A recent study suggests that increased dietary intake of antioxidants such as vitamins C and E may protect against DNA damage in people exposed to ionizing radiation such as airline pilots.
According to the researchers, ionizing radiation increases at high altitudes due to greater exposure to cosmic radiation than at ground level.
The study involved 82 male airline pilots. Researchers used food frequency questionnaires to estimate dietary intakes of vitamins C and E and carotenoid compounds. They also assessed the frequency of chromosome translocations, as biological markers of cumulative DNA damage.
Greater intakes of vitamin C, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein-zeaxanthin were associated with significantly lower frequencies of chromosome translocations. In comparison to pilots who ate few vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables, pilots who ate more of such produce had a 39% lower frequency of chromosome translocations. Higher intakes of citrus fruit and green leafy vegetables were linked with 36% and 41% lower translocation frequencies, respectively.
The greatest protective effective, a 73% lower frequency of chromosome translocations, was observed for above average combined intakes of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein-zeaxanthin from food.
More research is needed to determine whether antioxidants from food or supplements may reduce cancer risk in airline pilots or others exposed to ionizing radiation.
For more information about antioxidants, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.
References
1.Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. http://www.naturalstandard.com/
2.Yong LC, Petersen MR, Sigurdson AJ, et al. High dietary antioxidant intakes are associated with decreased chromosome translocation frequency in airline pilots. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Nov;90(5):1402-10. Epub 2009 Sep 30. View Abstract
http://www.depsyl.com/
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/
Showing posts with label ANTIOXIDANTS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ANTIOXIDANTS. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
High Quality of Life ... Antioxidants
Continued from Yesterday
Standing Out in the Crowd
Key factors making a product successful in today’s crowded antioxidant market include a sound, scientific understanding of its health benefits, delivery systems that are favored by consumers, acceptable price points and science-based marketing/outreach that strives to educate consumers, allowing them to make informed decisions. Consumers are more informed than ever before and have a myriad of choices at their fingertips—a company can have the best science in the world, but if consumers don’t know about the benefits of the product, or understand them, they will move on to the next one.
For today’s consumer, antioxidant products must meet both the nutritional/health standards and lifestyle demands for every key demographic—especially teen, parent, adult and senior. They will buy items that best fit their activity levels and interest patterns. The products must be easy to consume and be available in a preferred delivery form (i.e., food, supplement, energy bar, gummies, beverages).
The source and quality of the ingredients and manufacturing processes are also being considered more seriously by customers. “Product quality is center stage with more focus on the supply chain and a specific brand’s reputation,” said Cognis’ Ms. Troha. “Consumers are looking more closely at where a product is derived, how it’s produced and whether it’s sustainable.”
At RFI, researchers are also conducting more clinical studies with selected antioxidants. “These types of studies, which actually show some quantitative effect of antioxidant supplementation over time, will ultimately make products stand out, both on the ingredient and finished product level,” Mr. Wuagneux said. “This is the future of the industry.”
About the author: Mark Crawford is a freelance writer based in Madison, WI. Armed with a science background, he writes about a variety of subjects, from manufacturing to discovery to commercialization to testing/verification to market performance. Personally, natural health is one of his favorite fields. He can be reached at mark.crawford@charter.net.
http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/31627
http://www.depsyl.com/
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/
Standing Out in the Crowd
Key factors making a product successful in today’s crowded antioxidant market include a sound, scientific understanding of its health benefits, delivery systems that are favored by consumers, acceptable price points and science-based marketing/outreach that strives to educate consumers, allowing them to make informed decisions. Consumers are more informed than ever before and have a myriad of choices at their fingertips—a company can have the best science in the world, but if consumers don’t know about the benefits of the product, or understand them, they will move on to the next one.
For today’s consumer, antioxidant products must meet both the nutritional/health standards and lifestyle demands for every key demographic—especially teen, parent, adult and senior. They will buy items that best fit their activity levels and interest patterns. The products must be easy to consume and be available in a preferred delivery form (i.e., food, supplement, energy bar, gummies, beverages).
The source and quality of the ingredients and manufacturing processes are also being considered more seriously by customers. “Product quality is center stage with more focus on the supply chain and a specific brand’s reputation,” said Cognis’ Ms. Troha. “Consumers are looking more closely at where a product is derived, how it’s produced and whether it’s sustainable.”
At RFI, researchers are also conducting more clinical studies with selected antioxidants. “These types of studies, which actually show some quantitative effect of antioxidant supplementation over time, will ultimately make products stand out, both on the ingredient and finished product level,” Mr. Wuagneux said. “This is the future of the industry.”
About the author: Mark Crawford is a freelance writer based in Madison, WI. Armed with a science background, he writes about a variety of subjects, from manufacturing to discovery to commercialization to testing/verification to market performance. Personally, natural health is one of his favorite fields. He can be reached at mark.crawford@charter.net.
http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/31627
http://www.depsyl.com/
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
High Quality of Life ... Antioxidants
Continued from Yesterday
Key Challenges
Antioxidants have broad appeal because they have been linked to good health and disease prevention. Educating consumers about antioxidants with solid, easy-to-understand science can be a challenge—many marketers simply tout that antioxidants help protect the body against oxidative damage caused by free radicals. “Properly promoting these key nutrients, however, requires taking scientific evidence and presenting it to the consumer in a simple, understandable manner,” stressed Soft Gel’s Mr. Holtby.
With the recent upsurge in FDA/FTC warning letters pertaining to inaccurate or excessive antioxidant claims in food products (Lipton, POM Wonderful are some recent examples), companies are likely to be more careful with their messaging in 2011.
“This fear of antioxidant claims may cause a slowdown in the market trend for antioxidants in foods as companies choose to be more careful about what they say,” RFI’s Mr. Wuagneux stated.
But doing scientific studies won’t necessarily allow companies to make claims Mr. Wuagneux said. “POM Wonderful had studies and they were called on it by FTC; in fact POM is filing suit against them. Instead of using the word ‘antioxidant’ companies can make content claims with words like ‘polyphenols’ or ‘flavonoids.’ These words are almost mainstream and are fairly well-known to be antioxidant compounds. It may also be possible to discuss ‘free radical scavenging’ instead of ‘antioxidants.’”
Mr. Wuagneux further noted that the way manufacturers respond to this issue would depend considerably on the resolution of the dispute between POM and FTC.
The ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) assay continues to be a challenge. This testing method places an antioxidant “value” on both foods and supplements by measuring the degree to which a sample inhibits the action of an oxidizing agent and how long it takes. ORAC testing has made a significant impact on the industry’s ability to quantify antioxidant performance.
“The ORAC assay measures the fluorescence of a target attacked by free radicals, Sabinsa’s Dr. Prakash explained. “It typically uses a single concentration of antioxidant or extract, should be conducted at a range of concentrations and the reaction conditions should be carefully controlled.”
For example, she said some test substances are sensitive to light and temperature, so samples stored in brown bottles under refrigeration give different results than those left on the bench top in clear glass.
Another problem with ORAC is the interaction of the sample with the fluorescein reagent used in the test. Some phenols bind to it, probably through hydrogen bonding or pi interactions, preventing decay of fluorescein fluorescence. “When this happens,” Dr. Prakash said, “the test overestimates antioxidant activity, giving extraordinarily high ORAC values that are unrelated to actual radical scavenging activity.”
Test tube ORAC values also don’t tell the full tale of the “power” of an antioxidant.“
The more aggressively the test tube ORAC value is used for marketing a product, the more obvious it becomes that nothing else was ever tested on the product,” commented Frank Schonlau, director of scientific communications for Natural Health Science in Chicago, IL. “Key issues that come into play are ingredient specifications, safety data, bioavailability, stability testing and clinical research. Test tube ORAC values can mislead consumers to believe a product is validated.”
In fact, the ORAC value of the blood of human subjects can be investigated before and after consumption of antioxidants to evaluate their efficacy. Such experiments have been repeatedly carried out with Pycnogenol and are published in peer-reviewed medical journals (i.e., Devaraj et al., Lipids, 2002). “Such ORAC investigations in humans in controlled clinical trials will require a budget of $100,000 compared to $100 for a test tube ORAC assay, ” Mr. Schonlau added. “Yet such clinical studies are much more compelling because they prove the antioxidant is bioavailable and indicate the dosage required to exert an effect in the body.”
Continued Tomorrow
http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/31627
http://www.depsyl.com/
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/
Key Challenges
Antioxidants have broad appeal because they have been linked to good health and disease prevention. Educating consumers about antioxidants with solid, easy-to-understand science can be a challenge—many marketers simply tout that antioxidants help protect the body against oxidative damage caused by free radicals. “Properly promoting these key nutrients, however, requires taking scientific evidence and presenting it to the consumer in a simple, understandable manner,” stressed Soft Gel’s Mr. Holtby.
With the recent upsurge in FDA/FTC warning letters pertaining to inaccurate or excessive antioxidant claims in food products (Lipton, POM Wonderful are some recent examples), companies are likely to be more careful with their messaging in 2011.
“This fear of antioxidant claims may cause a slowdown in the market trend for antioxidants in foods as companies choose to be more careful about what they say,” RFI’s Mr. Wuagneux stated.
But doing scientific studies won’t necessarily allow companies to make claims Mr. Wuagneux said. “POM Wonderful had studies and they were called on it by FTC; in fact POM is filing suit against them. Instead of using the word ‘antioxidant’ companies can make content claims with words like ‘polyphenols’ or ‘flavonoids.’ These words are almost mainstream and are fairly well-known to be antioxidant compounds. It may also be possible to discuss ‘free radical scavenging’ instead of ‘antioxidants.’”
Mr. Wuagneux further noted that the way manufacturers respond to this issue would depend considerably on the resolution of the dispute between POM and FTC.
The ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) assay continues to be a challenge. This testing method places an antioxidant “value” on both foods and supplements by measuring the degree to which a sample inhibits the action of an oxidizing agent and how long it takes. ORAC testing has made a significant impact on the industry’s ability to quantify antioxidant performance.
“The ORAC assay measures the fluorescence of a target attacked by free radicals, Sabinsa’s Dr. Prakash explained. “It typically uses a single concentration of antioxidant or extract, should be conducted at a range of concentrations and the reaction conditions should be carefully controlled.”
For example, she said some test substances are sensitive to light and temperature, so samples stored in brown bottles under refrigeration give different results than those left on the bench top in clear glass.
Another problem with ORAC is the interaction of the sample with the fluorescein reagent used in the test. Some phenols bind to it, probably through hydrogen bonding or pi interactions, preventing decay of fluorescein fluorescence. “When this happens,” Dr. Prakash said, “the test overestimates antioxidant activity, giving extraordinarily high ORAC values that are unrelated to actual radical scavenging activity.”
Test tube ORAC values also don’t tell the full tale of the “power” of an antioxidant.“
The more aggressively the test tube ORAC value is used for marketing a product, the more obvious it becomes that nothing else was ever tested on the product,” commented Frank Schonlau, director of scientific communications for Natural Health Science in Chicago, IL. “Key issues that come into play are ingredient specifications, safety data, bioavailability, stability testing and clinical research. Test tube ORAC values can mislead consumers to believe a product is validated.”
In fact, the ORAC value of the blood of human subjects can be investigated before and after consumption of antioxidants to evaluate their efficacy. Such experiments have been repeatedly carried out with Pycnogenol and are published in peer-reviewed medical journals (i.e., Devaraj et al., Lipids, 2002). “Such ORAC investigations in humans in controlled clinical trials will require a budget of $100,000 compared to $100 for a test tube ORAC assay, ” Mr. Schonlau added. “Yet such clinical studies are much more compelling because they prove the antioxidant is bioavailable and indicate the dosage required to exert an effect in the body.”
Continued Tomorrow
http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/31627
http://www.depsyl.com/
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/
Monday, March 21, 2011
High Quality of Life ... Antioxidants
Continued from Yesterday
Emerging Contenders
In vitro studies have demonstrated that cinnamon has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antimicrobial properties. This common spice contains some of the most varied and potent antioxidants of all plants, making it an important food in the control of oxidative stress and thereby the wide range of chronic diseases that are associated with oxidative damage. “In a comprehensive global analysis of more than 3100 different foods published in the January 2010 edition of the Nutrition Journal, cinnamon was found to have one of the highest antioxidant contents of all the foods studied,” Soft Gel’s Mr. Holtby pointed out.
Turmeric’s principle constituent, curcumin, has been extensively studied by western researchers and scientists for its potent antioxidant activity. Turmeric is thought to reduce inflammation by lowering histamine levels and may also stimulate the adrenal glands to increase production of a hormone that reduces inflammation. It is often used to ease joint pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and other disorders.
A big surprise for many consumers is that chia seed provides a significant amount of antioxidants (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, kaemferol and myrecetin). “In fact, the ORAC value of chia seed is comparable to that of fresh blueberries,” said Pharmachem’s Ms. Torkos. “It is very unique for a seed to have this level of antioxidants.
A wealth of new research findings continue to support the potential of resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to significantly impact the aging process, regulate cardiovascular function and fight cancer. It achieved “superstar” status, partly due to promotion by Dr. Mehmet Oz on Oprah.“
Preliminary evidence suggests that trans-resveratrol has antioxidant activity and also causes blood vessel dilation,” said Mr. Holtby. “It scavenges free radicals and other oxidants and inhibits low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Resveratrol has been found to exert a number of potentially cardioprotective effects in vitro, including the inhibition of platelet aggregation, promotion of vasodilation by enhancing the production of nitric oxide and inhibition of inflammatory enzymes.”
“Some fundamental aspects of resveratrol’s action need to be understood before it can be developed into a clinically viable anti-cancer drug,” added Lakshmi Prakash, vice president of innovation and business development for Sabinsa Corporation in East Windsor, NJ. “These pertain to the key mechanism(s) by which resveratrol potentiates its effects. Current research suggests these might be through novel pathways requiring an understanding of cellular uptake, sentinel targets and in vivo biological networks. The metabolism of resveratrol and its bioavailability also warrant further consideration in light of recent in vitro and in vivo studies.”
Continued Tomorrow
http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/31627
http://www.depsyl.com
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com
Emerging Contenders
In vitro studies have demonstrated that cinnamon has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antimicrobial properties. This common spice contains some of the most varied and potent antioxidants of all plants, making it an important food in the control of oxidative stress and thereby the wide range of chronic diseases that are associated with oxidative damage. “In a comprehensive global analysis of more than 3100 different foods published in the January 2010 edition of the Nutrition Journal, cinnamon was found to have one of the highest antioxidant contents of all the foods studied,” Soft Gel’s Mr. Holtby pointed out.
Turmeric’s principle constituent, curcumin, has been extensively studied by western researchers and scientists for its potent antioxidant activity. Turmeric is thought to reduce inflammation by lowering histamine levels and may also stimulate the adrenal glands to increase production of a hormone that reduces inflammation. It is often used to ease joint pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and other disorders.
A big surprise for many consumers is that chia seed provides a significant amount of antioxidants (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, kaemferol and myrecetin). “In fact, the ORAC value of chia seed is comparable to that of fresh blueberries,” said Pharmachem’s Ms. Torkos. “It is very unique for a seed to have this level of antioxidants.
A wealth of new research findings continue to support the potential of resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to significantly impact the aging process, regulate cardiovascular function and fight cancer. It achieved “superstar” status, partly due to promotion by Dr. Mehmet Oz on Oprah.“
Preliminary evidence suggests that trans-resveratrol has antioxidant activity and also causes blood vessel dilation,” said Mr. Holtby. “It scavenges free radicals and other oxidants and inhibits low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Resveratrol has been found to exert a number of potentially cardioprotective effects in vitro, including the inhibition of platelet aggregation, promotion of vasodilation by enhancing the production of nitric oxide and inhibition of inflammatory enzymes.”
“Some fundamental aspects of resveratrol’s action need to be understood before it can be developed into a clinically viable anti-cancer drug,” added Lakshmi Prakash, vice president of innovation and business development for Sabinsa Corporation in East Windsor, NJ. “These pertain to the key mechanism(s) by which resveratrol potentiates its effects. Current research suggests these might be through novel pathways requiring an understanding of cellular uptake, sentinel targets and in vivo biological networks. The metabolism of resveratrol and its bioavailability also warrant further consideration in light of recent in vitro and in vivo studies.”
Continued Tomorrow
http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/31627
http://www.depsyl.com
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com
Saturday, March 19, 2011
High Quality of Life
Top-Shelf Reputations
Continued from Yesterday
Famous, long-standing antioxidants—vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, beta-carotene, blueberries, cranberries, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), to mention a handful—continue to be in high demand. Even though they have been well-studied, researchers continue to find new ways to increase their efficacy.
For example, both ALA and CoQ10 are supported by high-quality research demonstrating consistent health benefits, especially regarding heart health, diabetes/blood sugar management, gum/oral health and overall anti-aging. One way scientists are improving the function of these ingredients is by developing enhanced delivery systems, such as Pharmachem Laboratories’ patented pre-chelation technology, which boosts the digestion and absorption of CoQ10, selenium and other nutrients.
Polyphenols—antioxidants found in tea and dark chocolate, among other dietary sources—have also long been known to benefit overall health. Now they are being studied for possible effects on vascular health (including blood pressure) and on the body’s ability to use insulin. “Laboratory studies suggest that EGCG, a polyphenol found in green tea, may protect against cardiovascular disease and have a beneficial effect on insulin activity and glucose control,” said Soft Gel’s Mr. Holtby.
Blueberries have always been a consumer favorite—not just for their antioxidants but also because they are an easy-to-formulate, flavorful ingredient for a variety of products.
Tom Payne, industry specialist for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, cited animal studies by the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center (HNRC) that demonstrate the health benefits of blueberries, especially regarding motor skills and brain function.
“Blueberry-fed mice performed better than their control group counterparts in motor behavioral learning and memory,” said Mr. Payne. “Researchers also found a marked decrease in oxidative stress in two regions of the brain and better retention of signal-transmitting neurons compared with the control mice. The compound that appears responsible for this neuron protection—anthocyanin—gives blueberries their color and may be the key to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”
In other developments, research continues to demonstrate the health benefits of glutathione, which is found in every cell of the body and is another major player in the antioxidant market. “According to researchers at Emory University, levels of glutathione vary during a 24-hour period, spiking about six hours after each meal and hitting their lowest point in the morning hours,” said Karen Todd, director of marketing for Kyowa Hakko New York, NY. “Because glutathione levels can only be increased through food intake or dietary supplementation, unless people get up during the night and eat their glutathione levels will be lowest in the morning.”
Antioxidants can also work together synergistically to create enhanced health benefits. Some of these antioxidants may not have relevant biological activity individually, or work through the same biochemical mechanisms; yet together they can create an interlinked defense system that protects against disease associated with oxidative stress.
Most antioxidants lose their protective power once they have quenched a single free radical. “Five antioxidants—alpha lipoic acid, the complete vitamin E complex (tocopherols and tocotrienols), vitamin C (in both fat-soluble and water-soluble forms), glutathione and CoQ10—are unique in their synergistic ability to ‘recycle’ one another into their active antioxidant forms,” explained Mr. Holtby. “Selenium (an essential cofactor of the enzyme thioredoxin reductase) and flavonoids are also proven antioxidants in the body’s defense system against oxidation.”
Continued Tomorrow
http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/31627
http://www.depsyl.com
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com
Continued from Yesterday
Famous, long-standing antioxidants—vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, beta-carotene, blueberries, cranberries, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), to mention a handful—continue to be in high demand. Even though they have been well-studied, researchers continue to find new ways to increase their efficacy.
For example, both ALA and CoQ10 are supported by high-quality research demonstrating consistent health benefits, especially regarding heart health, diabetes/blood sugar management, gum/oral health and overall anti-aging. One way scientists are improving the function of these ingredients is by developing enhanced delivery systems, such as Pharmachem Laboratories’ patented pre-chelation technology, which boosts the digestion and absorption of CoQ10, selenium and other nutrients.
Polyphenols—antioxidants found in tea and dark chocolate, among other dietary sources—have also long been known to benefit overall health. Now they are being studied for possible effects on vascular health (including blood pressure) and on the body’s ability to use insulin. “Laboratory studies suggest that EGCG, a polyphenol found in green tea, may protect against cardiovascular disease and have a beneficial effect on insulin activity and glucose control,” said Soft Gel’s Mr. Holtby.
Blueberries have always been a consumer favorite—not just for their antioxidants but also because they are an easy-to-formulate, flavorful ingredient for a variety of products.
Tom Payne, industry specialist for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, cited animal studies by the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center (HNRC) that demonstrate the health benefits of blueberries, especially regarding motor skills and brain function.
“Blueberry-fed mice performed better than their control group counterparts in motor behavioral learning and memory,” said Mr. Payne. “Researchers also found a marked decrease in oxidative stress in two regions of the brain and better retention of signal-transmitting neurons compared with the control mice. The compound that appears responsible for this neuron protection—anthocyanin—gives blueberries their color and may be the key to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”
In other developments, research continues to demonstrate the health benefits of glutathione, which is found in every cell of the body and is another major player in the antioxidant market. “According to researchers at Emory University, levels of glutathione vary during a 24-hour period, spiking about six hours after each meal and hitting their lowest point in the morning hours,” said Karen Todd, director of marketing for Kyowa Hakko New York, NY. “Because glutathione levels can only be increased through food intake or dietary supplementation, unless people get up during the night and eat their glutathione levels will be lowest in the morning.”
Antioxidants can also work together synergistically to create enhanced health benefits. Some of these antioxidants may not have relevant biological activity individually, or work through the same biochemical mechanisms; yet together they can create an interlinked defense system that protects against disease associated with oxidative stress.
Most antioxidants lose their protective power once they have quenched a single free radical. “Five antioxidants—alpha lipoic acid, the complete vitamin E complex (tocopherols and tocotrienols), vitamin C (in both fat-soluble and water-soluble forms), glutathione and CoQ10—are unique in their synergistic ability to ‘recycle’ one another into their active antioxidant forms,” explained Mr. Holtby. “Selenium (an essential cofactor of the enzyme thioredoxin reductase) and flavonoids are also proven antioxidants in the body’s defense system against oxidation.”
Continued Tomorrow
http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/31627
http://www.depsyl.com
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com
Friday, March 18, 2011
Antioxidants Today!
Antioxidants Today! - Continued from Yesterday
They’re more exotic, more condition-specific, and more important than ever.
Below the Surface
Is Mr. Nicholl right? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, there is no question that public awareness of the benefits of antioxidants is at an all-time high.
Statistics published by Nutrition Business Journal, while not as grandiose as Nicholls’ estimate, show that antioxidant supplements are reaching record numbers. In 2008, sales totaled $4.6 billion, up nearly 6% over the year before, and a huge jump from the $3 billion reported in 2006. This during a year when the real estate market collapsed and the economy tanked in late summer.
NBJ noted that in 2008 the top five categories of anti-aging products were vitamin B, vitamin C, CoQ10, vitamin E and vitamin A/beta-carotene.
As with the tip of an iceberg, the visible position of these five time-tested ingredients may be deceptive. Below the surface is where the real heft and impact of the market will be felt, according to experts. That’s where you’ll find more exotic, more novel approaches to antioxidant nutrition—including superfruits, flavonoids, isoflavones, polyphenols, herbs, extracts, enzymes and more.
Continued Tomorrow
http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/17800
http://www.depsyl.com
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com
They’re more exotic, more condition-specific, and more important than ever.
Below the Surface
Is Mr. Nicholl right? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, there is no question that public awareness of the benefits of antioxidants is at an all-time high.
Statistics published by Nutrition Business Journal, while not as grandiose as Nicholls’ estimate, show that antioxidant supplements are reaching record numbers. In 2008, sales totaled $4.6 billion, up nearly 6% over the year before, and a huge jump from the $3 billion reported in 2006. This during a year when the real estate market collapsed and the economy tanked in late summer.
NBJ noted that in 2008 the top five categories of anti-aging products were vitamin B, vitamin C, CoQ10, vitamin E and vitamin A/beta-carotene.
As with the tip of an iceberg, the visible position of these five time-tested ingredients may be deceptive. Below the surface is where the real heft and impact of the market will be felt, according to experts. That’s where you’ll find more exotic, more novel approaches to antioxidant nutrition—including superfruits, flavonoids, isoflavones, polyphenols, herbs, extracts, enzymes and more.
Continued Tomorrow
http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/17800
http://www.depsyl.com
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com
Friday, February 25, 2011
THE ANTIOXIDANTS STORY CONTINUED #6
Continued from Yesterday.....
The Proof in the Research
It is on the basis of studies such as these, appearing in preeminent medical journals, that doctors and pharmacists form their collective opinion about antioxidant supplements. And time and again, scientists, doctors and pharmacists in interviews specifically cite epidemiological studies on vitamin E as significantly perking their interest in the value of the nutrient in preventing heart disease. In other words, there is precedent that members of the mainstream medical community can be convinced of the benefits of a certain antioxidant, but only if strong evidence is present.
"I think antioxidants will eventually become another option that doctors in traditional medicine will recommend when appropriate," said Jim Clark, Ph.D., research director at Henkel Nutrition and Health Groups, which supplies such antioxidant ingredients as Pycnogenol pine bark extract, Betatene natural beta carotene with mixed carotenoids, Covitol natural-source vitamin E and Lipoec alpha lipoic acid. "However, the integration will be subtle. And because of the conservative nature of traditional medicine, only antioxidants that have been studied for many, many years will be included. For example, surveys have shown that about half of all doctors take vitamin E."
While epidemiological studies of large populations have suggested the role of an antioxidant nutrient such as vitamin E, many health professionals view the epidemiological results with caution. "I feel that observational epidemiology can be very persuasive if the studies are well designed and large enough, and I am not sure that we have to demand that a randomized clinical trial be performed before we suggest an intervention," said Dr. Regina Ziegler, a nutritional epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute. "But on the other hand, depending on the degree to which an intervention or supplementation diverges from normal dietary patterns, you have to be concerned about potential risks and benefits. Research that fruits and vegetables are protective in a dietary study of a large population are fine, but once people want to extract beta carotene or vitamin C and put them in a pill, they should be sure that those are the only important components and that other necessary things are not getting left behind. Also, it is important to make sure that the chemical form is correct, and that the dosage is not too much, etc. We shouldn't rule out the research, but we should be very prudent in terms of taking compounds in supplements and saying that they will do the same things that are shown in studies of dietary patterns."
One way to determine whether these nutrients in supplemental form offer similar benefits as they do when ingested as part of diet is to conduct clinical human studies that specifically use supplements as the therapeutic intervention. Further, while epidemiological studies definitely catch the interest of the medical community, controlled, randomized human studies close the deal in winning doctors' and pharmacists' acceptance.
Continuing with the example of vitamin E, Andreas Papas, Ph.D., senior technical associate at Eastman Chemical Co., which supplies Nutriene brand tocotrienols, said that vitamin E is well on its way to being fully scientifically validated for its antioxidant function. Papas explained that in order to meet the burden of proof that will convince the scientific community and the FDA to approve claims for an antioxidant substance, the following steps of gathering evidence is required: 1) a good working hypothesis that a benefit is likely, with a mechanism of actions that makes good biological sense; 2) evidence from basic medical laboratory research that supports at least part of the hypothesis; 3) evidence from animal studies and small human studies that some responses related to the benefit do actually occur; 4) epidemiological studies showing a strong association between the compound and the actual health benefit; and, 5) evidence from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
"For vitamin E, evidence is available for all steps except the evidence for the last and important step is not complete," said Papas. "If ongoing major clinical trials are positive, it will achieve the burden of proof required for FDA approval."
Continued Tomorrow....
http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/articles/1999/01/winning-the-medical-community-over-to-antioxidants.aspx
http://www.depsyl.com/
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com
The Proof in the Research
It is on the basis of studies such as these, appearing in preeminent medical journals, that doctors and pharmacists form their collective opinion about antioxidant supplements. And time and again, scientists, doctors and pharmacists in interviews specifically cite epidemiological studies on vitamin E as significantly perking their interest in the value of the nutrient in preventing heart disease. In other words, there is precedent that members of the mainstream medical community can be convinced of the benefits of a certain antioxidant, but only if strong evidence is present.
"I think antioxidants will eventually become another option that doctors in traditional medicine will recommend when appropriate," said Jim Clark, Ph.D., research director at Henkel Nutrition and Health Groups, which supplies such antioxidant ingredients as Pycnogenol pine bark extract, Betatene natural beta carotene with mixed carotenoids, Covitol natural-source vitamin E and Lipoec alpha lipoic acid. "However, the integration will be subtle. And because of the conservative nature of traditional medicine, only antioxidants that have been studied for many, many years will be included. For example, surveys have shown that about half of all doctors take vitamin E."
While epidemiological studies of large populations have suggested the role of an antioxidant nutrient such as vitamin E, many health professionals view the epidemiological results with caution. "I feel that observational epidemiology can be very persuasive if the studies are well designed and large enough, and I am not sure that we have to demand that a randomized clinical trial be performed before we suggest an intervention," said Dr. Regina Ziegler, a nutritional epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute. "But on the other hand, depending on the degree to which an intervention or supplementation diverges from normal dietary patterns, you have to be concerned about potential risks and benefits. Research that fruits and vegetables are protective in a dietary study of a large population are fine, but once people want to extract beta carotene or vitamin C and put them in a pill, they should be sure that those are the only important components and that other necessary things are not getting left behind. Also, it is important to make sure that the chemical form is correct, and that the dosage is not too much, etc. We shouldn't rule out the research, but we should be very prudent in terms of taking compounds in supplements and saying that they will do the same things that are shown in studies of dietary patterns."
One way to determine whether these nutrients in supplemental form offer similar benefits as they do when ingested as part of diet is to conduct clinical human studies that specifically use supplements as the therapeutic intervention. Further, while epidemiological studies definitely catch the interest of the medical community, controlled, randomized human studies close the deal in winning doctors' and pharmacists' acceptance.
Continuing with the example of vitamin E, Andreas Papas, Ph.D., senior technical associate at Eastman Chemical Co., which supplies Nutriene brand tocotrienols, said that vitamin E is well on its way to being fully scientifically validated for its antioxidant function. Papas explained that in order to meet the burden of proof that will convince the scientific community and the FDA to approve claims for an antioxidant substance, the following steps of gathering evidence is required: 1) a good working hypothesis that a benefit is likely, with a mechanism of actions that makes good biological sense; 2) evidence from basic medical laboratory research that supports at least part of the hypothesis; 3) evidence from animal studies and small human studies that some responses related to the benefit do actually occur; 4) epidemiological studies showing a strong association between the compound and the actual health benefit; and, 5) evidence from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
"For vitamin E, evidence is available for all steps except the evidence for the last and important step is not complete," said Papas. "If ongoing major clinical trials are positive, it will achieve the burden of proof required for FDA approval."
Continued Tomorrow....
http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/articles/1999/01/winning-the-medical-community-over-to-antioxidants.aspx
http://www.depsyl.com/
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
THE ANTIOXIDANTS STORY CONTINUED #4
Continued from Yesterday.....
The Proof in the Research
The key to capturing the interest and awareness of doctors and pharmacists can be summed up with one word--research. And more research and then more research. In fact, antioxidants and the theory of free radical oxidation already has been the subject of a very impressive number of studies. A recent search of the National Library of Medicine's online version of Medline using the keyword "antioxidant" showed 28,391 citations of studies related to the topic of antioxidants. Other indications of the scientific interest in free radicals and antioxidants is the existence of the scientific journal Free Radical Research, and the establishment of scientific organizations such as the Oxygen Society and the International Society for Free Radical Research, which are dedicated to the knowledge and understanding of biooxidation, free radicals and antioxidants. The number of researchers, many of whom who are at renowned research universities, currently investigating the role of free radicals and antioxidant function shows that the study of antioxidants is not a passing scientific fad. It also means that extensive and serious research on the role of antioxidants will continue indefinitely.
Researchers, as well as doctors and pharmacists, commonly state that much of the research on antioxidants is important and compelling. "The research is substantial and exciting," said Michael Janson, M.D., author of The Vitamin Revolution in Healthcare and president of the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM). "Nonetheless, as with all research, it is preliminary in the sense that we know there is going to be more that enhances, modifies, contradicts what has come before. There will be some inevitable contradiction as there is an increasing number of studies. But the overwhelming weight of the evidence on antioxidants is positive."
However, many in the scientific and medical communities note that the quantity of research does not necessarily express the quality or significance of that body of research.
For example, the research on antioxidants is often characterized as preliminary and sometimes as mixed or even negative. Even when the scientific evidence is positive, many doctors and pharmacists distinguish between in vitro (tested in a test tube) vs. in vivo (tested in live organisms). In regard to in vivo human studies, definitive research on the benefits of antioxidants is scarce. "It certainly has to be said that in terms of human studies, the research is preliminary," said Varro Tyler, dean and distinguished professor emeritus at Purdue University and author of The Honest Herbal and Herbs of Choice. "But I think the results have been significant to date, so I think it is a very fruitful line of endeavor to continue."
Continued Tomorrow....
http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/articles/1999/01/winning-the-medical-community-over-to-antioxidants.aspx
http://www.depsyl.com/
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/
The Proof in the Research
The key to capturing the interest and awareness of doctors and pharmacists can be summed up with one word--research. And more research and then more research. In fact, antioxidants and the theory of free radical oxidation already has been the subject of a very impressive number of studies. A recent search of the National Library of Medicine's online version of Medline using the keyword "antioxidant" showed 28,391 citations of studies related to the topic of antioxidants. Other indications of the scientific interest in free radicals and antioxidants is the existence of the scientific journal Free Radical Research, and the establishment of scientific organizations such as the Oxygen Society and the International Society for Free Radical Research, which are dedicated to the knowledge and understanding of biooxidation, free radicals and antioxidants. The number of researchers, many of whom who are at renowned research universities, currently investigating the role of free radicals and antioxidant function shows that the study of antioxidants is not a passing scientific fad. It also means that extensive and serious research on the role of antioxidants will continue indefinitely.
Researchers, as well as doctors and pharmacists, commonly state that much of the research on antioxidants is important and compelling. "The research is substantial and exciting," said Michael Janson, M.D., author of The Vitamin Revolution in Healthcare and president of the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM). "Nonetheless, as with all research, it is preliminary in the sense that we know there is going to be more that enhances, modifies, contradicts what has come before. There will be some inevitable contradiction as there is an increasing number of studies. But the overwhelming weight of the evidence on antioxidants is positive."
However, many in the scientific and medical communities note that the quantity of research does not necessarily express the quality or significance of that body of research.
For example, the research on antioxidants is often characterized as preliminary and sometimes as mixed or even negative. Even when the scientific evidence is positive, many doctors and pharmacists distinguish between in vitro (tested in a test tube) vs. in vivo (tested in live organisms). In regard to in vivo human studies, definitive research on the benefits of antioxidants is scarce. "It certainly has to be said that in terms of human studies, the research is preliminary," said Varro Tyler, dean and distinguished professor emeritus at Purdue University and author of The Honest Herbal and Herbs of Choice. "But I think the results have been significant to date, so I think it is a very fruitful line of endeavor to continue."
Continued Tomorrow....
http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/articles/1999/01/winning-the-medical-community-over-to-antioxidants.aspx
http://www.depsyl.com/
http://back2basicnutrition.com/
http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
