Consumer interest in diet and nutritional supplements is increasing dramatically. Patients and members of the public are seeking advice from health professionals, nutritionists and food scientists. This book is designed to meet the needs of those professionals who are called upon to advise patients and the general public. It provides also a valuable text for those who are researchers or decision makers in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The text presents a thorough account of this topical subject and enables the reader to appreciate the functions of nutrients in health and common disease states, to understand the current debates over the roles of nutrients and supplements in the diet, and to answer those questions frequently asked by patients and consumers.

Dietary supplements made from foods, herbs and their constituents are a rapidly growing market sector. Consumers often view food supplements as 'natural' and therefore safe; however, supplements are regulated as foods rather than as pharmaceuticals and so are not as closely monitored as may be necessary. With the commercial market in these products growing, this book provides essential research into their safety, efficacy and potential risk of interaction with pharmaceuticals. Following an introductory chapter, part one covers the chemical composition, manufacture and regulation of dietary supplements. Part two looks at the effectiveness of different types of dietary supplement and methods of evaluation. Finally, part three focuses on supplement safety. - Reviews the design, production and regulation of dietary supplements. - Analyses the potential for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics interactions between dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals. - Offers reviews of important clinical studies on the efficacy of dietary supplements for range of conditions.

The growing consumer interest in health and fitness has expanded the market for a wide range of products, from yoga mats to the multiple dietary supplements now on the market. Supplements are popular, but are they safe? Many dietary supplements are probably safe when used as recommended. However, since 1994 when Congress decided that they should be regulated as if they were foods, they are assumed to be safe unless the Food and Drug Administration can demonstrate that they pose a significant risk to the consumer. But there are many types of products that qualify as dietary supplements, and the distinctions can become muddled and vague. Manufacturers are not legally required to provide specific information about safety before marketing their products. And the sales of supplements have been steadily increasingâ€"all together, the various types now bring in almost $16 billion per year. Given these confounding factors, what kind of information can the Food and Drug Administration use to effectively regulate dietary supplements? This book provides a framework for evaluating dietary supplement safety and protecting the health of consumers.

Recent technological advancements, socio-economic trends, and population lifestyle modifications throughout the world indicate the need for foods with increased health benefits. The clear relationship between the food that we eat and our well-being is widely recognized. Today, foods are not only intended to satisfy hunger and provide necessary nutrients: they can also confer additional health benefits, such as preventing nutrition-related diseases and improving physical and mental well-being. This book provides a comprehensive overview of developments in the field of functional foods and food supplements. Readers will discover new food matrices as innovative natural sources of bioactive compounds endowed with health-promoting properties. Studies on chemical, technological, and nutritional characteristics of healthy food ingredients, analytical methods for monitoring their quality, and innovative formulation strategies are included.

The A-to-Z guide to essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, so you can ditch synthetic supplements and promote health naturally with nourishing foods. Vitamins and minerals are the building blocks of good health. But the heavily processed foods that are so common in today’s modern diet are stripped of these nutrients, leaving many people nutrient deficient despite meeting (or exceeding) their daily calorie needs. The accepted solution is to take supplements created in a lab, but the dosage and interactions can be confusing, and supplements are loosely regulated and not always foolproof, especially since our bodies are designed to receive nutrients from natural, whole foods. Eat Your Vitamins features fifty key vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients essential to your health. You will find clear definitions of each nutrient along with the role it plays in the body, how it is best consumed and absorbed, recommended daily doses, and detailed lists of foods and natural sources that contain the vitamin along with a recipe for a nutrient-rich meal. Ditch the synthetic supplements and make the right choice about how to properly feed and fuel your body.

Nonvitamin and Nonmineral Nutritional Supplements compiles comprehensive information and recent findings on supplements found in today's market. The book focuses on non-essential nutrients, animal extracts, yeast and fungi extracts, and plant and algae extracts used as supplements. Readers will find valuable insights on the impact of dietary supplementation on human health, along with an understanding of the positive and negative aspects of each supplement. - Provides reliable information on available supplements to inform nutritional practices - Presents each supplement's sources, availability, health benefits, drawbacks, and possible interactions with other supplements, food or drugs - Serves as a guide to non-essential nutrients, plant and algae extracts, animal extracts, including bee products and shark cartilage, and supplements from yeast and fungi

Caffeine in Food and Dietary Supplements is the summary of a workshop convened by the Institute of Medicine in August 2013 to review the available science on safe levels of caffeine consumption in foods, beverages, and dietary supplements and to identify data gaps. Scientists with expertise in food safety, nutrition, pharmacology, psychology, toxicology, and related disciplines; medical professionals with pediatric and adult patient experience in cardiology, neurology, and psychiatry; public health professionals; food industry representatives; regulatory experts; and consumer advocates discussed the safety of caffeine in food and dietary supplements, including, but not limited to, caffeinated beverage products, and identified data gaps. Caffeine, a central nervous stimulant, is arguably the most frequently ingested pharmacologically active substance in the world. Occurring naturally in more than 60 plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves, cola nuts and cocoa pods, caffeine has been part of innumerable cultures for centuries. But the caffeine-in-food landscape is changing. There are an array of new caffeine-containing energy products, from waffles to sunflower seeds, jelly beans to syrup, even bottled water, entering the marketplace. Years of scientific research have shown that moderate consumption by healthy adults of products containing naturally-occurring caffeine is not associated with adverse health effects. The changing caffeine landscape raises concerns about safety and whether any of these new products might be targeting populations not normally associated with caffeine consumption, namely children and adolescents, and whether caffeine poses a greater health risk to those populations than it does for healthy adults. This report delineates vulnerable populations who may be at risk from caffeine exposure; describes caffeine exposure and risk of cardiovascular and other health effects on vulnerable populations, including additive effects with other ingredients and effects related to pre-existing conditions; explores safe caffeine exposure levels for general and vulnerable populations; and identifies data gaps on caffeine stimulant effects.

The study of nutritional supplements has become increasingly important within orthodox establishments throughout the world, and as the market for these products continues to grow, so does the need for comprehensive scientifically sound information about these products, their properties and potential health effects. Geoffrey P. Webb, in this exciting and most useful new book, not only looks at the accepted uses of dietary supplements, such as the use of fish oils in the prevention of heart disease and arthritis, but also explores the wider picture, identifying common themes and principles or particular categories of supplements. Dietary Supplements and Functional Foods provides an excellent introductory text on this fascinating subject.

Health foods and dietary supplements are widely used throughout the world - it is estimated that more than seventy million people in Europe regularly buy these products, and it is a billion dollar business in the USA. Health foods include vitamins, minerals, cereals, nuts, herbal medicines, functional foods, and many others. A large number of people use these foods in the belief that they contribute to their general health, while, in most countries, little or no information is given on products explaining their therapeutic values. The Oxford Book of Health Foods begins with an account of modern concepts of human nutrition, followed by a series of over one hundred accounts of individual health foods and dietary supplements. In all cases the importance of these products in human health is explained, and, for herbal medicines, the evidence for their claimed therapeutic value is given, and toxic effects are described. Full-colour illustrations accompany these accounts. The Oxford Book of Health Foods will be of interest not just to health professionals, but to all people with an interest in health foods and healthy eating. The text is supplemented throughout by beautifully drawn botanical illustrations.