Main description:

Learn the benefits and hazards of certain dietary supplements

The term "dietary supplement" can include vitamins, minerals, herbal, and botanical products. Consumers freely use supplements for the promoted claims of benefits, but often without consideration of the potential risks. The Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines is a critical, balanced look at the different classes of supplement products and whether many claims of benefits are true or simply product hype. Respected supplement authority Dr. W. Marvin Davis exposes what is truth, what is fiction, and what is not known for many supplements you may be taking. If you take dietary supplements or even think about taking them this book clears the mystery behind the product claims.

The term "dietary supplement" can include vitamins, minerals, herbal, and botanical products. Consumers freely use supplements for the promoted claims of benefits, but often without consideration of the potential risks. The Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines is a critical, balanced look at the different classes of supplement products and whether many claims of benefits are true or simply product hype. This book, by respected supplement authority Dr. W. Marvin Davis, exposes what is truth, what is fiction, and what is not known for many supplements you may be taking. If you take dietary supplements or even think about taking them this book clears the mystery behind the product claims.

The Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines brings you the benefit of Dr. Davis's extensive knowledge about physicians, the pharmaceutical industry, and research in pharmacology and toxicology in order to shatter misconceptions about supplements and the supplement industry. The book's no-nonsense discussion about this much-hyped industry is even-handed and straightforward, and provides clear-headed advice every consumer of supplements needs. The guide explores various supplements' interactions with prescription drugs, the placebo effect as a factor for beneficial claims, historical instances of supplements that have proved hazardous to consumers, and receiving directions for supplement use from an unconventional medical/healthcare practitioner. It clearly explains the potentials of supplements through the use of illustrative clinical case studies from medical literature in simplified, easy to understand language. This extensive source is comprehensively referenced and includes tables of supplements with their possible benefits and hazards.

The Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines exposes the truth about:

therapeutic fundamentals of supplements

why there is strong resistance to supplements as unconventional remedies by physicians

the pharmaceutical industry's perspective on supplements

six major myths about dietary supplements

liver "support" remedies

soy formulations

cancer "cures"

the "fountain of youth" actions of hormonal and antioxidant products

vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes

new biochemicals such as alpha-lipoic acid and choline derivatives

carotenoids, anthocyanins, and flavonoids

aloe vera

the unappreciated pharmacology of ascorbate

historical instances in which consumers have avoided catastrophe

the future of the supplement field

much, much more!

The Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines may be the best available resource of important information for every concerned, health-conscious consumer considering dietary supplements of any kind.

Contents:

Foreword (Larry Walker)

Preface

The New Therapeutic Scene

Acknowledgments

Reviewer's Acknowledgments

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Author's Note

Chapter 1. Introduction: A Cautionary Tale from Hollywood

PART I: Basic Scientific Principles of Using Natural Products to Maintain and Improve Health

Chapter 2. Do We Really Want Scientific Medicine, or Do We Want Magic?

Magic or Medicine? Supernatural or Scientific?

Fundamental Scientific Concepts: What Is Scientific?

Clinical Research Aspects

Scientific Validation of Efficacy: The "Gold Standard"

The Use of Placebo Control Groups in Human Research

Meta-Analyses of Clinical Pharmacologic Interventions: Useful but Not Perfect

Biases of Medical-Related Professionals

Conflict of Interest

Pharmaceutical Producers Live in Glass Houses

The Problem of Delayed Effects: Examples of Long-Term Toxicity Issues

Chapter 3. The Uncertainty Principle in Medicine

When the Gold Standard Cannot Be Met

The Problem of Validating Delayed Effects of Long-Term Therapy

The Significance of It All

What Is a Dietary Supplement?

Chapter 4. Who's a Quack? Conflict on the Current Health Care Scene

What Approaches Are Legitimate?

If It Quacks Like a Duck, What Is It?

Conventional Medicine and Therapies

Unconventional Medicine and Therapies

Why Complementary and Alternative Medicine Now?

Another Viewpoint: Afternoon of Alternative Medicine

Dietary Supplement Regulation

The Consequences of DSHEA

The Freedom to Pursue Better Health: At What Cost?

Chapter 5. Historical Natural Remedies

How Did We Get to Where We Are Now?

Botanical Marvels: "Miracle Drugs" from Long Ago

Development of Scientific Medicine

PART II: Major Myths and Misconceptions

Chapter 6. Botanical Supplements As Foods

Pain Relievers As Foods?

What Does Nutritional Science Say?

Chapter 7. Natural Botanical Supplements

Toxicity Problems of Modern Pharmaceuticals

Ignorance Is Dangerous Not Blissful!

Traditional "Herbal Remedy" May Contain Animal Surprises

Familiarity Should Not Breed Contempt

Conclusion

Chapter 8. FDA Regulations

Caveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware)!

Ma Huang

The Ban on Ephedra Products

A Less Notorious Agent

Chapter 9. Botanicals and Prescription Drugs

Altered Drug Responses and St. John's Wort

Serotonin Syndrome and St. John's Wort

Risk of Bleeding from Use of Botanicals Before Surgery

Other Interaction Examples

Chapter 10. Supplement Labels

Unreliable Label Data

Helping the Supplements Along Illegally

Ephedrine

Unreliability of Some Nutritionals' Labels

Chapter 11. If a Little Is Good for You, a Lot Will Be Better!

Licorice Root Extract

Magnesium

Fruit and Fruit Juices: Helpful but Not Harmless

Another Hazard from Good Juice Turned Bad

PART III: Questionable Supplement Marvels

Chapter 12. CAM: Hope, Help, or Hazard?

A New Plague: Hepatitis C Virus

The Drinker's Deadly Destiny: Alcoholic Cirrhosis

A Recurring Tragedy: Amanita Mushroom Poisoning

Unwise Self-Prescribed "Liver Cleansing"

More About SAMe and the Liver

Botanicals Containing Hepatotoxic Constituents

Conclusion

Chapter 13. Hormonal Supplements: Fountain of Youth Formulas?

Basic Concepts

Endocrinology and Aging

Gonadal Hormone Replacement Therapies for Women

Androgen Replacement for Men

DHEA

Melatonin

Conclusions

Chapter 14. Antioxidant Supplements: Fountain of Youth Formulas?

Basic Science

Antioxidants and Cancer

Antioxidants and Dementias

A Metabolite Useful for Failing Memory

Antioxidants versus Kidney Disease

Antioxidants for "Mystery Maladies"

Functional Foods That May Fight Aging

Good Eating for a Good Intake of Antioxidants

Nonsupplemental Approaches to Fight Aging

Conclusion

Chapter 15. The Soya Saga: Are Soy Products Safe and Effective?

Health Problems with Soy Foods

Biological Quality of Soy Protein

Soy As a Protein Concentrate Source

The Phytoestrogen Aspect

Nonestrogenic Adverse Responses to Soy

Soy As a Phytoestrogen

Conclusion

Chapter 16. Supplements and Superior Sex

Basic Science

Impotence and the Viagra Era

Impotence and the Placebo Effect

The Viagra-Substitute Era

Erotic Enhancement for Women

Fatal Pursuit of Eros (Death by Aphrodisiac)

Chapter 17. Good Fat and Bad Fat

Importance of Serum Cholesterol Levels and Dietary Fats

Antioxidants, Fats, and Heart Disease

Physiological and Therapeutic Roles of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Chapter 18. Cancer Cures: Are They Believable?

A Brief View of Conventional Therapies

The Nature of the Challenge

Current Status of Unconventional Therapies

Examples of Unconventional Therapies

The Toxicity Factor in Conventional Therapy

Personal Choices

Chapter 19. Immunoenhancing Supplements: Are They Effective?

Introduction

Botanical Supplements and Immunonutrition

Overview Conference on Immunonutrition (1999)

Can Nutrient Supplements Aid the Immune System?

Micronutrients and the Immune System

Prebiotics and Probiotics for Immune System Benefits

Polysaccharide Products for Immunoenhancement

Dietary Sources for Critical Immunonutrient Factors

Chapter 20. What Is the Price of Globalism? Heavy Metals, Heavy Risks

Chuifong Toukuwan

Metropolitan Market for Dangerous Ethnic Remedies

Conclusion

PART IV: More Certain Supplement Marvels

Chapter 21. Marvelous Micronutrients: The Vitamins

Basic Foundations

The Two Subgroups of Vitamins

How Much Vitamin Is Enough?

Who Needs to Supplement Vitamin Intake?

Vitamins for Prevention of Chronic Diseases

Important Features of the Individual Vitamins

Vitamin Toxicology

Conclusions

Chapter 22. Marvelous Micronutrients: Essential Minerals

Introduction

Vital Mineral Elements

Chapter 23. Marvelous Metabolites: Amino Acids, New Biochemicals, and New Health Benefits

Combined Amino Acids As Supplements

Essential Amino Acids

Nonessential Amino Acids

Coenzyme Q10

Alpha-Lipoic Acid (Thioctic Acid)

The SAMe Story

Chapter 24. Bioflavonoid Benefits: Chemoprevention of Cancer

Chemopreventive Candidates

Bioflavonoids

Specific Flavonoids

Resveratrol (Red Wine Extract)

Prostate Cancer

Nonflavonoid Chemopreventive Agents

Chapter 25. The Pharmacology of Ascorbate

The Feared, Unappreciated Tomato

Basics on Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbate and the Cardiovascular System

Ascorbate in Treatment of Cancer

Ascorbate and Pancreatitis

Questions About Ascorbate's Safety

Conclusions

Chapter 26. Marvelous Aloe Vera

Background

The Nature and Contents of Aloe Vera

Oral Aloe Vera Gel

Protective Aloe Vera Polysaccharides

Lifelong Oral Aloe Vera Ingestion

Chapter 27. Eye Health

Phototoxicity

Risks for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Dietary Role in Eye Health and Disease

Nondietary Lifestyle Risk Factors for AMD or Cataract

Clinical Applications

Concern About Adverse Effects of Some Natural Products

Conclusion

Chapter 28. Functional Fruits

Background

More Details

Conclusions

PART V: Most Certain Supplement Marvels

Chapter 29. Botanical Mistaken Identity

Background

More Cases

Chapter 30. The L-Tryptophan Disaster

A History

The Sequel: 5-Hydroxy-L-Tryptophan

Chapter 31. Miracles Promised, Not Delivered: False Hopes, Failed Hopes

Some Miracle Cures Examined

Self-Chosen Therapies for Diabetes

PART VI: The Future of Dietary Supplements

Chapter 32. Accreditation, Validation, Standardization, Assimilation, and Attrition

Validation of Dietary Supplements' Therapeutic Abilities

More Thoughts on Validation

Accreditation: Who Is Looking After John/Jane Q. Public?

An Alternative Route for Alternative Remedies?

Legislation Requiring Standardization

Globalization Effects on the Dietary Supplement Scene

Chapter 33. Would You Bet Your Life on Good Advice?

Adverse Reactions

How Can the Buyer Beware?

Can We Eat Our Way to Better Health?

Personal Advice to Consumers of Dietary Supplements

Laughter Is The Best Medicine

Where Are Medicine and Health Care Going?

Final Thoughts

Chapter 34. Epilogue: Spiritual Aspects of Health and Healing

The Nature of Us All

Maintaining Health: Things We Need To Avoid

Healings: From Illness to Recovery

Conclusion

Appendix. Book-Length Resources

Notes

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

Reference Notes Included