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Taylor & Francis Consumers Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines Servings of Hope 2006 Edition by W. Marvin Davis
Learn the benefits and hazards of certain dietary supplementsThe 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 supplementswhy there is strong resistance to supplements as unconventional remedies by physiciansthe pharmaceutical industry's perspective on supplementssix major myths about dietary supplementsliver "support" remediessoy formulationscancer "cures"the "fountain of youth" actions of hormonal and antioxidant productsvitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymesnew biochemicals such as alpha-lipoic acid and choline derivativescarotenoids, anthocyanins, and flavonoidsaloe verathe unappreciated pharmacology of ascorbatehistorical instances in which consumers have avoided catastrophe the future of the supplement fieldmuch, 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. Table of contents : - Foreword (Larry Walker)PrefaceThe New Therapeutic SceneAcknowledgmentsReviewer's AcknowledgmentsAbbreviations and AcronymsAuthor's NoteChapter 1. Introduction: A Cautionary Tale from HollywoodPART I: Basic Scientific Principles of Using Natural Products to Maintain and Improve HealthChapter 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 AspectsScientific Validation of Efficacy: The "Gold Standard"The Use of Placebo Control Groups in Human ResearchMeta-Analyses of Clinical Pharmacologic Interventions: Useful but Not PerfectBiases of Medical-Related ProfessionalsConflict of InterestPharmaceutical Producers Live in Glass HousesThe Problem of Delayed Effects: Examples of Long-Term Toxicity Issues Chapter 3. The Uncertainty Principle in MedicineWhen the Gold Standard Cannot Be MetThe Problem of Validating Delayed Effects of Long-Term TherapyThe Significance of It AllWhat 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 TherapiesUnconventional Medicine and TherapiesWhy Complementary and Alternative Medicine Now?Another Viewpoint: Afternoon of Alternative MedicineDietary Supplement RegulationThe Consequences of DSHEAThe Freedom to Pursue Better Health: At What Cost?Chapter 5. Historical Natural RemediesHow Did We Get to Where We Are Now?Botanical Marvels: "Miracle Drugs" from Long AgoDevelopment of Scientific MedicinePART II: Major Myths and Misconceptions Chapter 6. Botanical Supplements As FoodsPain Relievers As Foods?What Does Nutritional Science Say?Chapter 7. Natural Botanical SupplementsToxicity Problems of Modern PharmaceuticalsIgnorance Is Dangerous Not Blissful!Traditional "Herbal Remedy" May Contain Animal SurprisesFamiliarity Should Not Breed ContemptConclusion Chapter 8. FDA RegulationsCaveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware)!Ma HuangThe Ban on Ephedra ProductsA Less Notorious AgentChapter 9. Botanicals and Prescription DrugsAltered Drug Responses and St. John's WortSerotonin Syndrome and St. John's WortRisk of Bleeding from Use of Botanicals Before SurgeryOther Interaction ExamplesChapter 10. Supplement LabelsUnreliable Label DataHelping the Supplements Along IllegallyEphedrineUnreliability of Some Nutritionals' LabelsChapter 11. If a Little Is Good for You, a Lot Will Be Better!Licorice Root ExtractMagnesiumFruit and Fruit Juices: Helpful but Not HarmlessAnother Hazard from Good Juice Turned BadPART III: Questionable Supplement MarvelsChapter 12. CAM: Hope, Help, or Hazard?A New Plague: Hepatitis C VirusThe Drinker's Deadly Destiny: Alcoholic CirrhosisA Recurring Tragedy: Amanita Mushroom PoisoningUnwise Self-Prescribed "Liver Cleansing"More About SAMe and the LiverBotanicals Containing Hepatotoxic ConstituentsConclusionChapter 13. Hormonal Supplements: Fountain of Youth Formulas?Basic ConceptsEndocrinology and AgingGonadal Hormone Replacement Therapies for WomenAndrogen Replacement for MenDHEAMelatoninConclusionsChapter 14. Antioxidant Supplements: Fountain of Youth Formulas?Basic ScienceAntioxidants and CancerAntioxidants and DementiasA Metabolite Useful for Failing MemoryAntioxidants versus Kidney DiseaseAntioxidants for "Mystery Maladies"Functional Foods That May Fight AgingGood Eating for a Good Intake of AntioxidantsNonsupplemental Approaches to Fight AgingConclusionChapter 15. The Soya Saga: Are Soy Products Safe and Effective?Health Problems with Soy FoodsBiological Quality of Soy ProteinSoy As a Protein Concentrate SourceThe Phytoestrogen AspectNonestrogenic Adverse Responses to SoySoy As a PhytoestrogenConclusionChapter 16. Supplements and Superior SexBasic ScienceImpotence and the Viagra EraImpotence and the Placebo EffectThe Viagra-Substitute EraErotic Enhancement for WomenFatal Pursuit of Eros (Death by Aphrodisiac)Chapter 17. Good Fat and Bad FatImportance of Serum Cholesterol Levels and Dietary FatsAntioxidants, Fats, and Heart DiseasePhysiological and Therapeutic Roles of Omega-3 Fatty AcidsChapter 18. Cancer Cures: Are They Believable?A Brief View of Conventional TherapiesThe Nature of the ChallengeCurrent Status of Unconventional TherapiesExamples of Unconventional TherapiesThe Toxicity Factor in Conventional TherapyPersonal ChoicesChapter 19. Immunoenhancing Supplements: Are They Effective?IntroductionBotanical Supplements and ImmunonutritionOverview Conference on Immunonutrition (1999)Can Nutrient Supplements Aid the Immune System?Micronutrients and the Immune SystemPrebiotics and Probiotics for Immune System BenefitsPolysaccharide Products for ImmunoenhancementDietary Sources for Critical Immunonutrient FactorsChapter 20. What Is the Price of Globalism? Heavy Metals, Heavy RisksChuifong ToukuwanMetropolitan Market for Dangerous Ethnic RemediesConclusionPART IV: More Certain Supplement MarvelsChapter 21. Marvelous Micronutrients: The VitaminsBasic FoundationsThe Two Subgroups of VitaminsHow Much Vitamin Is Enough?Who Needs to Supplement Vitamin Intake?Vitamins for Prevention of Chronic DiseasesImportant Features of the Individual VitaminsVitamin ToxicologyConclusionsChapter 22. Marvelous Micronutrients: Essential MineralsIntroductionVital Mineral ElementsChapter 23. Marvelous Metabolites: Amino Acids, New Biochemicals, and New Health BenefitsCombined Amino Acids As SupplementsEssential Amino AcidsNonessential Amino AcidsCoenzyme Q10Alpha-Lipoic Acid (Thioctic Acid)The SAMe StoryChapter 24. Bioflavonoid Benefits: Chemoprevention of CancerChemopreventive CandidatesBioflavonoidsSpecific FlavonoidsResveratrol (Red Wine Extract)Prostate CancerNonflavonoid Chemopreventive AgentsChapter 25. The Pharmacology of AscorbateThe Feared, Unappreciated TomatoBasics on Ascorbic AcidAscorbate and the Cardiovascular SystemAscorbate in Treatment of CancerAscorbate and PancreatitisQuestions About Ascorbate's SafetyConclusionsChapter 26. Marvelous Aloe VeraBackgroundThe Nature and Contents of Aloe VeraOral Aloe Vera GelProtective Aloe Vera PolysaccharidesLifelong Oral Aloe Vera IngestionChapter 27. Eye HealthPhototoxicityRisks for Age-Related Macular DegenerationDietary Role in Eye Health and DiseaseNondietary Lifestyle Risk Factors for AMD or CataractClinical ApplicationsConcern About Adverse Effects of Some Natural ProductsConclusionChapter 28. Functional FruitsBackgroundMore DetailsConclusionsPART V: Most Certain Supplement MarvelsChapter 29. Botanical Mistaken IdentityBackgroundMore CasesChapter 30. The L-Tryptophan DisasterA HistoryThe Sequel: 5-Hydroxy-L-TryptophanChapter 31. Miracles Promised, Not Delivered: False Hopes, Failed HopesSome Miracle Cures ExaminedSelf-Chosen Therapies for DiabetesPART VI: The Future of Dietary SupplementsChapter 32. Accreditation, Validation, Standardization, Assimilation, and AttritionValidation of Dietary Supplements' Therapeutic AbilitiesMore Thoughts on ValidationAccreditation: Who Is Looking After John/Jane Q. Public?An Alternative Route for Alternative Remedies?Legislation Requiring StandardizationGlobalization Effects on the Dietary Supplement SceneChapter 33. Would You Bet Your Life on Good Advice?Adverse ReactionsHow Can the Buyer Beware?Can We Eat Our Way to Better Health?Personal Advice to Consumers of Dietary SupplementsLaughter Is The Best MedicineWhere Are Medicine and Health Care Going?Final ThoughtsChapter 34. Epilogue: Spiritual Aspects of Health and HealingThe Nature of Us AllMaintaining Health: Things We Need To AvoidHealings: From Illness to RecoveryConclusionAppendix. Book-Length ResourcesNotesGlossaryBibliographyIndexReference Notes Includedshow more