May 16, 2008

Green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is a New Zealand shellfish, from which an extract has been shown to be useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Author: Daily Vitamins  /  Category: Uncategorized

Green-Lipped Mussel

Treatments: 
Asthma (Lyprinol®) Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid arthritis

Common Symptoms:
Because green-lipped mussel is not an essential nutrient, deficiencies do not occur.

Dosages:
The studies on green-lipped mussel have used 210 mg per day of the lipid extract or 1,050–1,150 mg per day of the freeze-dried powder.

Side Effects:
Not all studies have demonstrated side effects; however, members of the Australian Rheumatism Association have reported side effects, such as stomach upset, gout, and skin rashes, occurring in people taking certain New Zealand green-lipped mussel extracts. Another researcher observed nausea, flatulence, and fluid retention in some of the study participants, and one case of hepatitis has been reported in association with the use of the freeze-dried powder. People with shellfish allergy should consult a doctor before taking green-lipped mussel. Compared to lipid preparations, freeze-dried preparations contain substantially more of the protein fraction responsible for allergic reactions. At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with green-lipped mussel.

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May 16, 2008

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is an altered form of the amino acid cysteine, which is commonly found in food and synthesized by the body.

Author: Daily Vitamins  /  Category: Uncategorized

N-Acetyl Cysteine

Treatments: 
Acetaminophen poisoning Bronchitis (chronic) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Angina pectoris Gastritis Heart Attack (IV immediately following a myocardial infarction) HIV support Prevention of kidney damage during coronary angiography Unverricht-Lundborg Disease Pseudoporphyria

Common Symptoms:
Deficiencies of NAC have not been defined and may not exist. Deficiencies of the related amino acidcysteine have been reported in HIV-infected patients.

Dosages:
Healthy people do not need to supplement NAC. Optimal levels of supplementation remain unknown, though much of the research uses 250–1,500 mg per day.

Side Effects:
One study reported that 19% of people taking NAC orally experienced nausea, vomiting, headache, dry mouth, dizziness, or abdominal pain. These symptoms have not been consistently reported by other researchers, however. Although a great deal of research has shown that NAC has antioxidant activity, one small study found that daily amounts of 1.2 grams or more could lead to increased oxidative stress. Extremely large amounts of cysteine, the amino acid from which NAC is derived, may be toxic to nerve cells in rats. NAC may increase urinary zinc excretion. Therefore, supplemental zinc and copper should be added when supplementing with NAC for extended periods. Certain medicines may interact with N-Acetyl Cysteine. Refer to drug interactions for a list of those medicines.

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May 16, 2008

Selenium is an essential trace mineral.

Author: Daily Vitamins  /  Category: Uncategorized

Selenium

Treatments: 
Asthma Atherosclerosis Colon cancer (reduces risk) Depression Dermatitis herpetiformis Heart attack HIV support Immune function (for elderly people) Infections (to prevent hospital-acquired infections in very low birth weight infants) Infertility (male) Lung cancer (reduces risk) Lymphedema Osgood-Schlatter disease Pancreatic insufficiency Phenylketonuria (if deficient) Prostate cancer (reduces risk) Rheumatoid arthritis Thyroiditis (autoimmune) Cardiac arrhythmia Cardiomyopathy (only for Keshan’s cardiomyopathy) Childhood diseases Down’s syndrome Halitosis (if gum disease) Hepatitis Hypothyroidism (if deficient) Liver cirrhosis Macular degeneration Pap smear (abnormal) Pre- and post-surgery health Retinopathy (combined with vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E)

Common Symptoms:
While most people probably don’t take in enough selenium, gross deficiencies are rare in Western countries. Soils in some areas are selenium-deficient and people who eat foods grown primarily on selenium-poor soils are at risk for deficiency. People with AIDS have been reported to be depleted in selenium. Similarly, limited research has reported an association between heart disease and depleted levels of selenium. People who are deficient in selenium have an increased risk of developing certain types of rheumatoid arthritis.

Dosages:
While the Recommended Dietary Allowance for most adults is 55 mcg per day, an adult intake of 100–200 mcg of selenium per day is recommended by many doctors.

Side Effects:
Selenium is safe at the level people typically supplement (100–200 mcg); however, taking more than 900 mcg of selenium per day has been reported to cause adverse effects in some people. Selenium toxicity can result in loss of fingernails, skin rash, and changes in the nervous system. In the presence of iodine-deficiency-induced goiter, selenium supplementation has been reported to exacerbate low thyroid function. Although most research suggests that selenium prevents cancer, one study found an increased risk of a type of skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) in people taking selenium supplements. The National Academy of Sciences recommends that selenium intake not exceed 400 mcg per day, unless the higher intake is monitored by a healthcare professional. Selenium enhances the antioxidant effect of vitamin E. Certain medicines may interact with selenium. Refer to drug interactions for a list of those medicines.

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May 16, 2008

The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are leucine, isoleucine, and valine. BCAAs are considered essential amino acids because human beings cannot survive unless these amino acids are present in the diet.

Author: Daily Vitamins  /  Category: Uncategorized

Branched-Chain Amino Acids

Treatments: 
Kidney failure (intravenous BCAAs) Liver cirrhosis Phenylketonuria Athletic performance (for high altitude and extreme temperature only) Hepatic encephalopathy Spinocerebellar degeneration Tardive dyskinesia

Common Symptoms:
Only a person deficient in protein would become deficient in BCAAs, because most foods that are sources of protein supply BCAAs. Few people in Western societies are protein deficient.

Dosages:
Most diets provide an adequate amount of BCAAs for most people, which is about 25–65 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight. Athletes involved in intense training often take 5 grams of leucine, 4 grams of valine, and 2 grams of isoleucine per day to prevent muscle loss and increase muscle gain, though most research does not support this use of BCAAs.

Side Effects:
Side effects have not been reported with the use of BCAAs. Until more research is conducted, people with ALS should avoid taking supplemental BCAAs. In one study, supplementation with a large amount of BCAAs (60 grams) caused alterations in the blood levels of tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine. The changes in the blood levels of these amino acids could, in theory, cause depression in susceptible individuals. Until more is known, individuals with a history of depression should consult a doctor before supplementing with BCAAs. People with kidney or liver disease should not consume high amounts of amino acids without consulting their doctor. At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with branched-chain amino acids.

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May 16, 2008

Flavonoids are a class of water-soluble plant pigments. Flavonoids are broken down into categories, though the issue of how to divide them is not universally agreed upon. One system breaks flavonoids into isoflavones, anthocyanidins, flavans, flavonols, flavones, and flavanones. Some of the best-known flavonoids, such as genistein in soy, and quercetin in onions, can be considered subcategories of categories. Although they are all structurally related, their functions are different. Flavonoids also include hesperidin, rutin, citrus flavonoids, and a variety of other supplements.

Author: Daily Vitamins  /  Category: Uncategorized

Flavonoids

Treatments: 
Chronic venous insufficiency (rutin) Edema (water retention) (coumarin, hydroxyethylrutosides) Hepatitis (catechin) Bruising Cold sores Diabetes (bilberry) Dysmenorrhea (rutin plus vitamin B3 [niacin] and vitamin C) Edema (water retention) (diosmin and hesperidin combination) Gingivitis (periodontal disease) (in combination with vitamin C) Hemorrhoids (hydroxyethylrutosides derived from rutin) Ménière’s disease (hydroxyethylrutosides) Retinopathy (bilberry) Skin ulcers (diosmin, hesperidin) Allergies Atherosclerosis (quercetin, bilberry) Cancer (naringenin) Capillary fragility (hesperidin, quercetin, rutin) Cataracts (quercetin, bilberry) Diabetes (quercetin) Edema (water retention) (quercetin) Gingivitis (periodontal disease) Glaucoma (rutin) Hay fever (quercetin, hesperidin, rutin) Macular degeneration (bilberry) Measles Menopause (hesperidin) Menorrhagia (heavy menstruation) Night blindness (bilberry) Peptic ulcer (quercetin) Progressive pigmented purpura (in combination with vitamin C) Retinopathy (quercetin, rutin)

Common Symptoms:
Flavonoid deficiencies have not been reported.

Dosages:
Flavonoid supplements are not required to prevent deficiencies in people eating a healthy diet. Healthcare practitioners commonly recommend 1,000 mg of citrus flavonoids taken one to three times per day. Alternatively, 240–600 mg of bilberry (standardized to 25% anthcyanosides) may be taken per day.

Side Effects:
No consistent side effects have been linked to the flavonoids except for catechin, which can occasionally cause fever, anemia from breakdown of red blood cells, and hives. These side effects subsided when treatment was discontinued. In 1980, quercetin was reported to induce cancer in animals. Most further research did not find this to be true, however. While quercetin is mutagenic in test tube studies, it does not appear to be mutagenic in animal studies. In fact, quercetin has been found to inhibit both tumor promoters and human cancer cells. People who eat high levels of flavonoids have been found to have an overall lower risk of getting a wide variety of cancers, though preliminary human research studying only foods high in quercetin has found no relation to cancer risk one way or the other. Despite the confusion, in recent years experts have shifted their view of quercetin from concerns that it might cause cancer in test tube studies to guarded hope that quercetin has anticancer effects in humans. The flavonoids work in conjunction with vitamin C. Citrus flavonoids, in particular, improve the absorption of vitamin C. Certain medicines may interact with flavonoids. Refer to drug interactions for a list of those medicines.

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May 15, 2008

Glucosamine is an important building block needed by the body to manufacture specialized molecules called glycosaminoglycans, found in cartilage.

Author: Daily Vitamins  /  Category: Uncategorized

Glucosamine

Treatments: 
Osteoarthritis (glucosamine sulfate) Autism Knee pain (glucosamine HCI) Minor injuries Osteoarthritis (glucosamine HCl) Sprains and strains Wound healing (oral)

Common Symptoms:
A glucosamine deficiency in humans has not been reported.

Dosages:
Healthy people do not need to routinely supplement with glucosamine. Most research with people who have osteoarthritis, uses 500 mg three times per day of GS. Appropriate amounts for other conditions are not known.

Side Effects:
At the amount most frequently taken by adults 500 mg three times per day of GS adverse effects have been limited to mild reversible gastrointestinal side effects. In one trial, people with peptic ulcers and those taking diuretic drugs were more likely to experience side effects. Animal research has raised the possibility that glucosamine could contribute to insulin resistance. This effect might theoretically result from the ability of glucosamine to interfere with an enzyme needed to regulate blood sugar levels. However, available evidence does not suggest that taking glucosamine supplements will trigger or aggravate insulin resistance or high blood sugar. Two large, 3-year controlled trials found that people taking GS had either slightly lower blood glucose levels or no change in blood sugar levels, compared with people taking placebo. Until more is known, people taking glucosamine supplements for long periods may wish to have their blood sugar levels checked; people with diabetes should consult with a doctor before taking glucosamine and should have blood sugar levels monitored if they are taking glucosamine. In 1999 the first case of an allergic reaction to oral GS was reported. Allergic reactions to this supplement appear to be rare. Some GS is processed with sodium chloride (table salt), which is restricted in some diets (particularly for people with high blood pressure). The theory that GS and chondroitin sulfate work synergistically in the treatment of osteoarthritis remains unproven. At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with glucosamine.

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May 15, 2008

Betaine (trimethylglycine) functions very closely with choline, folic acid, vitamin B12, and a form of the amino acid methionine known as S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe). All of these compounds function as “methyl donors.” They carry and donate methyl molecules to facilitate necessary chemical processes. The donation of methyl groups by betaine is very important to proper liver function, cellular replication, and detoxification reactions. Betaine also plays a role in the manufacture of carnitine and serves to protect the kidneys from damage. Betaine is closely related to choline. The difference is that choline (tetramethylglycine) has four methyl groups attached to it. When choline donates one of these groups to another molecule, it becomes betaine (trimethylglycine). If betaine donates one of its methyl groups, then it becomes dimethylglycine.

Author: Daily Vitamins  /  Category: Uncategorized

Betaine (Trimethylglycine)

Treatments: 
Alcohol-induced fatty liver Hepatitis (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) Homocysteine (high) Atherosclerosis

Common Symptoms:
Betaine is not an essential nutrient, and thus no deficiency state exists.

Dosages:
For people with alcohol-induced fatty liver, the recommended amount for betaine citrate or betaine aspartate supplementation is 1,000 to 2,000 mg three times daily. Lower amounts are often used as nutritional support for general liver health, although use of betaine in this manner has not undergone clinical research.

Side Effects:
No side effects with betaine at recommended levels have been noted. At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with betaine.

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May 15, 2008

Author: Daily Vitamins  /  Category: Uncategorized

Green Tea

Treatments: 
Atherosclerosis Cervical dysplasia (poly E or (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate) Colon cancer (reduces risk) High cholesterol Leukoplakia Prostate cancer (risk reduction) Sunburn Tooth decay Weight loss Breast cancer (risk reduction) Crohn’s disease Hemochromatosis (iron overload) High triglycerides Hives Immune function Infection Leukemia Lung cancer (risk reduction)

Common Symptoms:

Dosages:
Much of the research documenting the health benefits of green tea is based on the amount of green tea typically consumed in Asian countries—about 3 cups (750 ml) per day (providing 240–320 mg of polyphenols). However, other research suggests as much as 10 cups (2,500 ml) per day is necessary to obtain noticeable benefits from green tea ingestion. To brew green tea, 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of green tea leaves are combined with 1 cup (250 ml) of boiling water and steeped for three minutes. Decaffeinated tea is recommended to reduce the side effects associated with caffeine, including anxiety and insomnia. Tablets and capsules containing standardized extracts of polyphenols, particularly EGCG, are available. Some provide up to 97% polyphenol content—which is equivalent to drinking 4 cups (1,000 ml) of tea. Many of these standardized products are decaffeinated.

Side Effects:
Green tea is generally free of side effects. The most common adverse effects reported from consuming large amounts (several cups per day) of green tea are insomnia, anxiety, and other symptoms caused by the caffeine content in the herb. An extract of green tea taken by healthy women with a meal inhibited the absorption of non-heme iron (e.g., the form of iron in plant foods) by 26%. Frequent use of green tea could, in theory, promote the development of iron deficiency in susceptible individuals. There are several case reports of people developing liver damage while consuming weight-loss products that contained concentrated extracts of green tea. A cause–effect relationship was not proven, and most of the products contained other ingredients in addition to green tea extract. Nevertheless, researchers have cautioned against the use of large amounts, or concentrated extracts, of green tea. Certain medicines may interact with green tea. Refer to drug interactions for a list of those medicines.

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May 15, 2008

Free radicals are highly reactive compounds that are created in the body during normal metabolic functions or introduced from the environment. Free radicals are inherently unstable, since they contain “extra” energy. To reduce their energy load, free radicals react with certain chemicals in the body, and in the process, interfere with the cells’ ability to function normally. Antioxidants work in several ways: they may reduce the energy of the free radical, stop the free radical from forming in the first place, or interrupt an oxidizing chain reaction to minimize the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are believed to play a role in more than sixty different health conditions, including the aging process, cancer, and atherosclerosis. Reducing exposure to free radicals and increasing intake of antioxidant nutrients has the potential to reduce the risk of free radical-related health problems. Oxygen, although essential to life, is the source of the potentially damaging free radicals. Free radicals are also found in the environment. Environmental sources of free radicals include exposure to ionizing radiation (from industry, sun exposure, cosmic rays, and medical X-rays), ozone and nitrous oxide (primarily from automobile exhaust), heavy metals (such as mercury, cadmium, and lead), cigarette smoke (both active and passive), alcohol, unsaturated fat, and other chemicals and compounds from food, water, and air. The body produces several antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, that neutralize many types of free radicals. Supplements of these enzymes are available for oral administration. However, their absorption is probably minimal at best. Supplementing with the “building blocks” the body requires to make SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase may be more effective. These building block nutrients include the minerals manganese, zinc, and copper for SOD and selenium for glutathione peroxidase. In addition to enzymes, many vitamins and minerals act as antioxidants in their own right, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, vitamin B2, coenzyme Q10, and cysteine (an amino acid). Herbs, such as bilberry, turmeric (curcumin), grape seed or pine bark extracts, and ginkgo can also provide powerful antioxidant protection for the body. Consuming a wide variety of antioxidant enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and herbs may be the best way to provide the body with the most complete protection against free radical damage.

Author: Daily Vitamins  /  Category: Uncategorized

Antioxidants and Free Radicals

Treatments: 

Common Symptoms:

Dosages:

Side Effects:

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May 15, 2008

Methionine is one of the essential amino acids (building blocks of protein), meaning that it cannot be produced by the body, and must be provided by the diet. It supplies sulfur and other compounds required by the body for normal metabolism and growth. Methionine also belongs to a group of compounds called lipotropics, or chemicals that help the liver process fats (lipids). Others in this group include choline, inositol, and betaine (trimethylglycine).

Author: Daily Vitamins  /  Category: Uncategorized

Methionine

Treatments: 
Pancreatitis Parkinson’s disease HIV support Liver support

Common Symptoms:
Most people consume plenty of methionine through a typical diet. Lower intakes during pregnancy have been associated with neural tube defects in newborns, but the significance of this is not yet clear.

Dosages:
Amino acid requirements vary according to body weight. However, average-size adults require approximately 800–1,000 mg of methionine per day—an amount easily obtained or even exceeded by most Western diets.

Side Effects:
Animal studies suggest that diets high in methionine, in the presence of B-vitamin deficiencies, may increase the risk for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) by increasing blood levels of cholesterol and a compound called homocysteine. This idea has not yet been tested in humans. Excessive methionine intake, together with inadequate intake of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, can increase the conversion of methionine to homocysteine a substance linked to heart disease and stroke. Even in the absence of a deficiency of folic acid, B6, or B12, megadoses of methionine (7 grams per day) have been found to cause elevations in blood levels of homocysteine. Whether such an increase would create a significant hazard for humans taking supplemental methionine has not been established. Supplementation of up to 2 grams of methionine daily for long periods of time has not been reported to cause any serious side effects. At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions with methionine.

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