Unit 9: Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicine

Dietary Supplements DSHEA Supplement Claims Domains of CAM Discussion

Product taken by mouth that contains a "dietary ingredient" intended to supplement the diet.

“Dietary Ingredients" may include: ◦ Vitamins, minerals◦ Herbs or botanicals◦ Amino acids◦ Enzymes◦ Glandulars◦ Metabolites◦ Extracts or concentrates

What are some supplements you have heard of? Taken? Known someone who has taken?

What may be a benefit of taking a dietary supplement?

What can be a negative of dietary supplement use?

Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994

To help ensure that dietary supplements are safe and labels are truthful.

Manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement is safe before it is marketed; do not have to be preapproved by FDA

FDA is responsible for taking action against any unsafe dietary supplement product after it reaches the market.

Claims may not be made about using dietary supplements to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure a specific disease.

Manufacturers may make three types of claims:◦Health/disease claims: strong scientific evidence

exists that shows relationship◦Structure/function claims◦Nutrient content claims

1. Alternative Medical Systems2. Mind-Body Interventions3. Biological-Based Therapies4. Manipulative and Body-Based Methods5. Energy Therapies

Belief that body has power to heal itself. Healing by techniques involving mind, body, spirit. Examples:

◦ Traditional Chinese Medicine◦ Ayurvedic◦ Homeopathy◦ Naturopathy

An approach to healing that uses power of thoughts and emotions to positively influence physical health.

Focuses on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior

Examples:◦ Relaxation, hypnosis, visual imagery, meditation, yoga,

biofeedback, tai chi, cognitive-behavioral therapies, group support, and spirituality.

Herbs Vitamins/minerals Functional Foods

◦ Stanols/sterols: may reduce risk of CHD◦ Probiotics: may improve GI health◦ Lycopene: may contribute to maintenance of prostate

health ◦ Lutein: may contribute to maintenance of healthy vision

Dietary Supplements

Manipulation of movement of 1 or more body part Chiropractic manipulation Massage Reflexology

Belief that imbalances in the body's energy fields result in illness

1. Biofield therapies:◦ Reiki◦ Acupuncture

2. Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies:◦ Magnetic Therapy◦ Light Therapy

What concerns do you have about CAM?

What advice would you give someone who is interested in CAM?

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) http://nccam.nih.gov/

Office of Dietary Supplementshttp://www.ods.od.nih.gov/