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Nutrients Sep 2022Melatonin has become a popular dietary supplement, most known as a chronobiotic, and for establishing healthy sleep. Research over the last decade into cancer,... (Review)
Review
Melatonin has become a popular dietary supplement, most known as a chronobiotic, and for establishing healthy sleep. Research over the last decade into cancer, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, fertility, PCOS, and many other conditions, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to greater awareness of melatonin because of its ability to act as a potent antioxidant, immune-active agent, and mitochondrial regulator. There are distinct similarities between melatonin and vitamin D in the depth and breadth of their impact on health. Both act as hormones, affect multiple systems through their immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory functions, are found in the skin, and are responsive to sunlight and darkness. In fact, there may be similarities between the widespread concern about vitamin D deficiency as a "sunlight deficiency" and reduced melatonin secretion as a result of "darkness deficiency" from overexposure to artificial blue light. The trend toward greater use of melatonin supplements has resulted in concern about its safety, especially higher doses, long-term use, and application in certain populations (e.g., children). This review aims to evaluate the recent data on melatonin's mechanisms, its clinical uses beyond sleep, safety concerns, and a thorough summary of therapeutic considerations concerning dietary supplementation, including the different formats available (animal, synthetic, and phytomelatonin), dosing, timing, contraindications, and nutrient combinations.
Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; COVID-19; Circadian Rhythm; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Melatonin; Pandemics; Vitamin D; Vitamins
PubMed: 36235587
DOI: 10.3390/nu14193934 -
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Feb 2021To present an updated overview on the safety of concurrent use of food, herbal or dietary supplement and warfarin. (Review)
Review
AIMS
To present an updated overview on the safety of concurrent use of food, herbal or dietary supplement and warfarin.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was performed on 5 databases from inception up to 31 December 2019. These interactions were classified depending on the likelihood of interaction and supporting evidences.
RESULTS
A total of 149 articles describing 78 herbs, food or dietary supplements were reported to interact with warfarin. These reports described potentiation with 45 (57.7%) herbs, food or dietary supplements while 23 (29.5%) reported inhibition and 10 (12.8%) reported limited impact on warfarin pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Twenty unique herb and dietary supplements also reported to result in minor bleeding events, such as purpura and gum bleeding as well as major events such as intracranial bleeding that led to death.
CONCLUSION
While most food, herbs and supplements can be safely taken in moderation, healthcare professionals should be aware of the increased risk of bleeding when taking several food and herbs. These include Chinese wolfberry, chamomile tea, cannabis, cranberry, chitosan, green tea, Ginkgo biloba, ginger, spinach, St. John's Wort, sushi and smoking tobacco. Patients should be counselled to continue to seek advice from their healthcare professionals when starting any new herbs, food or supplement.
Topics: Dietary Supplements; Ginkgo biloba; Herb-Drug Interactions; Humans; Phytotherapy; Warfarin
PubMed: 32478963
DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14404 -
Skin Therapy Letter Sep 2019Dermatology supplements, often marketed as “skin, hair, and nail” supplements, are becoming increasingly popular. However, many consumers lack an understanding of... (Review)
Review
Dermatology supplements, often marketed as “skin, hair, and nail” supplements, are becoming increasingly popular. However, many consumers lack an understanding of the science of dietary supplements or the specifics of the supplement industry. While certain supplements at the right dose in the right population may prove beneficial, the evidence is sparse for many supplements. In addition, the use of some supplements has resulted in serious adverse effects. From a regulatory standpoint, the US FDA recognizes dietary supplements as foods. This distinction has multiple ramifications, including the fact that manufacturers do not need to prove efficacy, safety, or quality prior to sale. Therefore, physicians and consumers must evaluate each supplement ingredient and formulation individually. This article outlines an evidence-based approach to assess dermatology supplements. As a starting point, all supplements should be evaluated for PPIES: purity, potency, interactions, efficacy, and safety.
Topics: Dietary Supplements; Drug Contamination; Drug Interactions; Drug and Narcotic Control; Evidence-Based Medicine; Hair; Humans; Nails; Skin
PubMed: 31584785
DOI: No ID Found -
Nutrients Nov 2022Immune health products represent approximately 10% of all US dietary supplement sales. Claims made on products to support or boost the immune system are attractive to... (Review)
Review
Immune health products represent approximately 10% of all US dietary supplement sales. Claims made on products to support or boost the immune system are attractive to the otherwise healthy consumer who may or may not be experiencing certain life stressors. The purpose of this systematic review is to critically evaluate the purported benefits and/or potential harms of select dietary supplement ingredients frequently listed on the labels of products having immune health or related market claims. With a focus on resilience, research questions were related to whether dietary supplement ingredients are efficacious in preserving and protecting immune health in healthy individuals; and when faced with a stressor, whether taking a supplement prophylactically can assist in maintaining health and resisting or bouncing back more quickly. Thirty-nine randomized controlled studies involving populations including children, adults and seniors exposed to stressors, such as air travel, intense exercise, academic stress, and/or exposure to winter weather, met eligibility criteria. The studies included eight of the 27 supplement ingredients identified through a market-driven scoping review. Those ingredients used in single ingredient products were echinacea, elderberry, garlic, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and zinc. Whereas some studies may point to evidence for benefit, specific gaps preclude the authors from making firm statements with regard to the overall evidence-base for these products and ingredients and in answering the research questions. As we move toward a vision of health promotion and resilience rather than a sole focus on disease prevention and treatment, further work in this area of dietary supplements is of utmost importance.
Topics: Adult; Child; Humans; Dietary Supplements; Vitamins; Exercise; Biological Products; Immune System
PubMed: 36364865
DOI: 10.3390/nu14214604 -
Journal of the International Society of... Apr 2021Although there is a plethora of information available regarding the impact of nutrition on exercise performance, many recommendations are based on male needs due to the... (Review)
Review
Although there is a plethora of information available regarding the impact of nutrition on exercise performance, many recommendations are based on male needs due to the dominance of male participation in the nutrition and exercise science literature. Female participation in sport and exercise is prevalent, making it vital for guidelines to address the sex-specific nutritional needs. Female hormonal levels, such as estrogen and progesterone, fluctuate throughout the mensural cycle and lifecycle requiring more attention for effective nutritional considerations. Sex-specific nutritional recommendations and guidelines for the active female and female athlete have been lacking to date and warrant further consideration. This review provides a practical overview of key physiological and nutritional considerations for the active female. Available literature regarding sex-specific nutrition and dietary supplement guidelines for women has been synthesized, offering evidenced-based practical information that can be incorporated into the daily lives of women to improve performance, body composition, and overall health.
Topics: Body Composition; Body Temperature Regulation; Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Energy Intake; Exercise; Female; Humans; Menstruation; Muscle Fatigue; Nutrition Policy; Sex Characteristics; Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
PubMed: 33794937
DOI: 10.1186/s12970-021-00422-8 -
CNS Drugs Sep 2023In 2021, the Global Brain Health Supplement Industry Market size was valued at US$7.6 billion. It is predicted to increase to US$15.59 billion by 2030. Memory and its... (Review)
Review
In 2021, the Global Brain Health Supplement Industry Market size was valued at US$7.6 billion. It is predicted to increase to US$15.59 billion by 2030. Memory and its enhancement are a segment of the market that comprised the highest global revenue share in 2021. In the USA alone, dietary supplement sales reached US$18 billion in 2018. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements' safety, effectiveness, or labeling before products go on the market. The FDA often does not even review supplements before they go to market. Supplement manufacturers are thus responsible for ensuring their products are safe and that their claims are truthful. An extensive review of current supplements on the market was performed by surveying memory products for sale at local and national pharmacies and grocery stores. A list of 103 supplements was compiled and the ingredients in these memory supplements were reviewed. The 18 most common ingredients in these supplements were identified. Each of the supplements included at least one of the 18 most common ingredients. Scientific data relative to these ingredients and their effect on memory was searched using PubMed and Cochrane library databases. Currently, there is no compelling evidence for use of apoaequorin, coenzyme Q10, coffee extracts, L-theanine, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B6, vitamin B9, or vitamin B12 supplementation for memory. On the other hand, there is some current evidence for memory benefit from supplementation with ashwagandha, choline, curcumin, ginger, Lion's Mane, polyphenols, phosphatidylserine, and turmeric. There are current studies with mixed results regarding the benefit of carnitine, gingko biloba, Huperzine A, vitamin D, and vitamin E supplementation for memory. Dietary supplements geared toward improving cognition are a billion-dollar industry that continues to grow despite lacking a solid scientific foundation for their marketing claims. More rigorous studies are needed relative to the long-term use of these supplements in homogenous populations with standardized measurements of cognition. Health care providers need to be aware of any and all supplements their older adult patients may be consuming and be educated about their side effects and interactions with prescription medications. Lastly, the FDA needs to take an active position relative to monitoring marketed supplements regarding safety, purity and claims of efficacy.
Topics: United States; Humans; Aged; Dietary Supplements; Carnitine; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Brain; Choline
PubMed: 37603263
DOI: 10.1007/s40263-023-01031-6 -
Physiological Research Mar 2022The aim of the article is to examine side effects of increased dietary intake of amino acids, which are commonly used as a dietary supplement. In addition to toxicity,...
The aim of the article is to examine side effects of increased dietary intake of amino acids, which are commonly used as a dietary supplement. In addition to toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity, attention is focused on renal and gastrointestinal tract functions, ammonia production, and consequences of a competition with other amino acids for a carrier at the cell membranes and enzymes responsible for their degradation. In alphabetic order are examined arginine, beta-alanine, branched-chain amino acids, carnosine, citrulline, creatine, glutamine, histidine, beta -hydroxy- beta -methylbutyrate, leucine, and tryptophan. In the article is shown that enhanced intake of most amino acid supplements may not be risk-free and can cause a number of detrimental side effects. Further research is necessary to elucidate effects of high doses and long-term consumption of amino acid supplements on immune system, brain function, muscle protein balance, synthesis of toxic metabolites, and tumor growth and examine their suitability under certain circumstances. These include elderly, childhood, pregnancy, nursing a baby, and medical condition, such as diabetes and liver disease. Studies are also needed to examine adaptive response to a long-term intake of any substance and consequences of discontinuation of supplementation.
Topics: Aged; Amino Acids; Arginine; Child; Dietary Supplements; Female; Glutamine; Histidine; Humans; Muscle, Skeletal; Pregnancy
PubMed: 35043647
DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934790 -
Nutrients Mar 2023Creatine has become one of the most popular dietary supplements among a wide range of healthy and clinical populations. However, its potential adverse effects on kidney... (Review)
Review
Creatine has become one of the most popular dietary supplements among a wide range of healthy and clinical populations. However, its potential adverse effects on kidney health are still a matter of concern. This is a narrative review of the effects of creatine supplementation on kidney function. Despite a few case reports and animal studies suggesting that creatine may impair kidney function, clinical trials with controlled designs do not support this claim. Creatine supplementation may increase serum creatinine (Crn) concentration for some individuals, but it does not necessarily indicate kidney dysfunction, as creatine is spontaneously converted into Crn. Based on studies assessing kidney function using reliable methods, creatine supplements have been shown to be safe for human consumption. Further studies with people who have pre-existing kidney disease remain necessary.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Creatine; Renal Insufficiency; Kidney; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Dietary Supplements; Creatinine
PubMed: 36986197
DOI: 10.3390/nu15061466 -
Current Neuropharmacology 2021Recent estimates for the global brain health supplement category, i.e. nootropic market size, will grow to nearly $5.8 billion by 2023. Overall, nearly one-quarter (23%)... (Review)
Review
Recent estimates for the global brain health supplement category, i.e. nootropic market size, will grow to nearly $5.8 billion by 2023. Overall, nearly one-quarter (23%) of adults currently take a supplement to maintain or improve brain health or delay and reverse dementia. Not surprisingly, the use of such supplements increases with age - more than one-third of the oldest generation (ages 74 and older) takes a supplement for brain health. This widespread use is being driven by a strong desire both in the younger and older generations to enhance cognitive performance and achieve healthy aging. The most prevalent botanicals currently dominating the nootropic marketplace include Gingko biloba, American ginseng, and Bacopa monnieri. However, other botanicals that affect stress, focus, attention, and sleep have also been procured by dietary supplement companies developing products for improving both, short and long-term brain health. This review focuses on efficacy data for neuroactive botanicals targeted at improving cognitive function, stress reduction, memory, mood, attention, concentration, focus, and alertness, including Bacopa monnieri, Ginkgo biloba, Holy basil, American ginseng, Gotu kola, Lemon balm, Common and Spanish sages and spearmint. Botanicals are discussed in terms of available clinical efficacy data and current safety profiles. Data gaps are highlighted for both efficacy and safety to bring attention to unmet needs and future research.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Bacopa; Brain; Cognition; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Nootropic Agents
PubMed: 34315377
DOI: 10.2174/1570159X19666210726150432 -
Postgraduate Medical Journal Apr 2022Different dietary supplements aimed at improving sleep quality are available on the market, but there has not been a comprehensive review to evaluate the efficacy of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
Different dietary supplements aimed at improving sleep quality are available on the market, but there has not been a comprehensive review to evaluate the efficacy of these dietary supplements on subjective sleep quality. We aimed to summarise up-to-date research evidence and to identify the types of dietary supplement that improve subjective sleep quality.
METHODS
Multiple databases (Ovid Emcare, Ovid MEDLINE (R) and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and APA PsycInfo) were used for searching papers published until August 2020. The changes in sleep quality indices, intervention duration and sample size were extracted from every paper. To analyse the effect of dietary supplements on sleep quality, a random effects model with mean difference (MD) and 95% CI was adopted. The heterogeneity across studies was measured by I statistics. The quality of included studies was evaluated by Cochrane's risk of bias tool.
RESULTS
Thirty-one randomised controlled trials of dietary supplements were included. Subjective sleep quality was significantly improved by supplementation of amino acids (MD -1.27, 95% CI -2.35 to -0.20; I=0%), melatonin (MD -1.21, 95% CI -2.17 to -0.24; I=79%) and vitamin D (MD -1.63, 95% CI -3.15 to -0.10; I=85%). Although not all studies provided adequate data for meta-analysis, we also discussed how magnesium, zinc, resveratrol and nitrate supplementation may improve sleep quality.
CONCLUSIONS
Amino acids, vitamin D and melatonin supplements were significantly beneficial to improve sleep quality. However, high heterogeneity and wide confidence levels were observed in vitamin D and melatonin. Further research on the effect of magnesium, zinc, resveratrol and nitrate supplementation on improving sleep quality is required.
Topics: Dietary Supplements; Humans; Sleep Quality; Vitamins
PubMed: 33441476
DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-139319