Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a synthetic preservative used to prevent the oxidation and subsequent spoilage of oils and fats. Typically added to fat-containing foods in an effort to increase their shelf-life, it is also commonly used in the supplement, cosmetic,…
Category: Science
Do Vitamins Go Bad?
Should you be taking that Vitamin D supplement you’ve had on your kitchen counter for the past 2 years? What if it’s past its expiration date? Many supplement users will wonder what the aging process does to supplements – “will…
What Are Antioxidants and How Do They Work?
Antioxidants have long been known to have protective effects against a host of chronic diseases, cancer included. Their ability to neutralize compounds called free radicals—the unstable molecular entities responsible for disease development—has secured their recommendation in any healthy diet and…
Contaminants in Fish Oil Supplements and How To Avoid Them
There is no shortage of scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of fish oil. According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, fish oil is highly effective at lowering triglycerides, high levels of which are associated with heart disease and diabetes.…
EPA To DHA Ratio: a Benefits and Risks Analysis
We often hear about the health benefits of fish oil: enhanced cognitive performance, improved heart and blood health, potent anti-inflammatory activity, etc. Not all fish oils, however, will have the same physiological effects. Outside the realm of possible contamination, product…
Nutrient-Nutrient Interaction in Multivitamin Supplements
Multivitamin supplements–complex formulations of several vitamins and a wider array of minerals and other nutrients–may not always convey the whole truth on their labels. The obvious (and most common) culprit: claiming an amount not representative of the actual additions made.…
Vitamin D Production, Metabolism, and Health Effects
Vitamin D refers to a group of 5 similarly structured compounds known as vitamers, the most important of which (for human health) are plant-produced Vitamin D2 and endogenously synthesized vitamin D3. It is commonly referred to as the ‘sunshine vitamin’,…
How Vitamin D Levels Change With the Seasons
Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, is synthesized in human skin upon exposure to sunlight, when ultraviolet (UV) rays convert 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3 (which is subsequently modified in the liver and kidneys to form the biologically active hormone). The…
Trusting Supplements Health Claims: The Importance of Study Design
We’ve all seen and heard of supplements touting that their health claims are backed by “scientific” or “clinical study.” In the consumer mind, these terms elicit trust and a notion that the product must be safe and effective. In truth,…
A Guide to Timing Supplement Intake
The breadth of available dietary supplements lining store shelves can overwhelm even the most enthusiastic of fitness folks with (often hyped-up) health claims. Important questions–such as those having to do with how or when to take your supplements to maximize…