Application of acid whey and set milk to marinate beef with reference to quality parameters and product safety.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential of acid whey and set milk as a marinade in the traditional production of fermented eye round. METHODS: Studies involved assaying pH value, water activity (aw), oxidation-reduction potential and TBARS value, colour parameters in CIE system (L*, a*, b*), assaying the number of lactic acid bacteria and certain pathogenic bacteria after ripening process and after 60-day storing in cold storage. Sensory analysis and analysis of the fatty acids profile were performed after completion of the ripening process. RESULTS: Analysis of pH value in the products revealed that application of acid whey to marinate beef resulted in increased acidity of ripening eye round (5.14). The highest value of the colour parameter a* after ripening process and during storage was observed in sample AW (12.76 and 10.07 respectively), the lowest on the other hand was observed in sample SM (10.06 and 7.88 respectively). The content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was higher in eye round marinated in acid whey by approx. 4% in comparison to other samples. CONCLUSIONS: Application of acid whey to marinade beef resulted in increased share of red colour in general colour tone as well as increased oxidative stability of the product during storage. It also increased the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the product. All model products had high content of lactic acid bacteria and there were no pathogenic bacteria such as: L. monocytogenes, Y. enterocolitica, S. aureus, Clostridium sp.

[Simultaneous determination of statins in dietary supplements by ultra-performance liquid chromatography].

A method for the determination of 12 statins [atorvastatin (ATOR), cerivastatin (CERI), fluvastatin (FLU), lovastatin (LO), lovastatin acid (LOA), mevastatin (ME), mevastatin acid (MEA), pitavastatin (PITA), pravastatin (PRA), rosuvastatin (ROSU), simvastatin (SIM), and simvastatin acid (SIMA)] in dietary supplements by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) has been developed. Statins were ultrasonically extracted with 50% (v/v) methanol. Clean-up was performed using an Oasis MAX mini-cartridge column with methanol and methanol containing 0.2% (v/v) phosphoric acid as an eluting solvent. UPLC separation was performed on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm i.d. × 150 mm, 1.7 µm) with 0.2% (v/v) phosphoric acid aqueous solution-acetonitrile gradient. The method was validated for dietary supplements spiked with the 12 statins at the quantitation limits and 10 times the quantitation limits, and the recoveries of statins were between 89.2% and 100.9%. Relative standard deviation values of repeatability and intermediate precision were not more than 7%. The analytical method was applied to 24 commercial dietary supplements. LO and LOA were found at maximum concentrations of 4.85 mg/packet and 1.28 mg/capsule, respectively. Other statins were not detected. When a dietary supplement was consumed according to the directions on the package, the daily intake of LO was 6.74 mg. This could be dangerous to consumers because it exceeds one half of the lowest recommended daily dose of LO (10 mg).

[A case of rhabdomyolysis caused by saw palmetto of healthy foods].

An 82-year-old man visited our hospital when he developed a fever of over 38 degrees C after having consumed 5 types of health foods. He had previously been treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and hyperuricemia. Blood examination on admission revealed renal dysfunction, marked elevation of C-reactive protein, and an elevated level of serum creatine kinase. According to the laboratory data and his clinical history, rhabdomyolysis complicated by acute renal failure was suspected, but his condition improved and his fever was reduced with fluid infusion. As a drug lymphocyte stimulation test was positive for only saw palmetto in the 5 health foods, we diagnosed the case as rhabdomyolysis induced by saw palmetto. We believe that this is the first case of a health food being the cause of rhabdomyolysis.

[Pseudoaldosteronism in an elderly man believed to be caused by the health food Shin-Gojoshin].

CASE: We report a 67-year-old man in whom pseudoaldosteronism developed following consumption of the health food Shin-Gojoshin. The patient began consuming Shin-Gojoshin in February 2007. His serum potassium level, which was within the normal range until he began consumption, gradually decreased to 3.0 mEq/L. The administration of potassium supplements and spironolactone was initiated. However, his hypokalemia persisted, and in December 2009, he was referred to our hospital for further examination. Laboratory data revealed hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, urinary potassium wasting, low plasma renin activity, and a low plasma aldosterone concentration. Pseudoaldosteronism was suspected and he was admitted. Although he reported no history of consumption of other traditional herbal medicines at the initial medical outpatient examination, he reported the consumption of Shin-Gojoshin in a medical interview taken on admission. Discontinuation of Shin-Gojoshin and potassium supplementation on admission successfully normalized his electrolyte imbalance. CONCLUSION: The present case describes the occurrence of pseudoaldosteronism induced by consumption of Shin-Gojoshin. A history of consumption of traditional herbal medicines and other health foods should be obtained, particularly in elderly individuals presenting with symptoms of pseudoaldosteronism.

[Surveillance study on the needs for self-medication of local residents and community pharmacists in Fukuyama].

In recent years, self-medication is promoted to control the health care cost of aged people in Japan. On the other hand, there are many pharmacists who are perplexed in diversification of work with promotion of self-medication because of shortage of information, including the knowledge of an over-the-counter drug, health food, etc. It is therefore needed to design an efficient education program for pharmacists, especially in aging society such as Fukuyama. In this study, we investigated the needs for self-medication of local residents and community pharmacists in order to clarify the high-priority education themes for promotion of self-medication in Fukuyama. The pharmacist's needs were extracted by the KJ method and prioritized by the two-dimensional developed leaf method, and the local resident's needs were extracted by questionnaire survey from 420 general populations who live in Fukuyama. As a result, we found that the community pharmacists were especially in need of acquisition of the knowledge about "health food" and "food", and the local residents were especially in need of consultation with community pharmacists about "medicine", "side effect of medicine", "health food" and "food". Moreover, we also found that sixty percent of local residents did not have knowledge about interaction of "medicine" and "health food" while the half of them was taking in "health food". From the above result, knowledge improvement of "health food", "food" and "interaction of medicine and health food" in addition to "medicine" and "side effect of medicine" is the high-priority education themes for local residents and community pharmacists to promote self-medication in Fukuyama.

[Iodine deficiency in infancy - a risk for cognitive development]. / Jodmangel im Säuglingsalter - ein Risiko für die kognitive Entwicklung.

Severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy seriously influences fetal brain development and in the worst case induces cretinism. Recent studies have shown that even a mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy and during the first years of life adversely affects brain development. The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers iodine deficiency as the most common preventable cause of early childhood mental deficiency. In this context, the insufficient production of the four iodine atoms containing thyroxine seems to play a causal role, i. e., due to the iodine substrate deficiency the neuronally particularly relevant free-thyroxine level falls. Due to the very limited iodine storage capacity, the infantile thyroid is eminently dependent on an adequate and steady iodine supply. In the first month of life, when milk is the only energy- and nutrient provider, infants fed a commercial formula regularly have a sufficient iodine supply. However, breastfed infants, who depend on maternal iodine status, frequently show an inadequate iodine intake. Furthermore, iodine intake is critical when complementary food (CF) is introduced. Especially homemade CF is poor in iodine, but also commercial CFs are only partly fortified. A simultaneous inadequate iodine supply of the breastfeeding mother and the preferential use of mostly iodine-poor organic milk cannot ensure an adequate iodine supply of the infant. In terms of an improvement of nutrient supply, especially concerning an unhindered brain development, the corresponding German reference value for iodine intake of infants until age 4 month should be raised from currently 40 microg/d to at least 60 microg/d (WHO-reference: 90 microg/d).

[A case presenting anaphylaxis shock after intake of capsule packing cedar pollen].

The prevalence of Japanese cedar pollinosis is high to 26.5%, and it is properly remarked as "national disease" in Japan. General therapy strategies are composed of self-care by using mask or glasses to avoid antigen, and medical-care by using second-generation antihistamines or nasal corticosteroid spray. Meanwhile, there are other so-called self-medication patients who utilize health foods but do not consult to any physician. Papilla, commercial name of one kind of those health foods, is a capsular packed with cedar pollen. In February 2007, we experienced a 49-year-old female patient who presented anaphylaxis shock after intake of Papilla capsular. In this case, her special-IgE antibody and histamine release test were both positive to cedar pollen. Although Cry j 1, the major allergen in the Papilla capsular is a small amount, the cause of anaphylaxis can not be reasoned as anything except the pollen contents in this product. In conclusion, it is appropriate to consider it exercise induce anaphylaxis shock due to playing tennis after intake of the capsular.

[Legal situation of supplements in the United States and European union].

The importance of supplements is well recognized both in the United States (US) and European Union (EU) as substances to maintain and promote health and to reduce the risk of various diseases. From a legal point of view, systems to regulate the health claims of products classified as supplements have been established in both the US and EU. The health claims are divided into two categories, that is, disease risk reduction claims and structure/function claims, and the claims must be substantiated with concrete scientific evidence. In particular, to substantiate the disease risk reduction claims, reliable human clinical studies, such as randomized controlled interventional trials, are acceptable as strong evidence. Evaluation of the safety of the ingredients for supplements is another important issue. The safety is mainly evaluated by means of risk analysis. However, the concept of risk-benefit analysis is gradually becoming more important than previous risk analysis techniques. The regulations for supplements and health claims currently enforced in both the US and EU are discussed in this article in comparison with the current regulatory systems applied to health foods in Japan.

Criteria for substantiating claims.

Claims are used to support public health advocacy and marketing. Their evidence base is variable. Claims are made on (i) nutrient content, (ii) comparative merits, (iii) health benefits, and (iv) medical benefits. Experience with therapeutic agents has aided the development of recommendations for the substantiation of health claims for foods and food components, with which dietary supplements would be included. An EU Concerted Activity, Functional Food Science in Europe, suggested that such claims should be based on the general outcomes of 'enhanced function' and 'reduced risk of disease'. A further EU Concerted Activity, The Process for the Assessment of Scientific Support for Claims on Foods, proposed that the evidence base should provide: a characterization of the food or food component to which the claimed effect is attributed; human data, primarily from intervention studies that represent the target populations for the claim; a dose-response relationship: evidence of allowing for confounders including lifestyle, consumption patterns, background diet and food matrix; an appropriate duration for the study; a measure of compliance; and have adequate statistical power to test the hypothesis. When ideal endpoints are not easily accessible for measurement, validated and quality assured markers of the intermediate or final outcomes could be used, as long as their relationship is well characterized. Overall, the totality and coherence of published and unpublished evidence should be considered. Assessments for substantiation need expert judgement, weighting of the strength of the claim, and intelligent use of the criteria applied on an individual basis with respect both to gaps in knowledge and to any need for new knowledge and data.

[Norwegian cancer patients and the health food market--what is used and why?]. / Norske kreftpasienter og helsekostmarkedet--hva brukes og hvorfor?

BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge about patients' use of herbs and dietary supplements. In the current project we have studied this in Norwegian patients, also their sources of information, beliefs and attitudes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A structured questionnaire was filled in anonymously by 149 patients (response rate 64%) with common cancer diagnoses. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: Of the patients, 56% used herbs and dietary supplements (average: 2.0 products per patient), while 36% used them for the cancer itself (average: 1.1 products each). Patients below 55 significant dominated the last-mentioned group. Among the patients, 53% believed that the products could strengthen their immune system, while 18% believed that they could contribute in their fight against cancer. However, as many as 62% answered "I don't know" to this question. As to what was true about the products, 86% found it difficult to judge, and 76% wanted information primarily from health personnel. One third had discussed the products with the doctor. Only 8% felt this to be very useful; hence communicating with cancer patients about herbs and dietary supplements can be a challenge, though at least it might help to discover side effects or interaction with the medicine given.

An innovative model for regulating supplement products: natural health products in Canada.

On 1 January 2004, Health Canada officially added a new term to the global list of synonyms for dietary supplements: natural health products (NHP). Developed with the intent of providing Canadian consumers with ready access to NHP that are safe, effective, and of high quality, the Natural Health Products Regulations (the NHP regulations) are applicable to the sale, manufacture, packaging, labelling, importation, distribution, and storage of NHP, and are administered by the recently formed Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) within Health Canada. This paper provides an overview of the process for regulating supplement products in Canada.

[Functional food--a new risk?]. / Functional Food--ein neues Risiko?

Functional food, i.e. foods that promise the consumer not just a full stomach but also some "added benefit", have recently developed into a multi-billion market with high growth rates. However, this important market segment is not without its risks. Insurers count functional food, products on the borderline between nutrition and pharmaceuticals, among the category of "emerging risks". With a view to averting future claims, it is important for the insurer to keep abreast of this issue and be aware of its claims potential.

[A preliminary investigation on safety evaluation system for health foods].

OBJECTIVE: In order to guarantee the safety of health foods, a safety evaluation system has been initially proposed. METHOD: Based on both experienced and experimental safe data of health foods, different safety criteria could be divided. RESULT: A safety evaluation system with five criteria has been finally established, ingredients listed in the first three safe criteria were suitable for health foods. CONCLUSION: This system could be applied for the selection of relevant ingredients of health foods at R&D stage, and it would be improved after certain period of implementation.