Dietary Supplements and Fortified Foods Dietary Supplements and Fortified Foods examines the role of vitamins, minerals, fortified foods, herbs, and other substances in optimizing health and provides the skills necessary to evaluate information about these substances. Also covers regulatory procedures and standards, terminology, safety, and toxicity issues.

Module Content:

* Evaluation of research in nutrition and supplements: fads vs. science

* Supplements: nutritive vs. non-nutritive

* Foods: fortification, phytochemicals, and biotechnology

* Biological requirements

* Optimal functioning and lifecycle influences

* Safety and Efficacy

* Policy Issues

* Nutrient-drug interactions

Case Study:

(1) Leslie, a woman who wishes to conceive in the upcoming year (example: folate supplementation); (2) Bob, her husband, who is taking 8 separate single-dose supplements of various herbs, vitamins, and minerals to reduce cancer and heart-disease risk; (3) Leslie's mother, who has had angioplasty in the previous year and is taking high-dose tocopherol in conjunction with her coumadin and high-dose calcium to prevent osteoporosis and (4) John, Leslie's father, who is taking vitamin E and aspirin to reduce cancer and heart disease risk.

The case illustrates four major issues:

1. Effectiveness of supplements in different segments of the life cycle focusing on reduction of heart disease and cancer risk.

2. Failure to take supplements that are recommended and would be beneficial

3. Taking supplements that have no known or suspected efficacy

4. Supplements that act as drugs and have potential negative side effects.

 

Learning Objectives:

After completing this module, you should be able to:

1. Identify valid nutrition and health claims.

2. Evaluate research on the effectiveness and safety of nutritive and non-nutritive substances.

3. Describe how RDA/DRIs, adequate intakes and upper tolerance levels are established.

4. List substances that are considered supplements.

5. Identify supplement use during routine nutritional assessments.

6. Provide advice to patients regarding supplement use .

7. Identify potential benefit and potential harm of supplement use in a case setting.