences can result in the loss of life to an individual in its most extreme form and can also result in urgent medical treatment and serve allergic reactions, the FSAI said when publishing 2016 data on Wednesday.

Inaccurate labelling can occur when an allergen is unknowingly incorporated in a product; when the ingredients are not listed in English; or when the wrong product is placed in the wrong packaging.

The identification of a food incident can follow inspections, complaints from consumers, a business informing the FSAI that they have a problem, laboratory results, or from notifications from other EU member states.

Issuing food alerts and food allergen alerts is a reflection of the seriousness of food incidents, some of which have the potential to cause serious harm to consumers, said Dr Pamela Byrne FSAI chief executive.

The increase in recent years of food allergen alerts and food alerts is indicative of the need for food businesses to not only ensure the food they place on the market is safe, but that it is also labeled correctly, especially in the case of allergens.

More:

'Amphetamine-like substance' in supplements among 2016 food alerts - Irish Times

Why take a mysterious pill when you can eat a handful of sunflower seeds?

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According to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1990 to 2006, the number of Americans taking some sort of supplement increased from 40 to 53 percent. However, studies show that, with a few specific exceptions, most Americans already get an adequate amount of nutrients, through fortified and whole foods.

Fruits and vegetables offer fiber, phytochemicals, and antioxidants that cant be replicated by a handful of pills, and nutrients, like vitamin A, E, and calcium are better absorbed by the body when derived from whole foods.

That said, supplements do sometimes serve a purpose. People over the age of 50 have trouble retaining vitamin B-12 naturally through food, for instance, and for vegetarians, iron derived from spinach and other plant-based sources is not as easily absorbed by the body. Please consult your doctor, then, before eliminating any supplements from your diet.

If there are no medical concerns, however, you might want to start weaning yourself off supplements today by eating these 10 foods instead.

Read more here:

Stop Taking These 10 Vitamins and Supplements and Eat These Foods Instead - Huffington Post

As an addition to a normal diet, food business operators market food supplements, which are concentrated sources of nutrients (or other substances) with a nutritional or physiological effect. Such food supplements can be marketed in dose form, such as pills, tablets, capsules, liquids in measured doses, etc.

The objective of the harmonised rules on those products in Directive 2002/46/EC is to protect consumers against potential health risks from those products and to ensure that they are not provided with misleading information.

With respect to the safety of food supplements, the Directive lays down a harmonised list of vitamins and minerals that may be added for nutritional purposes in food supplements (in Annex I to the Directive). Annex II of the Directive contains a list of permitted sources (vitamin and mineral substances) from which those vitamins and minerals may be manufactured.

This list has been amended by the following Regulations and Directive to include additional substances:

The trade of products containing vitamins and minerals not listed in Annex II has been prohibited from the 1st of August 2005.

Directive 2002/46/EC has been aligned with the new Regulatory Procedure with scrutiny by Regulation (EC) 1137/2008.

Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements envisages the setting of maximum and minimum amounts of vitamins and minerals in supplements via the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed ( PAFF Committee) procedure.

The Commission has issued a Discussion Paper on the setting of maximum and minimum amounts for vitamins and minerals in foodstuffs , which identified the main issues to be considered in this exercise and originated a set of Responses.

Although the Commission has consulted extensively with Member States and interested stakeholders on the issue, no proposal has not yet been presented due to the complex nature of the issue and the divergent views that were expressed. All the available data on the potential effects on economic operators and consumers of the setting of maximum amounts of vitamins and minerals in foods, including food supplements, will be taken into account. Every effort will be made to ensure that the maximum amounts set will take into account the concerns expressed by all interested parties.

The EC commissioned a study on the use of substances with nutritional or physiological effects other than vitamins and minerals in food supplements.

Taking into account this study and other available information, the Commission - in accordance with the requirement set out in Article 4(8) of Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements - has prepared a report to the Council and the European Parliament on the use of substances other than vitamins and minerals in food supplements.

The report is accompanied by two Commission staff working documents.

Member States may, for monitoring purposes, request notification to their competent authority of the placing on the market in their territory of a food supplement product in accordance with Article 10 of the Directive. The list of competent authorities may be found here:

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Food supplements - Food Safety - European Commission

Washington D.C. The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, is announcing its continued partnership with the American Conference Institute (ACI) on the Fifth Annual Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance Forum on Dietary Supplements, which WholeFoods Magazine is a sponsor of, taking place in New York City at the Intercontinental New York Times Square on June 26 and 27, with additional workshops on June 28.

This must-attend event for dietary supplements and functional food industry legal and regulatory executives is teaming with a high level of quality speakers. The conference is reputable for its respected cohort of attendees ready to engage in discussions that will help shape the dietary supplement industrys agenda. Steve Mister, president and CEO, CRN, and Scott Bass, partner, Sidley Austin LLP, will co-chair the conference.

CRN is pleased to partner with ACI again to present the Dietary Supplements forum in New York, Mister said. The focused sessions promise to be especially valuable during this transformative time for our industry.

CRN and ACI are developing programs with authoritative speakers on topics relevant to long-term business strategies and industry growth as they relate to regulation and compliance. This includes the impact of the new administration on the dietary supplement industry, the latest industry self-regulation efforts, enforcement action from state and federal authorities, new class action threats, novel questions on claims substantiation, and the federal GMO law and Prop 65 reforms.

For more information, please visit http://www.crnusa.org/ACI. The agenda is currently under development and will be updated as the event approaches. Registration is now open and CRN members may use the discount code provided on the website for 10 percent off registration fees. Early booking is encouraged as the event has sold out in recent years.

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CRN and ACI Partner for Dietary Supplements Conference - WholeFoods Magazine

Medical researchers in the United Kingdom have discovered that some common, over-the-counter herbal supplements contain significant amounts of pharmaceutical ingredients.

The group is led by Duncan Burns, Emeritus Professor at the Institute for Global Food Security, located at the Queens University in Belfast. Declan Naughton, a professor from Kingston University and Dr. Michael Walker of the Government Chemist Programme, LGC are also part of the team. The team of experts conducted research on the detection of contaminated ingredients in herbal food supplements. The team is currently collaborating on a paper to be submitted for peer review. Analyzed Supplements Reveal Illegal Ingredients

During their research, Dr. Burns team examined the ingredients of supplements used to treat obesity and erectile dysfunction. The labels of these products list natural, herbal ingredients. However, when analyzed, chemists discovered that many of the products contained significant amounts of pharmaceutical drugs. Sibutramine

One of the drugs was identified as Sibutramine. It was sold as a weight loss supplement, and marketed under the name brand Reductil. Sibutramine was pulled from markets in 2010, when its usage was linked to an increase in strokes and heart attacks. This drug is known to interact with MAOIs, a common class of prescription drugs. Taking Sibutramine with these, opioids, or certain drugs used to treat migraines increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a rare but severe condition. Tadalfil and Sulfoaildenafil

The supplements meant to treat erectile dysfunction contained large amounts of the drugs Tadalfil and Sulfoaildenafil. These popular drugs are commonly prescribed under the name brands Cialis and Viagra. These drugs are known to lower blood pressure, which can be a life-threatening side effect for those with certain medical conditions. Angina patients are cautioned against taking organic nitrates to relieve pain within 48 hours of consuming these drugs. Taking these drugs together can cause a severe drop in blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack. Consumer Danger of Drug Interactions

Dr. Burns argues that these supplements are dangerous for people who suffer from conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. These conditions are commonly treated with medications containing nitrates. Patients often do not report the use of over-the-counter herbal remedies and supplements to their doctors. Without full disclosure of ingredients, doctors cannot warn patients against potentially harmful drug interactions.

Professor Naughton concluded that more research, and the use of techniques like datamining, is needed. The information will help food and drug regulators protect the public safety, and responsible supplement manufacturers, by helping them track contamination issues.

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Supplement Pitfalls Revealed by Experts - Anti Aging News

Grammy Award winner Adele says she gets some of her sparkle from an infusion of vitamins delivered through an IV. Intravenous vitamins are a relatively new twist in America's love affair with nutritional supplements, but are they any different from those that come in a bottle?

Probably not, some health experts are saying, and others say we don't need supplements at all. But that's not stopping Adele and other celebrities from submitting to the needle, turning IV vitamins into the latest wellness trend by their glittering example.

The appeal of IV vitamins is that of other supplements: the promise of beauty, health and zest, delivered faster than food, absorbed more fully than a pill.

In recent years, however, the Food and Drug Administration has warned that a vitamin C solution administered by IV is not a high-tech vitamin, but an unapproved drug that can be dangerous. And it's definitely not for children. Here's what you and your family should know about the craze.

A drip of wellness?

Adele accepts the award for album of the year at the 59th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 12, 2017, in Los Angeles. Adele says she gets some of her sparkle from an infusion of vitamins delivered through an IV. | Matt Sayles, Invision

The Hollywood Reporter says that Adele, the British singer who swept the Grammy Awards in February, goes to a wellness spa in Los Angeles that charges $220 for an IV energy infusion called "Limitless." The spa Drip Doctors and others that offer vitamin infusions say that 95 percent of liquid vitamins injected into a vein are absorbed into the body, compared to 20 percent of vitamins taken orally.

There's something to this reasoning, but for increased absorption, you don't have to use an IV. Taking vitamins or medicine in liquid form makes them available to the body faster than taking a pill, which has to be broken down by the body.

A person who gets vitamins by IV, however, risks complications ranging from dizziness, nausea or death if the dosing is wrong, Kathryn Romeyn wrote for The Hollywood Reporter, which is why it's important that the drip be administered by a doctor. Even in hospitals, one in five patients hooked to an IV suffered complications or died because of "inappropriate administration," a 2013 British study concluded.

Dr. Svetlana Kogan, a New York physician, told Romeyn that she recommends intravenous vitamins only for people who have an ongoing medical problem such as chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia, or if they are frequently sick or need to boost their immune system before traveling.

"People should not be using IV therapy frivolously," Kogan said.

Two board-certified anesthesiologists are part of the staff at The Vitamin Bar, an intravenous vitamin spa with offices in Salt Lake City and Park City. Its website promises 100 percent absorption and says vitamin therapy will leave you with an "overall feeling of health and wellness."

The business recommends that clients have two to four "drips" each month, and offers special formulas for hangovers, jet lag and altitude sickness, as well as pregnancy, skin hydration, memory and hair and nail health. Clients must be 18 or older.

Other than being more expensive, are intravenous vitamins any different from those that come in a bottle? | Adobe Stock

"At the end of a drip, most of our clients say they feel invigorated, full of life, and ready to tackle the rest of their day," The Vitamin Bar website says.

Treatments that cost $139 include "The Hippocrates," for people recovering from "a paper cut or major surgery," and "The Centennial," for people who want to live past 100.

Getting life-boosting fluids from IV lines, despite the current craze, is nothing new. As early as the 1600s, doctors knew that medicine could be injected into the vein, and an Oxford scientist of that time period created an intravenous device using a pig bladder and a quill, and he practiced on a dog that was given opium, according to an article in the British Journal of Anaesthesia.

Today, the IV is the most common procedure done in emergency rooms, with one-quarter of patients receiving IV fluids, according to the CDC. And commercial IV clinics for hydration have been around for several years; one opened in Chicago in 2012, and it was soon followed by at-home IV hydration and mobile IV hydration offered to runners at road races. Runner's World magazine examined the service, and while the article quoted runners who said they felt "amazing" after getting fluid intravenously, the writer cited studies that said the difference between getting an IV and drinking fluid was "negligible."

The company mentioned in the Runner's World article, Onus IV Hydration, is based in Denver, and it credits the late Dr. John Myers, a Baltimore physician, with inventing a nutritious IV cocktail of magnesium, calcium and B and C vitamins 30 years ago. Its treatments range from $65 for simple saline hydration to $145 for Myers' original concoction, said to "supercharge the system and enhance overall wellness."

The treatment can be delivered to your home or office by a nurse with a duffel bag, or, at larger events, in a Mercedes Sprinter van, and the procedure takes 30-45 minutes, with effects felt within an hour. A doctor is not usually present, but is available by phone for questions, the company's website says.

In search of evidence

Critics of nutritional IVs are not just people who raise questions about the risks of the procedures, but those who doubt vitamins and other supplements are useful at all. In an article in STAT, Megan Thielking skeptically examined the Manhattan IV clinic run by Dr. Erika Schwartz and said there isnt any "robust evidence" that shows infusions have any effect beyond that of a placebo.

Thielking quoted Dr. Pete Miller, a clinician and nutrition researcher at Johns Hopkins, who said, "Supplements dont fix anything and they dont prevent anything. Its simple."

The American Academy of Pediatrics says healthy children who eat a "normal, well-balanced diet" do not need vitamin supplementation and that megadoses can be toxic.

Vitamin D tablets are displayed on Nov. 9, 2016, in New York. | Mark Lennihan, Associated Press

There are exceptions: For example, most newborns receive a vitamin K injection, and doctors often recommend that breastfed babies be given vitamin D.

If children are finicky eaters, doctors often recommend a multivitamin, and certain health conditions might require supplements for example, a new study from the University of Massachusetts Medical School recommends vitamin D supplementation for children with irritable bowel syndrome.

For adults, the advice is similar. In its dietary guidelines, the U.S. Department of Agriculture urges people to get their vitamins through food and beverages, but the Food and Drug Administration says that people may need them if they have health problems, eat a vegetarian or vegan diet, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Most spas, however, market IV vitamins not to sick people, but to people seeking extreme health.

Schwartz, the author of "Don't Let Your Doctor Kill You," treats celebrities and jet-setters who pay from $325 to $875 for a treatment at her clinic, Evolved Science. Results, the website says, include increased energy, improved mood, diminished jet lag and improved athletic performance.

We put together the ideal combination for them to obtain the results they want: clearer skin, clearer mind, better hair, better nails, Schwartz told Thielking.

Another clinic, this one in Los Angeles, offered a special infusion for Valentine's Day, touting its aphrodisiac effects.

For people who don't like shots and needles, or sitting around for a half-hour or more to take their vitamins, there are always gummies, capsules or pills. And an Arizona company has developed vitamins you spray in your mouth.

Or, you could just eat things. As the celebrated food writer Michael Pollan says, for optimal health, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

Water helps, too.

Read more:

What your family needs to know about IV vitamins - Deseret News

According to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, from 1990 to 2006, the number of Americans taking some sort of supplement increased from 40 to 53 percent. However, studies show that, with a few specific exceptions, most Americans already get an adequate amount of nutrients, through fortified and whole foods.

Click here to view theStop Taking These 10 Vitamins and Supplements and Eat These Foods Instead Slideshow

Fruits and vegetables offer fiber, phytochemicals, and antioxidants that cant be replicated by a handful of pills, and nutrients, like vitamin A, E, and calcium are better absorbed by the body when derived from whole foods.

That said, supplements do sometimes serve a purpose. People over the age of 50 have trouble retaining vitamin B-12 naturally through food, for instance, and for vegetarians, iron derived from spinach and other plant-based sources is not as easily absorbed by the body. Please consult your doctor, then, before eliminating any supplements from your diet.

If there are no medical concerns, however, you might want to start weaning yourself off supplements today by eating these 10 foods instead.

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Stop Taking These 10 Vitamins and Supplements and Eat These Foods Instead - The Daily Meal

Many people may be aware of the potential health benefits of the cranberry. Cranberries are known to be high in antioxidants, which can support heart health and shown in studies to reduce the risk of cancer and Alzheimers. Cranberries are also anti-inflammatory and can be helpful for reducing the occurrence or frequency of ulcers and urinary tract infections (UTIs). The question to ask then is, whats the best way to reap these benefits, by eating cranberries, drinking cranberry juice or taking a supplement? In the interest of time and convenience, a motivator of many peoples dietary habits, taking a supplement may be the most practical route to gain all of the benefits of the cranberry.

Eating cranberries in their unaltered, natural form is certainly good for you as they are low in calories, only 46 calories per cup, are fat free, cholesterol free, sodium free and are a good source of phytonutrients and vitamin A (1). The potential down side is the taste. If bitterness isnt something a consumer enjoys, then eating whole cranberries could be more of a chore than a pleasure. Along with the taste is the sheer amount of cranberries that would need to be consumed daily in order to reap the benefits they produce; an amount more readily found in supplements.

Cranberries have naturally occurring proanthocyanidins (PAC), which is the plant compound that gives cranberries the reputation they have for reducing the risks of UTIs. Cranberry products taken on a regular basis were clinically proven to prevent UTI and may serve as an alternative to recurrent use of antibiotics, states the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. It has been proposed that cranberry products act by inhibiting uropathogenic strains of E. coli from adhering to uroepithelial cells, which is the initial step in development of infection (2). It was originally believed that proanthocyanidins helped reduce the risk of UTIs by making urine more acidic, but it is actually due to bacteria not being able to adhere to the walls that give proanthocyanidin its reputation as a preventative agent.

When taking a cranberry supplement, the dose is typically more concentrated than what you would find in a whole cranberry. Although it would seem that this would automatically make it better, this is not always necessarily the case. When extracting something you are removing part of an item from the whole, which means that although you may be getting a more concentrated dose of the item, the composition of vitamins and other nutrients being extracted from the berry may not all be present in the same way. However, different processing methods can deliver a different result. Therefore, many manufacturers utilize methods that help maintain the original integrity of the cranberry.

In the case of powders, the process of drying the cranberries can also lower the levels of antioxidants, vitamin A and vitamin C. Considering this, certain manufacturers utilize systems that dry at lower temperatures for a longer period of time to maintain the integrity of the powder. This is particularly important for protecting the PAC content of the cranberry powder (3).

With this is mind, supplements have been proven to be more effective than cranberry juice for preventing UTIs, especially since the added sugars found in most juices can actually worsen infections. Of course, some question the effectiveness of cranberry supplements. A recent JAMA editorial stated that there was a lack of efficacy in the use of cranberry powder for supporting urinary tract health following the results of a recent randomized controlled trial that found no significant relationship between the two (4).

In response, the firm Fruit dOr, based in Quebec, Canada, cited a recent in vitro study they conducted, in partnership with UAS Laboratories. The research study demonstrated a synergistic relationship between whole food cranberry extract standardized to 7% PAC content (both soluble and insoluble PAC) and a probiotic formulation of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium (5). Specifically, the study found this relationship to be effective for inhibiting the invasiveness of pathogenic E. coli and reduce the risk of urinary tract infection in women.

Results showed that the bioactive PACs found in their whole food cranberry interfered with the invasion of the harmful bacteria by interacting with its surface, essentially wrapping around it. This prevents the harmful bacteria from travelling through the urethra and other parts of the body vulnerable to bacterial infection. The firm also sought to make the distinction between the cranberry juice powder used in the unsuccessful study and their whole food cranberry powder which utilizes the entirety of the fruit. This goes to show that not all cranberry nutraceutical ingredients are created equal.

Supplements are also an effective route for flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds that are responsible for promoting heart health and may possibly reduce the risk of certain types of cancers due to the antioxidants present. Studies show that polyphenols may contribute to a reduction in cardiovascular disease and risk factors increasing the resistance of bad LDL cholesterol to oxidation, inhibiting platelet aggregation and reducing blood pressure (6). One double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm study assigned volunteers to drink either a low calorie cranberry juice or flavor-, color- and energymatched placebo beverage twice-daily for eight weeks, while on the same controlled diet (7). Results showed a reduction of cardiovascular risk factors among participants who consumed cranberry juice. These risk factors included including diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive proteins, a biomarker for inflammation, triglycerides and blood glucose. Triglycerides, for example, saw the highest reduction in the cranberry group among those with the highest baseline levels. While this research studied cranberry juice, it can make the case for cranberry supplements as well given their more concentrated doses and much lower sugar content.

In the case of cancer, while supplements cannot cure or treat any disease, research shows that cranberry-derived extracts inhibit the growth of cancer cells in vitro. Specifically, cranberry-derived ursolic acid, proanthocyanidins and an organic-soluble cranberry extract inhibit the growth of breast, colon, cervical, glioblastoma, leukemia, lung, melanoma, oral cavity, prostate and renal cancer cell lines, explain the authors of a research paper (8). These findings provide the basis for investigation for in vivo model such as animal studies. In vivo models that do exist have yielded limited results, meaning that further research is required.

Cranberry supplements have also been found to help reduce the risks of peptic ulcers. Helicobacter pylori plays a large part in the creation of ulcers in the gastrointestinal system. Studies are showing that cranberries lower levels of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach in the same way that it is suggested that cranberries help with UTIs, by washing away the bacteria that would otherwise adhere to the walls of the organs (9). In addition, cranberry can also help balance out the rest of the digestive tract due to its ability to increase Bifidobacteria, which promotes balanced intestinal flora and the same polyphenols seen to assist in heart health can also have an anti-inflammatory effect in the digestive tract as well.

Some research has also shown that the composition of polyphenols in cranberries may be helpful for reducing the risk of Alzheimers and dementia. In the case of dementia, the anti-inflammatory properties of cranberries are seen to be the most helpful since dementia is linked to long term inflammation of the body. The development of Alzheimers Disease appears to be impacted by the levels of oxidative stress in the body and the antioxidants and vitamin E found in cranberry help to offset these factors (10,11).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has set guidelines and regulates cranberry growth and quality in the country.The Federal Food and Drug Administration is responsible for dietary supplements, such as cranberry supplements, under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. Although this Act prohibits supplement makers from marketing products that are mislabeled or adulterated in any way, doing your homework doesnt hurt. Its important to have confidence in the products you are selling your customers so that they have confidence in you. Providing organic and non-GMO options provides an added layer of confidence.

As with any change in diet or supplementation, it is advisable that customers consult with a medical professional to avoid any potential drug interactions, and to discover what the recommended daily intake should be.

References 1. Cranberries, Raw Nutrition Facts & Calories, http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1875/2, Accessed 1/27/2017. 2. Cranberry Proanthocyanidins As Inhibitors Of Epithelial Cell Invasion By Entheropathic and Uropathogenic E. Coli Strains, http://portal.nifa.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/0223796-cranberry-proanthocyanidins-as-inhibitors-of-epithelial-cell-invasion-by-entheropathogenic-and-uropathogenic-e-coli-strains.html , Accessed 1/28/2017. 3. K. Chiarella-Ebner. Powder Play. http://www.wholefoodsmagazine. com/suppliers/features-suppliers/powder-play/, Accessed 2/4/2017. 4. L.E. Nicolle. Cranberry for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infection? Time to Move On http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2576821, Accessed 2/4/2017 5. M.A. Polewski, et al. Ability of cranberry proanthocyanidins in combination with a probiotic formulation to inhibit in vitro invasion of gut epithelial cells by extra-intestinal pathogenic E.coli. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464616301359, Accessed 2/4/2017. 6. Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and cardiovascular disease risk factors, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18038941, Accessed 1/30/2017. 7. J.A. Novotny, et al. Cranberry Juice Consumption Lowers Markers of Cardiometabolic Risk, Including Blood Pressure and Circulating C-Reactive Protein, Triglyceride, and Glucose Concentrations in Adults. The Journal of Nutrition. 145(6): 1185-1193. 2015. 8. K.M. Weh, et al. Cranberries and Cancer: An Update of Preclinical Studies Evaluating the Cancer Inhibitory Potential of Cranberry and Cranberry Derived Constituents. Antioxidants. 5(3): 27. 2016. 9.Cranberry.https://www.lahey.org/Departments_and_Locations/Departments/Colon_and_Rectal_Surgery/Ebsco_Content/Diverticular_Disease/Diverticulitis.aspx?chunkiid=21704. Accessed 2/1/2017. 10. Cranberry Research-Antioxidant Intake-Lower Risk of Alzheimer Disease. https://extension.umaine.edu/cranberries/grower-services/cranberry-research/reduced-risk-of-alzheimers/, Accessed 2/1/2017. 11. Cranberry Extract May Be Useful in the Treatment of Alzheimers Disease, http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/cranberry-extract-may-be-useful-treatment-alzheimers-disease, Accessed 2/1/2017.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine March 2017

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Cranberry Supplements: Not Bitter, Better - WholeFoods Magazine

While a plurality of Japanese men experience heart-health benefits from consuming soybeans tofu, soy milk, edamame, tempeh and other soy-based foods the same occurs far less often in American men.

The reason is gut bacteria or microflora.

A University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health study published recently in the British Journal of Nutrition helps explain how gut bacteria turn an important soy isoflavone into a metabolite known as equol, which in turn is protective against coronary artery calcification.

Soy foods are staples of the Asian diet while Westerners consume minuscule amounts. In general, researchers better understand the biochemistry of how soy foods and other plant foods protect the body from disease. But for many Americans soy is falling short in protecting against coronary heart disease.

The Pitt study, also involving Japanese researchers, found that a clear majority of Asians have intestinal bacteria to metabolize daidzein, a soy isoflavone and plant estrogen, into equol.

Monkey studies clearly demonstrate heart-protective properties of isoflavones, the study says, noting that all monkeys produce equol. In addition, observational studies in Asian countries have documented a significant inverse association between the dietary intake of soy isoflavones and the incidence of coronary heart disease, the study says.

But a recent randomized controlled trial focused on the impact of dietary isoflavones on atherosclerosis in the United States failed to show any benefit, raising the questions about differences in gut biochemistry.

Pitt researchers hypothesized, and ultimately provided evidence, that ones natural ability to generate equol from soy isoflavones was key and involves various forms of gut bacteria.

Individuals able to produce equol, known as equol producers, derive greater clinical benefits from soy foods than individuals referred to as equol nonproducers, the study says. In Asian populations, between 50 percent and 70 percent are equol producers compared with 20 percent to 30 percent of Western populations.

The study shows that equol, rather than the soy isoflavones themselves, generate a protective effect against heart disease for biochemical reasons that now are better understood.

No previous study has examined the association between dietary isoflavones or equol with the presence of coronary artery calcification a well-established biomarker of atherosclerosis independently associated with the risk of coronary heart disease.

Equol producers had significantly lower coronary artery calcification plaque levels in the arteries than those without bacteria that produces equol, it says, calling for clinical trials to confirm the findings.

We need future research from a random clinical trial. But this is a first step, said Akira Sekikawa, an associate professor of epidemiology at Pitt Public Health. It remains unknown, he said, why a higher percentage of Asians are equol producers, including whether higher levels of soy consumption levels are a factor.

The good news, he said, is that dietary supplements containing equol are readily available, typically involving S-equol. Other studies have found equol to be beneficial in reducing menopause symptoms including hot flashes, bolstering bone health and reducing wrinkled skin, with other studies showing potential beneficial effects in preventing Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and breast and prostate cancers.

Equol has a well-recognized effect on arteries, said Kenneth Setchell, a biochemist at the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, and author of The Simple Soybean and Your Health. In recent dietary intervention studies we published using a soy germ-based food (pasta) we observed significantly greater cardio-protective effects in the presence of isoflavones, and the effects were significantly greater in those subjects that were equol producers.

Those benefits, he said, include improvements in the flexibility of arteries.

So the finding of less arterial calcification in this study is important as it would contribute in maintenance of healthy blood vessels and thus an associated lower risk for cardiovascular disease, he said.

David Templeton: dtempleton@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1578.

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Gut bacteria determines the beneficial impacts of soy food on heart health - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The characterization and careful research of a nutraceutical is necessary to claim it has positive health benefits. A review published in Nutrition Journal follows Masqueliers grape seed extract from its isolation in 1947 to its use as a nutraceutical.

In the case of plant-derived food supplements, it is essential for the supplement to be well researched and have significant health benefits. Importantly, three major rules must be followed: 1) the product must be well characterized, 2) the claimed effect should be well-defined and pose a physiological benefit, and 3) there must be a cause and effect relationship between the intake of the food product and the claim on human health.

A new review published in Nutrition Journal followed a botanical preparation of monomeric and oligomeric flavan-3-ols from grape seeds from its creation in 1947 to a commonly used nutraceutical with proven health benefits. Nutraceuticals are any product derived from food sources with extra health benefits in addition to their nutritional value in food, and are generally standardized similar to pharmaceutical-grade nutrients.

Various food supplements contain Masqueliers Original OPCs (Anthogenol), the commercial herbal remedies of monomeric and oligomeric flavan-3-ols which are extracted from grape seeds. These flavonoids, or plant pigment molecules, are bioactive components which were first isolated in the early 20th century. Flavonoids are found ubiquitously in plants.

Flavanols are the most abundant flavonoids and are found in a wide variety of vegetables and plant-derived food such as wine, cocoa beans, and legumes. Among fruits, berries have the highest amounts of flavanols. Since the daily dietary intake of flavanols fluctuates between individuals, a flavanol supplement such as Masqueliers Original OPCs is a possible option since it can provide the health benefits of flavanols in a regulated concentration.

The first requirement to substantiate the health benefit of a food product is the characterization of the product. In contrast to many commercially available herbal remedies, Masqueliers grape seed preparation is rigorously standardized by HPLC and H-NMR/PCA fingerprinting. These methods are optimal for monitoring the quality of plant extracts.

The second requirement is that there is a physiological benefit to the nutraceutical. Through a number of studies, the grape seed extract has been shown to benefit human vascular health through the maintenance of vascular homeostasis. This has been shown through the flavanols effects on protecting collagen and elastin fibers, serving antioxidant properties and having anti-inflammatory effects.

Lastly, the third requirement for advocating the health benefit of a nutraceutical is demonstrating a cause and effect relationship between the supplement and the health effect. Studies on the Masqueliers grape seed extract have shown that the mode of action of flavanols in the commercial preparation parallels that of the specific monomeric and oligomeric flavanols originally isolated in the 1940s.

In conclusion, Masqueliers Original OPCs or grape seed extract is an interesting example of how specific research can isolate, identify and evolve a botanical ingredient to a nutritional supplement. The in-depth characterization and research on flavanols in this context explain how it can be applied as a herbal remedy and nutraceutical for vascular health.

Written By: Neeti Vashi, BSc

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Masquelier's Grape Seed Extract as a Supplement for Vascular Health - Medical News Bulletin

Ora Organic entered the Shark Tank in Season 8 with their fruit-flavored organic, plant-based supplements.

We interviewed CEO Will Smelko, a former strategy and operations consultant for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, who launched the company with his college friend Ronald Chang, who serves as their chef and COO. The duo spent two years on research and development, consulting with doctors, scientific researchers, nutritionists, health coaches, naturopaths and fitness experts to create the optimal supplement.

When asked about their bestselling products, Smelko responded, Our bestsellers are our Omega-3 Nothing Fishy Here Spray, derived from microalgae and flavored with a special pineapple and citrus blend, and our Way Better Than Whey protein powders, flavored with Chai spices and vanilla.

Heres what else he told us about

We were taking supplements for personal health and wellness reasons, but struggled to find products that met the same standards we hold for our food: organic, non-GMO, plant-based and sustainably sourced. We felt impassioned to create an honest supplement line for our people and planet. We also wanted our customers to feel excited about taking supplements, which inspired us to create culinary-flavored formula blends through aesthetically-pleasing packaging and interesting delivery methods. As a team of individuals who adheres to conscious food and lifestyle choices, we wanted to ensure our supplements demonstrated these values. Ora Organics supplements are kind to our bodies, our environment, and our taste palettes!

Ora Organics supplements differentiate from those in the mainstream, as weve developed 100 percent plant-based nutritional formulas. Our vegan-friendly supplement line sources its ingredients from organic farms to ensure the cleanest and most sustainable products possible. Ora Organics omega-3 supplement, for example, is derived from microalgae instead of fish (the primary source of the majority of omega-3 supplements on the market) and formulated into a spray. Likewise, all of Ora Organics products are carefully crafted to be as delicious as they are healthy. Our chef, Ronald Chang, uses vibrant flavors like pineapple, raspberry, and chai, in many of our recipe blends.

As a team, we were ready for the next step in growing the Ora Organic brand. We have felt that one of the biggest issues in the supplement space has been the lack of transparency between companies and consumers, especially when it comes to the ingredients used in their supplement formulas.After seeing so many people being mislead in grocery stores and daily conversation, we realized the urgent need to raise awareness about the current state of the supplement industry-after all, these products are often consumed daily. We have received immense support in our companys endeavors, and have reached a point at which we feel confident to expand our distribution and reach. Having known other company founders who were featured on Shark Tank and seeing the value-add that the Sharks provide, we wanted to go on the show to experience these benefits firsthand. We needed money to scale our business, and thought the Sharks would be amazing candidates to help us accomplish our goals and gain exposure.

Peaceful Fruits, organic snacks made from acai from the Amazon rainforest, entered the Shark Tank in Season 8. We interviewed its founder.

Dollop Gourmet entered the Shark Tank with its frosting that's vegan and gluten free. Heavy interviewed its owner about her dessert business.

Although Parker's Real Maple did not get a deal on Shark Tank, they did gain many customers. We interviewed owner Joshua Parker about their staggering growth.

Bee Fee Honee, a vegan alternative to honey, won a deal with Barbara, Chris and Mark on Shark Tank. Heavy asked their owners about the company's growth.

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Ora Organic on 'Shark Tank': A Look Inside the Plant-Based Supplements - Heavy.com

Filling the gaps in our daily nutrition with tablets and powders isnt a new concept. The large demand for nutritional supplementation has made the industry an attractive one, leading to a congested and difficult marketplace for consumers to navigate.

While federal regulations do exist that dictate the type of claims that can be made on a supplement label, supplement manufacturers are not required to submit their products to a pre-market approval process at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) like pharmaceutical manufacturers are required to do.

As the supplement industry has grown, supplement quality has been derailed and customer confusion has risen.

In 2007, the FDA issued the Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) regulatory program that dictate federal guidelines for the preparation, purity, and accuracy of labeling nutritional supplements. While these regulations are presented as minimum expectations, supplement companies are mostly left to police themselves.

Fortunately for consumers, there are companies that choose to hold themselves to high standards and fully comply with the regulations issued by the FDA.

Heres how you can be absolutely certain that you are choosing a supplement company that is making high quality, safe, and efficacious products:

Look for third-party testing. Nutritional supplement brands can, and should, retain outside, independent companies to audit their manufacturing processes and test their products to ensure the FDAs cGMPs are being complied with, thus ensuring that the companys products contain the ingredients listed on the label in the amounts listed and dont contain any harmful ingredients.

NSF International has created an advanced certification program for supplements geared toward elite athletes. NSF Internationals Certified for Sport program tests products for more than 200 substances that are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (LINK). A supplement product that bears the Certified for Sport seal ensures that that the product contains exactly what the label claims it does, in the amounts listed, and nothing else.

Realize There is No Cure-All. Its illegal for a supplement company to claim that any of its products prevent, cure, or treat any medical condition. Supplements are intended to complement the diet and to support overall health and well-being. Any express or implied claims that a product will prevent, cure, or treat a medical condition is a red flag that the manufacturer isnt in compliance with the FDAs labeling regulations for nutritional supplements.Furthermore, if a supplements product label has a lot of buzz words that dont mean anything, such as white hot heat or blazing intensity the company is probably trying to distract you from a lack of evidence behind their product.

Companies often use phrases that imply theres science behind their product such as clinically proven but many of these claims are not backed by actual research. Be cautious of products claiming ancient formulas, cutting-edge science, miracle cures, or guarantees. A reputable and honest company will have contact information you can use to request further information for the research behind their claims. Lastly, if a product sounds too good to be true "Lose 10 pounds in one day" that's probably because it is.

Take a Lead from Sports. Be aware of ingredients banned in sports by agencies like the World Anti-Doping Agency and the United States Anti-Doping Agency. While these ingredients arent always prohibited for general consumption, these organizations see a problem with the ingredients, which should be a red flag to you as a regular consumer. Do your research to see if you should ban these ingredients from your nutritional game plan.

Watch out for warnings. Be wary of supplements with a long list of warnings or contraindications listed on the product label. Any serious adverse effects reported to a supplement company must be reported to the FDA by the supplement company.

Be an Educated Consumer. Registered dietitians are trained to evaluate the need for, effectiveness of, and safety of nutritional supplements. Always consult your health-care practitioner before starting a supplement regimen. The National Institutes of Health and the United States Anti-Doping Agency offer resources to help educate you on supplement before you use them.Always be sure to do your homework on your supplement company before taking their products.

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Safely Navigating the Supplement World - USA Hockey

Molly Yatso Butz, For USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Published 10:13 a.m. CT Feb. 24, 2017 | Updated 9 hours ago

Molly Yatso Butz(Photo: file)

It wasnt until the mid-1930s that vitamin supplement tablets were sold. Up until then, vitamins were only obtained through food intake. Since the middle of the 20th century, vitamins have become inexpensive semisynthetic and synthetic-source dietary and food supplements and are easily available.A vitamin is defined as an organic substance essential to nutrition.Currently, 13 vitamins are universally recognized and are classified by their biological and chemical activity.

Vitamins are essential for normal growth and development and healthy maintenance of cells, tissues and organs.They are classified as either water-soluble or fat-soluble.The four fat-soluble vitamins include Vitamin A, D, E and K.Water-soluble vitamins are the eight B vitamins and Vitamin C.Water-soluble means the vitamins dissolve easily in water and are generally excreted from the body, which means consistent intake of these vitamins is important because they are not readily stored in the body.The fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed through the intestinal tract with help from lipids or fats.Fat-soluble vitamins are more likely than water-soluble vitamins to accumulate in the body

Every vitamin has a unique job within the human body.Vitamin A, otherwise known as beta-carotene, helps with treatment of some eye disorders, promotes bone growth, teeth development and reproduction. It also helps maintain healthy skin and hair. It is found in foods such as asparagus, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, eggs, kale, liver, milk and spinach.Vitamin K works in your body by regulating normal blood clotting, promoting growth and development and is essential for kidney function.Good sources of Vitamin K are dark leafy greens, oils from green plants and some dairy products.Vitamin D is sometimes referred to as the sunshine vitamin. It is used to absorb calcium and phosphorus to create bone.Vitamin D sources include fortified milk, liver, eggs and tuna.Vitamin E is required for proper function of many organs in the body, and it also is an antioxidant, which means it assists in slowing down the process that damages cells.

Vitamin B1, or thiamine, is necessary for normal function of the nervous system and metabolism.The best sources of Vitamin B1 are meat, whole grains, fish and nuts.Vitamin B2also is known as riboflavin and assists in energy generation, nerve development, blood cell development and hormone regulation.It maybe found in bananas, dairy products, eggs, fortified cereals and mixed vegetables.Vitamin B3, niacin, is like other B vitamins in which it is essential for metabolic cell activity, hormonesand nervous system function.Good sources are meat, fish and whole grains.Folic acid, or Vitamin B9, is very important for the growth and reproduction of all body cells, including red blood cells.The best source of folic acid is liver and dark green leafy vegetables.Vitamin B12 serves as a coenzyme for creation of DNA material and promotes growth and cell development.Vitamin B12 is not found in plants, but good sources are meats, fish, eggs and dairy.This vitamin also is important for fat, carbohydrates and protein to be metabolized in the body.Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins in your body because it is vital for a healthy immune and nervous system. Vitamin C helps connective tissue, otherwise known as collagen, to remain the defense mechanism against disease and infection.Vitamin C produces antibodies during seasonal colds or when the body is being overworked.It maybe found in fruits, tomatoes, vegetables, Brussels sprouts, green peppers, spinach and kale.

The best way to ensure your body is getting the vitamins it needs is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, with a variety of color, whole grains and low-fat protein.If you believe you dont get enough vitamins through food, and feel vitamin supplementation would be beneficial, talk with your healthcare provider.For recommended daily intakes, visit the Food and Drug Administration website at fda.gov.

Molly Yatso Butz is the community health and wellness director for the Oshkosh Community YMCA.

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Vitamins have unique job within the body - The Oshkosh Northwestern