Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals

• The term "nutraceutical" was coined from "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical" in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, MD, founder and chairman of the Foundation for Innovation in Medicine (FIM), Cranford, NJ.

[Nutr (ition) + (pharm) aceutical]

• "Nutraceutical" is creating the concept that extracts from food can be used as drugs, i.e. food supplements.

NutraceuticalsNutraceuticals are products purified from foods that are generally sold in medicinal forms, such as powders, tablets or capsules, to provide protection against chronic disease.

Nutraceuticals can be derived from plants, from animals and microorganisms (e.g. essential fatty acids, enzymes, etc.) and from marine sources (e.g. glucosamine, chitosan, fish oils, etc.).

Let thy food be thy medicine,and the medicine be thy food.

- Hippocrates

Why Nutraceuticals ?

The purpose of Nutraceuticals is to maintain or improve key functional aspects of the human body, such as:

Digestive systemsImmune systemCardiovascular systemDental healthBone strength

Categories of Nutraceuticals

Carbohydrates & Fiber

Fat & Essential fatty acids

Protein

Minerals like Macrominerals & Trace minerals

Vitamins

Water

Other nutrients like Antioxidants, Phytochemicals & Intestinal bacterial flora

Minerals

• Minerals are important for your body to stay healthy. Your body uses minerals for many different jobs, including building bones, making hormones and regulating your heartbeat.

• Macrominerals- Elements with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) greater than 200 mg/day

• Trace minerals- Some trace mineral elements with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) less than 200 mg/day

Macrominerals Function

CalciumEssential for muscle and digestive system health, bone strength, neutralize acidity, help clear toxins, provides signaling ions for nerve and membrane functions

Chlorine Very common electrolyte

Magnesium Builds bone, causes strong peristalsis, increases flexibility, increases alkalinity

Phosphorus Required component of bones; essential for energy processingPotassium Very common electrolyte for heart and nerve health

Sodium Very common electrolyte

Sulfur For three essential amino acids and therefore many proteins like skin, hair, nails, liver, and pancreas

Trace minerals Function

Cobalt  Required for biosynthesis of vitamin B12 family of coenzymes.Copper Required component of many redox enzymes

Chromium Required for sugar metabolism

Iodine  Required for the biosynthesis of thyroxine, for other important organs as breast, stomach, salivary glands, thymus etc

Iron  Required for many enzymes, and for hemoglobin and some other proteins

Manganese Processing of oxygenMolybdenum Required for xanthine oxidase and related oxidases

Nickel  Present in ureaseSelenium Required for peroxidase (antioxidant proteins)

Vanadium  No specific biochemical function has been identified for it in humans

Zinc Required for several enzymes such as carboxypeptidase, liver alcohol dehydrogenase, and carbonic anhydrase

Calcium

• We have more calcium in our body than any other mineral.

• The body stores more than 99 percent of its calcium in the bones and teeth to help make and keep them strong. The rest is throughout the body in blood, muscle and the fluid between cells.

• Our body needs calcium to help muscles and blood vessels contract and expand, to secrete hormones and enzymes and to send messages through the nervous system.

Calcium

• Calcium helps our body with:

Building strong bones and teeth

Clotting blood

Sending and receiving nerve signals

Squeezing and relaxing muscles

Releasing hormones and other chemicals

Keeping a normal heartbeat

Calcium

• Types of calcium supplements

• The two main forms of calcium dietary supplements are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. Calcium phosphate is less common.

• Calcium Carbonate: Over-the-counter products contain calcium carbonate. These sources of calcium carbonate do not cost very much.

• Calcium Citrate: This is a more expensive form of the supplement. It is absorbed well on an empty or full stomach. People with low levels of stomach acid (a condition that is more common in people over age 50) absorb calcium citrate more easily than calcium carbonate.

Calcium RDAInfants (Adequate Intake)0 - 6 months: 200 milligrams per day (mg/day)7 - 12 months: 260 mg/dayChildren and Adolescents1 - 3 years: 700 mg/day4 - 8 years: 1,000 mg/day9 - 18 years: 1,300 mg/dayAdults19 - 50 years: 1,000 mg/day50 - 70 years:

Men - 1,000 mg/dayWomen - 1,200 mg/day

Over 71 years - 1,200 mg/dayPregnancy and Breast-feeding14 - 18 years: 1,300 mg/day19 - 50 years: 1,000 mg/dayUp to 2,500 - 3,000 mg a day of calcium from dietary sources and supplements appears to be safe for children 

Magnesium

• Magnesium is an essential element in biological systems. Magnesium occurs typically as the Mg2+ ion.

• It is an essential mineral nutrient for life and is present in every cell type in every organism.

• For example, ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the main source of energy in cells, must be bound to a magnesium ion in order to be biologically active.

• Over 300 enzymes require the presence of magnesium ions for their catalytic action, including all enzymes utilizing or synthesizing ATP, or those that use other nucleotides to synthesize DNA and RNA.

Magnesium

• Magnesium in the body serves several important functions:

Contraction and relaxation of muscles

Function of certain enzymes in the body

Production and transport of energy

Production of protein

Magnesium

• Nerve conduction

• Magnesium can affect muscle relaxation through direct action on cell membranes.

• Mg++ ions close certain types of calcium channels, which conduct a positively charged calcium ion into neurons.

• With an excess of magnesium, more channels will be blocked and nerve cells will have less activity

Magnesium

• Hypertension

• Magnesium-containing salts are especially used in treating the hypertension of eclampsia.

• Even if the case is not eclampsia, there may be antihypertensive effects of having a substantial portion of the intake of sodium chloride (NaCl) exchanged for e.g. magnesium chloride; NaCl is an osmolite and increases arginine vasopressin (AVP) release, which increases extracellular volume and thus results in increased blood pressure.

• However, not all osmolites have this effect on AVP release, so with magnesium chloride, the increase in osmolarity may not cause such a hypertensive response.

MagnesiumSymptoms due to a lack of magnesium have three categories.

Early symptoms:AnorexiaApathyConfusionFatigueInsomniaIrritabilityMuscle twitchingPoor memoryReduced ability to learn

Moderate deficiency symptoms:Heart (cardiovascular) changesRapid heartbeat

Severe deficiency:Continued muscle contractionDeliriumNumbnessHallucinationsTingling

Magnesium

These are the recommended daily requirements of magnesium:

Children1 - 3 years old: 80 milligrams4 - 8 years old: 130 milligrams9 - 13 years old: 240 milligrams14 - 18 years old (boys): 410 milligrams14 - 18 years old (girls): 360 milligrams

Adult females: 310 - 320 milligramsPregnancy: 350 - 400 milligramsBreastfeeding women: 310 - 360 milligramsAdult males: 400 - 420 milligrams

Potassium

• Potassium is a mineral that the body needs to work normally.

• It helps nerves and muscles communicate. It also helps move nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells. A diet rich in potassium helps to offset some of sodium's harmful effects on blood pressure.

• Potassium is a mineral involved in electrical and cellular body functions. In the body, potassium is classified as an electrolyte.

Potassium

• Function

• Potassium is a very important mineral to the human body. It has various roles in metabolism and body functions and is essential for the proper function of all cells, tissues, and organs:

• It assists in the regulation of the acid-base balance.

• It assists in protein synthesis from amino acids and in carbohydrate metabolism.

• It is necessary for the building of muscle and for normal body growth.

• It is essential for the normal electrical activity of the heart.

PotassiumThe Food and Nutrition Center of the Institute of Medicine has established the following recommended dietary intakes for potassium:

Infants0 - 6 months: 0.4 grams a day (g/day)7 - 12 months: 0.7 g/dayChildren and Adolescents1 - 3 years: 3 g/day4 - 8 years: 3.8 g/day9 - 13 years: 4.5 g/day14 - 18 years: 4.7 g/dayAdultsAge 19 and older: 4.7 g/dayWomen who are producing breast milk need slightly higher amounts (5.1 g/day). Ask your doctor what amount is best for you.

Zinc

• Zinc is found in cells throughout the body.

• It is needed for the body's defensive (immune) system to properly work. It plays a role in cell division, cell growth, wound healing, and the breakdown of carbohydrates.

• Zinc is also needed for the senses of smell and taste. During pregnancy, infancy, and childhood the body needs zinc to grow and develop properly.

Zinc

Symptoms of zinc deficiency include:

Frequent infectionsHypogonadism in malesLoss of hairPoor appetiteProblems with the sense of tasteProblems with the sense of smellSkin soresSlow growthTrouble seeing in the darkWounds that take a long time to heal

Zinc

Dietary Reference Intakes for zinc:Infants0 - 6 months: 2* milligrams per day (mg/day)7 - 12 months: 3* mg/day*Adequate Intake (AI)Children1 - 3 years: 3 mg/day4 - 8 years: 5 mg/day9 - 13 years: 8 mg/dayAdolescents and AdultsMales age 14 and over: 11 mg/dayFemales age 14 to 18 years: 9 mg/dayFemales age 19 and over: 8 mg/day

Vitamins

• Vitamins are substances that our body needs to grow and develop normally.

• There are 13 vitamins our body needs.

• They are vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate).

• We can usually get all our vitamins from the foods we eat. Our body can also make vitamins D and K. People who eat a vegetarian diet may need to take a vitamin B12 supplement.

Vitamins Differences

Water SolubleVitamins

Fat Soluble Vitamins

Absorption Directly into blood Along with lipids through

lymphatic system

Storage Circulate freely in water filled parts of body Stored with fat

Excretion Excesses through urine Not as easily excreted; stored in body

Toxicity Possible from supplements

More easily reaches toxic levels - from supplements

VitaminsVitamins

Fat Soluble

A D E K

Water Soluble

C B Complex

Vitamin Sci. Name Source Function Symptoms of

deficiency

Vitamin A

Retinolmeat, eggs, oily fish, liver, milk, cheese, kidney

For healthy bones, teeth, mucous membranes and skin. Aids vision,

especially in the dark. Carotenoids, which are other

forms of vitamin A are powerful antioxidants.

Poor night vision, eye problems, weakened immune system and

more prone to infection.

Vitamin D2

Ergocalciferol dairy product,

oily fish and fish oils, eggs, and

fortified cereals.

Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium and strengthen bones and teeth and can prevent the

onset of osteoporosis.

Softening and weakening of the bones, insomnia, nervousness and muscle weakness.

Vitamin D3

Cholecalciferol

Vitamin E

Tocopherol

vegetable oils such as

mustard, palm, sunflower, olive and soybean.

Acts as an antioxidant. Helps body form new red blood cells

and improves the functioning of immune system. Using vitamin E

for leg cramps offers many benefits.

AnemiaMuscle Weakness

Leg CrampsNeurological Disorders

Vitamin K1

Phytomenadione

spinach, cauliflower, green leafy vegetables, soya beans,

spring onions and nuts.

Essential for blood clotting, also helps to maintain strong bones and could prevent osteoporosis.

Easy bruising and bleeding.Vitami

n K2Menaquinone

Vitamin

Sci. Name Source Function Symptoms of

deficiency

Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid

Citrus fruits, melon, strawberries,

blackcurrants, green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, kiwi fruit,

potatoes, dark green leafy vegetables,

Maintain skin, teeth, gums, tendons and ligaments,

aids to heal wounds quicker, strengthen the

immune system and fight cancerous cells. Required to

form neurotransmitters

Prone to infections, slower healing of

wounds, dental and gum problems, fatigue,

loss of appetite, dry skin, painful joints,

anaemia and a slower metabolism.

Vitamin B5

Pantothenic acid

Eggs, meat, liver, dried fruit, fish, whole grain

cereals, pulses

Needed for the metabolism and synthesis of all foods

Tiredness and a loss of feeling in the toes.

Vitamin B6

Pyridoxine

lean meat, eggs, chicken, liver, fish, beans, nuts, whole grains and cereals,

bananas.

Formation of red blood cells and various

neurotransmitters and a healthy immune system and healthy antibodies.

Managing blood sugar and preventing heart disease.

protein Metabolism and can improve cognitive function.

Skin disorders, mouth sores, confusion,

depression and anemia.

Vitamin B9

Folic Acid

leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, pulses, wheatgerm, fortified cereals, liver, pork,

poultry, broccoli, yeast.

Production of red blood cells, DNA and proteins.

growth and repair of cells and tissues and is

especially important during pregnancy to prevent

babies being born with spina bifida.

Anemia, incorrect absorption of essential nutrients and neural

tube defects in babies.

Dextrose

• Dextrose, commonly called glucose, d-glucose, or blood sugar, occurs naturally in food, and is moderately sweet.

• It is a monosaccharide (basic unit of carbohydrates, C6H1206) and has a high glycemic index (digested carbohydrates ability to raise blood glucose levels, also called Gl).

Sucrose

• Sucrose, the technical name for table sugar, cane sugar, or white sugar, is made of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule bound together. Comes in powdered and granulated forms, sugar is made from highly processed form of sugar beet or sugar cane plant extracts.

Introducing For the First time in India

SpasmDextrose 7.5gm + Magnesium Sulphate 250mg + Calcium Citrate Maleate 500mg +

Methylcobalamine 1500mcg + Vitamin D3 1000IU + Vitamin E 400IU + Vitamin B6 10mg Powder

Spasm-SFMagnesium Sulphate 250mg + Calcium Citrate Maleate 500mg + Methylcobalamine

1500mcg + Vitamin D3 1000IU + Vitamin E 400IU + Vitamin B6 10mg + Potassium Citrate 100mg Powder

Muscle Cramp• A muscle cramp is an involuntarily and forcibly contracted

muscle that does not relax.

• When we use the muscles that can be controlled voluntarily, such as those of our arms and legs, they alternately contract and relax as we move our limbs.

• Muscles that support our head, neck, and trunk contract similarly in a synchronized fashion to maintain our posture.

• A muscle (or even a few fibers of a muscle) that involuntarily (without consciously willing it) contracts is in a "spasm." If the spasm is forceful and sustained, it becomes a cramp.

• Muscle cramps often cause a visible or palpable hardening of the involved muscle.

Muscle CrampAlmost everyone experiences a muscle cramp at some

time in their life.

There are a variety of types and causes of muscle cramps.

Numerous medicines can cause muscle cramps.

Most muscle cramps can be stopped if the muscle can be stretched.

Muscle cramps can often be prevented by measures such as adequate nutrition and hydration, attention to safety when exercising, and attention to ergonomic factors.

Causes• Low blood calcium, magnesium: Low blood levels of either

calcium or magnesium directly increase the excitability of both the nerve endings and the muscles they stimulate. These are commonly noted during pregnancy.

• Low levels of calcium and magnesium are common in pregnant women.

• Cramps are seen in any circumstance that decreases the availability of calcium or magnesium in body fluids, such as taking diuretics, hyperventilation (overbreathing), excessive vomiting, inadequate calcium and/or magnesium in the diet, inadequate calcium absorption due to vitamin D deficiency, poor function of the parathyroid glands (tiny glands in the neck that regulate calcium balance), and other conditions.

Causes

• Low potassium: Low potassium blood levels occasionally cause muscle cramps, although it is more common for low potassium to be associated with muscle weakness.

Causes

• Low Magnesium (Hypomagnesemia) triggers following condition:

Anxiety & Panic Attacks – Mg normally keeps adrenal stress hormone under control.

Asthma – Both histamine production & bronchial spasm increase with magnesium deficiency.

Depression – Serotonin, which elevates mood, is dependent on Mg. A Mg-deficient brain is also more susceptible to allergens, foreign substances that can cause symptoms similar to mental illness.

Detoxification – Mg is crucial for the removal of toxic substances & heavy metals such as aluminum & lead.

Causes

Nerve Problems : Magnesium alleviates peripheral disturbances throughout the whole body, such as migraines, muscle contraction, gastrointestinal spasm & calf, foot & toe cramps.

Musculoskeletal Conditions – Fibrositis, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, eye twitches, cramp & chronic neck & back pain may caused by magnesium deficiency.

Osteoporosis – Use of calcium with Vitamin D to enhance calcium absorption without a balancing amount of Mg causes further Mg deficiency, which triggers a cascade of events leading to bone loss.

Causes

• Obstetrics & Gynacology – Mg prevents Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS), prevents dysmenorrhea (cramping pain during menses). Mg alleviates premature contractions, pre-eclampsia & eclampsia in pregnancy. Intravenous Mg is given in obstetrical wards for pregnancy-induced hypertension & to lessen the risk of cerebral palsy & Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

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