Supplements in practice Flashcards
What are the three classifications of supplements and who are they regulated by
- licensed medicines:
the Medicines and healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) licenses medicines used in the UK.
Food supplements are covered by food laws.
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ARE CONSIDERED SAFE UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE
- Unlicensed preparations
The DoH has responsibility for national and EU legislation of food supps in England. Local trading standards monitors and enforces. Anything pharmacologically active sent to MHRA for assessment - Herbal products.
Regulated by the Traditional Herbal Medicines (THM) directive, administered by the MHRA.
What are you not allowed to claim on a supplement label
No claims that it can prevent, treat or cure human disease
No reference to rate or amount of weight loss
no recommendations of dr or health professional
No health claims on alcohol
Can’t claim that health could be affected by NOT consuming the food.
Animal based supplements - what body must approve them
The European Commission
What checks are carried out on animal based supplements
where the animal was caught, farmed, manufactured, handled, extracted and packaged.
Contaminants (heavy metals etc) must be within acceptable EU levels.
What are the regulations on GM food in supplements
Ingredients from GM organisms are only permitted in supplements if authorised under a Regulation on GM food and feed. - Must declare the presence of GM materials on teh label
What is the name of the minimum standard that a medicines manufacturer must meet in its production processes
Good Manufacturing Process (GMP)
To meet “Good Manufacturing Practice”, what standards must medicines meet
- be of consistent high quality
- appropriate to their intended use
- meet the requirements of teh marketing authorisation (MA) or product spec
Unlike Australian or American companies, supplement companies in the UK do not have to be GMP approved (Good manufacturing practice). What does it mean to be GMP compliant
companies are required to manufacture with ‘due dilligence’ and can be GMP compliant
How can manufacturing processes affect the quality of supplements and provide 2 examples
Fish and omega plant oils need to be COLD pressed to minimise oxidation.
Whey protein needs to be specially filtered to remove lactose, hormones etc
What is “overage”
extra ingredients added to the supplements so the amount left at the end of its shelf life still meets the label claim
Name 4 different types of supplement forms and why that type might be preferable, and any drawbacks
tablets - cheap, easy to produce in large quantities. Generally contain more excipients
capsules - fewer excipients but not efficient for large dose
powders - good fo bigger doses, eg glutamine
liquids - excellent absorption but more expensive and less stable. Fish oils need antioxidant such as vit E added to prevent odxidation
enteric - Excipient (eg shellac or cellulose) used to ensure tablets surive stomach acid and don’t release until the SI.
spore form - enables Probiotics to survive the stomach and reactivate in the SI
chewable
slow release - cheaper slow release tables contain hydrogenated fats to to hold the tablet together for longe
Liposomal - protective phospholipid bilayer protects the active ingredients - high bioavailability and absorption, increased uptake into target cells, easier to take, suitable for water and fat soluble nutrients.
Why are liposomal supplements so effective
they have a protective phospholipid bilayer protecting the active ingredients.
high bioavailability and absorption, increased uptake into target cells, easier to take, suitable for water and fat soluble nutrients
Liposomal vit C is significantly higher absorption rate.
Provide examples of why excipients are used in supplements
The therapeutically active component of a supp can be as low as 2% of the total content.
- Excipients and fillers are the glue which bind and stabilise and keep nutrients active
Provide examples of what excipients might be
- capsule shells - made from gelatine or plant cellulose
- Flow agents - help formulation flow through machinery. Avoid Mg Stearate
- Binding agents - bind to make tablet
Fillers - esp when only small amount of nutrient needed
natural fillers
Emulsifiers - to mix oily and watery ingredients
Flavours - avoid MSG
Colours - beetroot
Sweeteners - glycerine
Preservatives - Vit E
Provide examples of which nutrients are absorbed in the :
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
Duodenum: Ca, Se, Mg, Ch, Fe, Mn, Zn
Jejunum: Bs, biotoin, Vit C, Choine, Ca, Mg
Ileum: B12
How should water soluble vitamins be taken (b/c)
with food.
Why should Bs not be taken in the evening and with what exception
B6 can be taken in the evening as it stimulates melatonin synthesis
Bs can trigger insomnia
How should fat soluble nutrients be taken (adek and CoQ10) and what guidance should be given for EFAs
with food containing fat
EFAs - don’t take with high amounts of opposing fat.
How should amino acids be taken, specifically protein shakes
Ideally with Carb food/drink or on empty stomach
Protein shakes - any time of day. Good fo post surgery or after extreme exercise. Takes 30 mins to reach muscle after ingestion.
What does the absorption of amino acids depend upon
transit time through gut
stomach acid
proteolytic enzymes
etc
How should minerals be taken
When should Mg and Ca be taken
with food as adequate stomach acid is needed
Mg and Ca - in evening to aid sleep
When working out dosage of supplements, what factors should be taken into consideration
age of client (higher dose with increasing age)
Digestive capability (constipated?)
State of health (for optimum health or disease)
Therapeutic dose
Dietary deficiency or insufficiency
Lab test results
Safe therapeutic range (age group of client)
What does the “elemental” amount of a mineral mean when stated on a supplement label
the amount of mineral available for absorption when it has been freed from its carrier molecule. This is the amount USED by the body.
Just how “natural” are supposed natural supplements
10%+ must be natural
May contain synthetic nutrients
can involve synthetic nutrients being biochemically incorporated into yeast or algae