Supplement Storage Suggestions

Food scientists at Purdue University published a study this year reporting the impact of temperatures and humidity levels on vitamin C. In the findings, vitamin C showed signs of deterioration when humidity levels rose to 80 percent and higher. While researchers only focused on vitamin C, the impact of temperature and humidity on supplements has been studied over the years.

Heat and humidity can degrade supplements quickly, therefore Cooper Complete supplements have these instructions on the container: “For optimal storage conditions, store in a cool, dry place (59 – 77 degrees Fahrenheit and 35 – 65 percent relative humidity).”

Generally we want to store our vitamins where we’ll see them and remember to take them. For most people, the obvious places seem to be the car, kitchen, bathroom, or desk.

In the bathroom
The bathroom suffers from major humidity issues and temperature changes. Each opening of the supplement bottle potentially exposes them to higher than recommended levels of humidity. And storing the supplements in the medicine cabinet can also be an issue if much time is spent in front of the cabinet mirror with the hot water running and razor in hand for the morning shave. If you must store your supplements in the bathroom, the linen closet, dressing area, or walk-in closet are better options.

In the kitchen
The kitchen can be a dicey location. Contrary to popular opinion, vitamins do not need to be stored in the refrigerator. The refrigerator is actually too cold and is also prone to humidity. If you elect to keep your supplements in the kitchen, our recommendation is to put them in a cabinet or on a counter away from the stove, oven, or sink, where heat and humidity levels are much higher than optimal.

At the office
Here at Cooper many associates keep their vitamins on their desk. Office temperatures stay fairly steady. Seeing the bottle is a good reminder to take the daily dose.

In the car
Those of us living in the hot south and southwest only have to leave our supplements in the car once during summer to realize that softgels are quickly reduced to a giant, solidified brick. Interior car temperatures climb to exorbitantly high levels during the summer – well into the three-digits. Just as the heat turns up in the summer, the winter months can become too cold for vitamin storage (similar to a refrigerator). To avoid any temperature problems, it’s best to keep vitamins out of your car for long periods of time.

Bottom line; keep your supplements in a location where you would be comfortable – not too hot, not too cold, not too dry, and not too humid.

Our toll free number is 888-393-2221; email us at Questions@CooperWellness.com.

To purchase Cooper Complete supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

Reference
Influence of simultaneous variations in temperature and relative humidity on chemical stability of two vitamin C forms and implications for shelf life models
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20163110

Impact of deliquescence on the chemical stability of vitamins B1, B6, and C in powder blends
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18593179

The Claim: Always Store Vitamins in the Medicine Cabinet
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/health/02really.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Jill Turner is VP Operations for Cooper Concepts, the company that markets Cooper Complete nutritional supplements. Email (jsturner@cooperwellness.com) or call 972-560-3262 with your questions and comments regarding supplements.

Chelation Therapy – Metal or money eliminators?

While there are fantastic over-the-counter (OTC) solutions for all kinds of issues (for example, old-fashioned aspirin for a headache, or cortisone products for all kinds of itches), the reality is that there are also a lot of OTC items that are – plain and simple – a complete waste of time and money. One that recently crossed my path was Chelation therapy.

Chelation therapy was developed many years ago as an antidote for mustard gas poisoning during wartime. Chelating agents (chemicals) actually bind to heavy metals to carry them out of the body. The FDA has never approved any chelation product for OTC use for any health condition.

In mid-October, the FDA advised consumers to avoid “chelation” products that are marketed OTC to prevent or treat diseases. Eight companies received letters from the FDA about marketing claims made for treating a range of disorders from autism to Alzheimer’s disease with chelation. Some of the products are marketed as dietary supplements, and are available in various forms – nasal sprays, liquid drops, clay baths, and suppositories. FDA compliance expert Deborah Autor said “these (chelation) products are dangerously misleading because they are targeted to patients with serious conditions and limited treatment options.”

While there are thousands of different products on the market, the FDA does not approve vitamins and supplements. Research on what is right for you is imperative.

Please, do not try to take a supplement to treat a serious health issue! A dietary supplement cannot claim to treat, mitigate, prevent, or diagnose disease.

o The FDA’s warning
o Consumer warning
o Questions and answers

Jill Turner is VP Operations for Cooper Concepts, the company that markets Cooper Complete nutritional supplements, and oversees the Cooper Wellness, a medically supervised, in-residence lifestyle modification program. E-mail (jsturner@cooperwellness.com) or call 972-560-3262 with your questions and comments.

Cooper Complete Supplements – A Few Things We’d Like You To Know

In our order department, callers regularly talk with us about how they use our supplements. We use the term “supplements” to encompass vitamins, minerals, herbs, omega-3 fatty acids, and any other dietary supplement. We know there are many more supplement users than the ones we to talk to, or correspond with through email. We want to offer a few of our hints and tips regarding supplement use:

• Supplements are best absorbed with food. It doesn’t matter which meal you choose, just make sure it’s one that also contains some amount of fat. This means if your morning breakfast is a piece of whole wheat toast with jam, a piece of fruit, and a container of fat-free yogurt, you need to take your supplements another time. Or, even better, add almonds to this breakfast and take your supplements then. An ideal meal contains fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

• Please take the supplement as recommended on the label. We hear from many people who take the original Cooper Complete formulation, but only take four of the eight tablets in the daily serving. Our scientific advisory team feels so strongly about the levels of vitamin D, B6, B12, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Zinc, Selenium, and Chromium, that the levels are identical in the original formulation and Basic One, our one-a-day product! When the number of tablets is cut from eight to four per day, the strength of these ingredients is also cut in half. Please consider taking Basic One instead of Cooper Complete if you are unwilling or unable to take all eight tablets.

• It is ok to switch between vitamins. It is perfectly fine to switch back and forth between Cooper Complete and Basic One. Many people take Basic One when traveling, and Cooper Complete when home. We also have marathoners and triathletes who switch from Elite Athlete to either Cooper Complete or Basic One during the off season.

• Keep tabs on your vitamin D needs. Our adult multivitamin and mineral formulations (Cooper Complete, Elite Athlete, and Basic One) all contain 2,000 IU vitamin D. We also sell a standalone vitamin D product that’s 1,000 IU vitamin D per tablet. In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine last year, researchers reported that 77 percent of Americans fall short of the 30 nanograms per milliliter minimum. While we can statistically assume that chances are good you’re below the minimum and may need additional vitamin D, the only way to know for certain is through a blood test. After the blood test, your physician will help you figure out how much vitamin D you need, and the recommendations vary widely depending upon individual circumstances – we hear everything from an additional 1,000 IU per day to an extra 50,000 IU each week.

• Know your calcium requirements. Look at your diet, figure out how much calcium you get on a typical day, and then decide how much (if any) calcium you need to add in supplement form. Our body can absorb about 500 mg of calcium at a time. If you need more than 500 mg calcium per day, split it up into two or more servings.

• Do not add a supplement to your routine that you do not need. If you do not have joint pain, or if you don’t suffer the effects of an enlarged prostate, don’t take those supplements.

If you’re unsure about a product (be it ours, or another brand), or have a general supplement question, please call us or email us – we’d love to help you. A “real human” here at the Cooper Aerobics Center answers all the calls (so you’ll need to leave us a message if you phone after hours), and it’s genuinely our pleasure to help you figure out what supplements make sense for your particular situation.

Our toll free number is 888-393-2221; email us at Questions@CooperWellness.com.

To purchase Cooper Complete supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

Reference
Vitamin D deficiency soars in the U.S., study says

Jill Turner is VP Operations for Cooper Concepts, the company that markets Cooper Complete nutritional supplements. Email (jsturner@cooperwellness.com) or call 972-560-3262 with your questions and comments regarding supplements.

Ginseng Dietary Supplements

We recently had a reader write in and ask us our opinion on Ginseng, a supplement not currently in the Cooper Complete line.

Ginseng is a dried root of one of several species of the Araliaceae family of herbs. Ginseng comes in several forms - Asian (Panax ginseng) and American (P. quinquefolius L.) are the most common, but there’s also a Siberian (Eleutherococcus senticosus) ginseng which is much less expensive, but doesn’t contain the same active compounds that American and Asian ginseng contain.

Ginseng root that is mostly unprocessed is called “white ginseng” while “red ginseng” is typically Asian ginseng root that has been steamed and dried. Traditional Chinese medicine delineates between the “white” and “red” form, but scientific evidence doesn’t indicate significant differences.

Ginseng is typically marketed as an herb that will improve overall energy, particularly in those who are tired or stressed, and in 1997 sales topped 300 million annually. Unfortunately, the scientific research to date hasn’t been able to confirm that ginseng helps to improve energy at all, so these are essentially unsupported but well believed marketing pitches.

Researchers have also studied the impact of Ginseng on other health conditions, and have found that American Ginseng may lower blood sugar levels before and after meals in patients with type II (adult onset) diabetes. Because of this, diabetes should work with their physicians when adding Ginseng to their supplement regiment.

There have been other interactions reported too - Asian ginseng (Panax Ginseng) may cause manic episodes in those on antidepressants. And taking Asian Ginseng in conjunction with Coumadin or Warfarin, may decrease the effect of the drug.

Long term use of Ginseng doesn’t seem to be the norm. Typically the product is taken for two- or three weeks, and then followed by a one- to two week “rest” period.

In August, 2010, ConsumerLab.com reported test results on 11 ginseng supplements. Six of the supplements passed their review while five did not – either because they failed to contain the claimed amount of the ingredient on the label, or due to lead contamination.

To purchase Cooper Complete supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

Reference
Ginseng

Panax ginseng pharmacology: a nitric oxide link?

Ginseng Supplements

Jill Turner is VP Operations for Cooper Concepts, the company that markets Cooper Complete nutritional supplements. Email (jsturner@cooperwellness.com) or call 972-560-3262 with your questions and comments regarding supplements.

Iron: “With” or “Without”?

It’s difficult to talk about multivitamins and miss talking about the iron. An essential mineral, iron handles the task of transporting oxygen to the muscles and organs.

There are two forms of dietary iron: heme and non-heme. Heme iron sources include meat, fish and poultry, while iron in non-meat foods is non-heme iron. Non-heme iron is found in a wide variety of foods (beans, lentils, yeast leavened whole grain breads, dried fruits, broccoli, spinach and other leafy greens, strawberries, nuts, and enriched pastas, rice and cereals) but this form of iron is not as well absorbed by our bodies as the heme form.

Interestingly, coupling non-heme iron foods with foods rich in vitamin C boosts the absorption of iron in our bodies to the level close to that of heme iron foods. So, pairing vitamin C rich foods (orange and orange juice, broccoli, grapefruit, strawberries, etc.) can really boost iron absorption. Because heat can destroy vitamin C, we recommend that vitamin C fruits be incorporated raw into salsas and salads, rather than being cooked into a sauce, when iron absorption is a goal.

In an interesting study, scientists measured iron levels after people ate a typical meal of hamburger, string beans and mashed potatoes with various drinks.

Impact of Beverage on Iron Absorption of hamburger, string beans & mashed potato meal
Tea: Reduced iron absorption by 62 percent
Coffee: Reduced iron absorption by 35 percent
Orange Juice: Increased iron absorption by about 85 percent

Researchers report that compounds in tea and coffee affect the non-heme iron found in grains and vegetables, but that heme iron was unaffected. This study suggests that if iron consumption is a concern, we consider our beverage choice when consuming meals low in heme iron, and high in non-heme iron – for example, when having a spinach salad with strawberries, red onions, and almonds for lunch.

If the iron content of our blood falls, we may feel tired or have reduced energy. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for women 19- to 50 years of age is 18 milligrams (mg) per day, while men ages 19- and older, and women 51 years and older have a requirement of 8 mg per day. The higher RDA for women in their childbearing years is due to blood loss that occurs through the monthly menstrual cycle. In the U.S., about five percent of women, and two percent of men have anemia, caused by a prolonged and severe iron deficiency.

While an iron deficiency is a problem for some, at the other end of the spectrum are those who have too much iron, and too much iron can be toxic. Thankfully, the vast majority of us get enough iron in our diets to maintain appropriate iron levels.

Within the Cooper Complete supplement line, our adult formulations of Cooper Complete and Basic One are both available in “with iron” and “iron free” formulations. The “with iron” formulations contain 18 mg iron. We suggest that women in their childbearing years who have a monthly cycle take a “with iron” product, while men and post-menopausal women select an “iron free” formulation.

To purchase Cooper Complete supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

Reference
Effect of different drinks on the absorption of non-heme iron from composite meals.

The Claim: Drinking Tea Can Lower Your Levels of Iron

Jill Turner is VP Operations for Cooper Concepts, the company that markets Cooper Complete nutritional supplements. Email (jsturner@cooperwellness.com) or call 972-560-3262 with your questions and comments regarding supplements.

The Skinny on Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fats are polyunsaturated fatty acids, the “good fat” found in fish and some plants. Since our body cannot make omega-3 fatty acids, we must get them through food or supplements.

The impact of seafood’s omega-3s on heart health has been widely studied. The long running Nurses’ Health Study (which includes 80,000 women) reported back in 2001 that women eating one to three servings of fish per month cut their risk of heart disease by 20 percent, while eating at least five servings a week lowered heart disease risk by 40 percent. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends we eat fish, particularly fatty fish, at least two times per week. Two to three servings a week of fatty fish (about 8 ounces) leads to an average daily intake of 500 milligrams (mg) of EPA and DHA, which is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

The AHA suggests that people with documented coronary heart disease (CHD) consume about 1 gram (1,000 mg) of EPA+DHA per day, preferably through fish consumption (which means eating fatty fish four- to five times a week), otherwise in supplement form. Patients who need to lower their triglycerides will need 2 to 4 grams of EPA+DHA per day.

Other research indicates omega-3 fatty acids provide benefits in the treatment of depression, inflammatory bowel disease, and autoimmune disease such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

There are two major types of omega-3 fatty acids in our diets. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are omega-3 fats found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, albacore tuna, sardines, and anchovies. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the omega-3 fat found in plant foods, mostly seed and nut oils (such as canola, flaxseed and walnuts). Our bodies can convert ALA into EPA and then DHA, so researchers used to assume that eating foods with ALA provided the same benefits seen in eating fish, with its EPA and DHA. Studies now show that humans are relatively inefficient in converting ALA into EPA and DHA. One study reported that boosting ALA to more than 10 times the current average U.S. intake caused only small increases in blood levels of EPA and DHA.

Studies show that EPA is important for optimal brain function and contributes to the reduction of inflammation. DHA has been recognized for brain, visual, and nervous system health and development. EPA and DHA work together to contribute to good heart health.

So, do you need omega-3 supplements? The answer depends upon your diet and overall health. If your heart is healthy, and you’re eating at least two servings of fatty fish every week, you’re probably fine. However, if your diet is fish deficient, or contains fish such as tilapia and catfish which aren’t fatty, then supplements are a good option. You should also consider supplements if you have CHD, elevated triglycerides, depression or inflammation issues.

Grocery, health food stores and discount club shelves are full of “fish oil” and Omega-3 fatty acid products, and like everything else there are more than enough options to quickly overwhelm us. The trick to deciphering all the options so you can compare products “apples to apples” is to go to look on the back of the bottle to the supplement facts portion of the label. Once there, add up the amounts of EPA and DHA documented to be in each serving.

For a comparison of the supplement facts panel and costs between Cooper Complete Advanced Omega-3 and Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega-3, click here.

The average American eats seafood about once every 11 days. If you’re in this category, consciously make a commitment to start eating at least one serving of fatty fish per week. An albacore tuna sandwich at lunch, a perfectly grilled piece of salmon for dinner, or a snack of sardines in tomato sauce atop a couple of saltine crackers are all great ways to incorporate omega-3 EPA and DHA into our diet. Omega-3 supplements are a great way to augment healthy eating habits.

To purchase Advanced Omega-3, visit the Cooper Store.

Reference

ISSFAL – fatty acids, lipids and health studies Global Recommendations http://www.issfal.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=31

Nurses Health Study 2001 report
http://www.medfinds.com/healthnotes.php?org=medigrative%2Cmedigrative&page=newswire/newswire_2001_01_18_3.cfm

Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4632

Cooper Complete Advanced Omega-3 ingredient panel and price information
http://www.coopercomplete.com/store/detail/179.php

Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega-3 ingredient panel and price information http://www.nordicnaturals.com/en/Products/Product_Details/98/proddetail.php?ProdID=1428&MainID=1428#

Ginkgo Biloba Dietary Supplements

We recently had a reader write in and ask us our opinion on Ginkgo Biloba, a supplement not currently in the Cooper Complete line.

According to the Nutrition Business Journal, Americans spent about 107 million on Ginkgo biloba supplements in 2007. Ginkgo is most commonly taken by older adults worried about memory loss issues. While consumers typically believe that ginkgo will minimize the impact of dementia or Alzheimer’s, the research is pretty inconsistent and inconclusive.

The Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 3,069 participants aged 72 to 96 years, was conducted in 6 academic medical centers across the US between 2000 and 2008, with the average participant followed for 6.1 years. Over the five year period, half the group received twice-daily doses of 120 mg extract of Ginkgo, while the other half received a placebo. Participants took the Modified Mini-Mental State examination and Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale test every six months until 2004, and then annually along with 10 other neuropsychological tests. Unfortunately, the changes in cognition of the Ginkgo and placebo groups were about the same, leading researchers to conclude that 120 mg Ginkgo twice daily was not effective in reducing all-cause dementia or development of Alzheimer’s disease. For this reason, taking Ginkgo as a “preventative” doesn’t seem to be helpful.

The research to date on the potential impact of Ginkgo on Alzheimer’s (versus general cognitive decline) has primarily been in small studies. One of the larger trials was back in 1997, when researchers enrolled more than 300 participants with Alzheimer’s disease or non-Alzheimer’s dementia. Half the group took 40 mg of Ginkgo biloba extract three times daily for a year, while the control group took a placebo. The resulted showed significant, but not completely consistent improvements in the group that received the Ginkgo biloba. In 2007, another study followed 400 people for 22 weeks. In this study, half the group received 80 mg of Ginkgo biloba 3 times daily, and the results indicated that Ginkgo was significantly superior to the placebo. We need significantly more research, with higher numbers of participants and much longer study times, to determine if Ginkgo is worth the expense of consuming and the risk of increased bleeding.

Ginkgo is available in leaf, leaf extract, and seed formulations. Ginkgo leaf exact is the most commonly used form in studies. Although ginkgo seeds were traditionally used in China, the fresh seeds are toxic and potentially deadly. Ginkgo supplements are generally considered safe, but since ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding, anyone taking anti-coagulants or with known clotting disorders should not take Ginkgo too. Also, Ginkgo should be discontinued two- to three weeks prior to many surgical and dental procedures, due to the increased risk of bleeding.

When ConsumerLab reviewed ginkgo product in 1999, they found that nearly 25 percent of the 30 brands tested had issues. When they tested Ginkgo products again in 2003, they found that seven of the nine ginkgo products tested lacked adequate levels of certain marker compounds. According to ConsumerLab, a lot of the Ginkgo on the market seems to be adulterated or “spiked” with other compounds.

While the conventional “man-on-the-street” opinion tends to be that Ginkgo biloba is beneficial in slowing or reducing cognitive decline, the research just doesn’t conclusively give the same results.

To purchase Cooper Complete supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

Reference
Ginkgo biloba for Prevention of Dementia

Ginkgo biloba for Preventing Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Effects of ginkgo biloba in dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Thinking about Ginkgo?

Jill Turner is VP Operations for Cooper Concepts, the company that markets Cooper Complete nutritional supplements. Email (jsturner@cooperwellness.com) or call 972-560-3262 with your questions and comments regarding supplements.