This 2019 review by Dr. George J. Brewer posits that the rise in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in developed countries correlates with increased ingestion of divalent copper (Cu²⁺), primarily from copper plumbing and dietary supplements. The author argues that while humans have evolved mechanisms to safely process monovalent copper (Cu¹⁺) from
This 2011 systematic review by Poddar et al. critically evaluates the scientific evidence surrounding various over-the-counter nutraceutical agents marketed for weight loss. The authors highlight the global obesity epidemic and the appeal of herbal “weight loss pills” as seemingly effortless solutions. The review underscores the paucity of rigorous clinical trials
This 2011 randomized controlled trial assessed the impact of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation combined with dietary and exercise counseling on weight loss and body composition in overweight and obese adults. Over 24 weeks, participants in both the omega-3 and placebo groups lost more than 5% of their body weight. However,
This 2009 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed the effects of chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation (1000 μg/day) over 16 weeks in 63 obese nondiabetic adults with metabolic syndrome. The primary outcome, insulin sensitivity index, showed no significant improvement (P = 0.14). While CrPic increased acute insulin response to glucose (P =
This 2023 systematic review analyzed 12 completed phase III and IV clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, focusing on nutraceutical interventions for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). The majority of studies investigated vitamin D (26.7%) and omega-3 fatty acids (20.0%), with others examining caffeine, chlorogenic acid, ginger, phosphatidylcholine, Trigonella foenum-graecum seed
This 2013 review article examines the use of dietary supplements (DS) in oncology, highlighting that a majority of cancer patients incorporate DS into their treatment regimens. The authors discuss commonly used supplements such as curcumin, glutamine, vitamin D, Maitake mushrooms, fish oil, green tea, milk thistle, Astragalus, melatonin, and probiotics.
This 2022 narrative review examines the associations between statin use, omega-3 fatty acid intake, and prostate cancer (PCa) risk and progression. Statins have been linked to a reduced incidence of advanced PCa and may decrease the risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) post-treatment. However, their impact on BCR and PCa progression
This 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of dietary supplements (DSs) for erectile dysfunction (ED). The study analyzed DSs marketed in Italy, assessing their active ingredients and dosages against evidence-based minimal effective daily doses (mEDs). Among 25 products, only 2 (8%) matched the higher expected efficacy cluster, 3
This systematic review explores the health benefits of polyphenols, which are abundant in foods like fruits, vegetables, tea, and coffee. Polyphenols have demonstrated antioxidant properties and have been shown to prevent and manage chronic diseases such as obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and neurological disorders. The review discusses the mechanisms
This position paper from the International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP), published in Nutrition Research Reviews (PMID: 32172721), evaluates the clinical evidence supporting the use of nutraceuticals in managing heart failure (HF). It highlights supplements such as coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, beet nitrates, D-ribose, carnosine, hawthorn, and vitamin
