Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines: Servings of Hope

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.

Table of 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