Category Archives: Food Supplements

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

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

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

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

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

Molly Yatso Butz, For USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Published 10:13 a.m. CT Feb. 24, 2017 | Updated 7 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

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

Artefact is a unique combination of adaptogens and vitamins to provide a strengthening, enriching complement to our modern lives.

(PRWEB UK) 23 February 2017

Artefact, one of the first British designer vitamin lines, makes its debut this spring. Formulated by medical experts and brought to life by a team of creative minds, the range blends natural ingredients and traditional know-how from across the world with cutting-edge science and contemporary design to produce a unique range of supplements tailored to modern living.

Over years working as doctors on humanitarian projects around the world, we saw first-hand how creative, life-changing ideas often came from the very people we had come to help, using adaptogenic and nutraceutical-like plants known to and trusted by them for centuries. These experiences gave us an understanding of how the forces of evolution and adaptation combined to shape these species, allowing them to survive, thrive, and become embedded in traditional medicine, where they were used both to combat deficiencies and to enrich the body and mind.

Artefacts Concept I [Maca Goji B12 D2] is a bespoke supplement formulated using a unique combination of adaptogens and vitamins to provide a strengthening, enriching complement to our modern lives. Maca root from the Peruvian Andes and goji berries from Northern China form the anchor ingredients. Gojis protective, stabilising nature forms the supplements baseline, whilst the potent and versatile maca improves lifestyle dynamics, cognitive capacity and resilience, and Vitamins D2 and B12 are included to supplement dietary deficiencies. Made in Britain, the line is vegan and vegetarian friendly.

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Artefact - bespoke food supplements created by doctors and ... - PR Web (press release)

F

ederal and stateofficials in Maine said Wednesday theyhad shutdown an elaborate scheme to deceptively market dietary supplements in which a company disguised 30-minute radio advertisements as a talk radio show and repeatedly promotedfake print newspapers ads.

In fact, according to officials, the promotions for the two products featured fictitious consumers and purported medical experts who endorsed the supplements without actually having endorsed them.

One supplement, CogniPrin, was touted as having been clinically proven to improve memory and possibly reverse mental decline. The other, FlexiPrin, was touted for its ability toreduce back and joint pain in as little as two hours.

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A complaintfrom the Federal Trade Commission and the Maine attorney general alleges that the supplements, froma company called Better Health Nutritionals, raked in at least $6.5 million in gross sales between 2012 and 2015.

A supplement maker tried to silence this Harvard doctor and put academic freedom on trial

As part of a court settlement, the company must cease all sales of the products at issue. The complaint says the marketers named in the complaint neither admit nor deny wrongdoing.

An owner of the firm behind the supplements, Jeffrey R. Powlowsky, did not immediately return a call for comment.

Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, the Food and Drug Administration is barred from reviewing dietary supplements for safety before they hit the market. The agency can intervene only when supplements are flagged as possibly dangerous. The FTC, meanwhile, has the authority to step in when manufacturers make unsubstantiated claims about their products.

The agencyreceives a sea of complaintsabout the marketing of dietary supplements. But the FTC saidthe case against the makers of FlexiPrin and CogniPrin involved a wide range of marketing practices that have caused serious financial injury to consumers.

Federal rules bar dietary supplement manufacturers from claiming their products can diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent a disease.They can, however, play with language like that a product boosts or promotes health to suggest those same benefits.

In the case ofFlexiPrin and CogniPrin,two experts, Ronald Jahner and Brazos Minshew, were taskedwith backing upCogniPrin and FlexiPrin with their medical expertise. But, the complaint alleges, neither examined the supplements before endorsing them.

[FlexiPrin] targets the tissue and its an amazing anti-inflammatory. But the best part is [that] it works fast. Within two hours, people are getting relief, Jahner claimed in the radio advertisement.

Nowhere in the advertisement didthe manufacturers disclose that Jahner a naturopath offered as an objective medical voice was receiving a share of the revenue from the supplement sales.

Minshew was introduced under the pseudonym as Samuel Brant, a brain scientist and past director of the Neurological Treatment Center for Tiena Health, according to the complaint.

Its unclear whether any such center exists. And, the FTC alleges, Minshew doesnt have a background in neurology or the brain.

The manufacturers also promised potential customers they could try the supplements risk-free for 90 days, no strings attached. But there were significant hurdles to getting a refund, such as having to shell out for hefty shipping fees and return used supplement containers.

Those practices all add up to violations of several federal and state laws. A court ordered that the defendants stop engaging in sneaky marketing practices, and also told the company to rein in its unsubstantiated health claims any benefits they want to promote will need to be backed up by actual scientific evidence, the FTC warned. The settlement came with a whopping$6.6 million judgment, though the defendants were ordered only to pay $556,000 because of their financial situation.

The settlement involved six of the nine defendants named in the case. There is still ongoing litigation against other parties involved in the supplement marketing.

Megan Thielking can be reached at megan.thielking@statnews.com Follow Megan on Twitter @meggophone

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A lawsuit about Caddo Parish commissioners' participation in a retirement system will head to court in 2017.(Photo: Getty Images)

A Lafayette business has agreed to stop distributing several supplements when the U.S. Department of Justice filed an injunction alleging that the drugs were never approved by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration.

Theproposed consent decree, filed Thursday,permanently enjoins Pick and Pay Inc./Cili Minerals LLC and its owner and CEO, Anton S. Botha, to stop the distribution of what it calls "misbranded and unapproved new drugs, and misbranded and adulterated dietary supplements," according to a press release from the DOJ.

The complaint alleges that the companies violated the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by manufacturing, promoting and distributing numerous dietary supplementsthat had been marketed as intended to "treat, cure or prevent a variety of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis and other serious conditions."

The marketing effortswere a violation of the FDCA because the products had never been submitted to the FDA for approval, and had never been found to be safe and effective for medicinal uses, as the marketing claimed, the press release says. The complaint also alleges that the defendants violated the FDCA by failing to manufacture its products in accordance with FDA regulations for dietary supplements.

The products in question included ADD-East, Bone Structure, CilZinCo, Calcium, Boron, Potassium, Cilver, Sulfure and Geranium.

In conjunction with the filing of the complaint, the companies agreed to settle the litigation, and to cease all production and distribution of the supplements in question. The companies would be able to resume manufacturing the supplements with written approval from the FDA.

The complaint is currently awaiting judicial approval.

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