Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals: What’s Up in 2016? Susan G. Wynn, DVM BluePearl Georgia Veterinary Specialists Nutrition and Integrative Medicine Sandy Springs, GA [email protected] Abstract 1. Golden Paste Glossary of Abbreviations With the advent of populist medicine 2. Bone Broth (thanks to the alternative medicine CBC: Cannabinol 3. 1-Tetradecanol Complex (1-TDC) movement and the Internet), the order CBD: Cannabidiol 4. Medicinal Mushrooms in which new dietary therapies become CBDA: Cannbidiolic Acid 5. Cannabis widespread has reversed from doctor CBG: Cannabigerol 6. Apple Cider Vinegar to patient and now consumer to med- GAPS: Gut and Psychology 7. Coconut Oil ical advisor. In some cases, consumer Syndrome use and demand predated medical GERD: Gastroesophageal Reflux Golden Paste research that ultimately showed clinical Disease Consisting primarily of turmeric, golden paste is touted as an antioxidant benefits. Probiotics are one example, PBL: Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes and anti-inflammatory used chiefly now having the largest supplement PSK: Polysaccharide-K sales in commerce. In other cases, for osteoarthritis and to prevent and PSP: Polysaccharide Peptide clinical benefits have not been shown treat cancer. In people, turmeric has PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress in studies or practice despite early been used principally for the treatment Disorder popularity, such as occurred with of patients with acid, flatulent or atonic CoEnzyme Q10 and glandular extracts. PUFA: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids dyspepsia (German Commission E, 1985). Nutritionists should be aware of the RCT: Randomized Controlled Trial It also is used to prevent cardiovascular use and present understanding for a THC: ∆-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol disease, asthma and eczema and to few of the more popular alternative THCA: ∆-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol improve the function of the gastroin- dietary supplements. Regulation and Acid testinal tract. Turmeric extracts are quality control continue to challenge used as an antioxidant for the treatment the industry, which claims to be formulating a plan. of hepatic disease. In laboratory animal studies, turmeric extracts protect the liver against inflammation caused by Introduction galactosamine, lipopolysaccharide, diethylnitrosamine, and According to Nutraceuticals World magazine, probiotics carbon tetrachloride. are the most successful functional ingredient in packaged The potential clinical benefits of curcumin found in foods after vitamins and minerals. Probiotic sales increased turmeric have been widely studied. A PubMed search on 22% last year, making them the fastest-growing category of the word “curcumin” produces over 8,400 citations. There functional food. are other active components within the turmeric rhizome. First, some definitions. A functional food is a revised food Curcumin-free turmeric components possess numerous that claims to improve health by providing benefit beyond biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anticancer that of the traditional nutrients it contains. Functional foods and antidiabetic activities.1 Some of the major compounds include items such as cereals, breads and beverages that are of turmeric oil include aromatic (ar)-turmerone (28%), fortified with vitamins, herbs, nutraceuticals, and bone broth turmerone (17%), turmerone, curlone (14%), 2-carene as mentioned below. A nutraceutical is a fortified food or (5%), zingiberene (4.37%), sesquiphellandrene (6%), dietary supplement that provides health benefits in addition ar-curcumene (3%), and linoleic acid (5%).1 to its basic nutritional value (Merriam-Webster). A botanical Multiple clinical trials in people have shown benefit for or medicinal herb consists of whole or extracted plants. inflammmation and pain associated with osteoarthritis.2 Veterinarians in integrative practice report that some of A curcumin compound administered as an adjunct to chemo - the most recent popular nutraceuticals include: therapy in 80 people with solid tumors resulted in a significant 55 improvement in quality of life and suppressed systemic that have powerful healing properties, and can help to alleviate inflammation.3 Curcumin supplementation decreased joint and gut pain, boost your immune system (http://www. proteinuria in patients with diabetic and lupus-associated today.com/food/i-tried-bone-broth-week-here-s-what-happened nephritis.4,5 Curcumin has low oral bioavailability, and -t75226), brighten skin, and even make your ”hair shiny. 8 most recent trials make use of lipid-enhanced forms of the There is no single recipe for “healing” bone broth. Cooking compound to increase absorption. However, turmeric and may vary from 5 to 24 hours, which will change the nutrient curcumin may undergo metabolism that increases bioavail- profile. Minerals reach their maximum concentration within ability of active compounds.6 1 to 2 hours, but nitrogen loss is linear over about 7 hours.8 Possible adverse effects of turmeric have been published, Simmering leads to loss of nitrogen and potassium from but reports of actual toxicity have been rare. It isn’t recom- bones to the water. Loss of iron, calcium and magnesium mended for use during pregnancy as it may stimulate uterine were greater from soaking in cold water. Inclusion of veg- contractions. Other potential (but undocumented) adverse etables, when cooked, increased nitrogen, potassium, iron, effects include: calcium, and magnesium in the final product. Other minerals • Gallbladder Problems: Traditionally known as a chola- found in the broth are phosphorus, copper, sodium, and gogue, tumeric should not be used if bile duct obstruction chloride. Additional components of bone broth include is suspected or possible. gelatin and fat. No tyrosine, tryptophan or sulfur were • Surgical Patients: Turmeric may have anticoagulant activity, found in the broth. so caution is advised in people who will undergo surgery. Although bone broth may provide a bioavailable source • Diabetes: Curcumin may decrease blood glucose, so inter- of minerals and nitrogen, whether this provides benefit to actions with diet changes, insulin and hypoglycemic drugs pets eating complete and balanced diets is questionable. should be kept in mind. • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Turmeric Toxicity: causes gastric upset in some people, so it is said to be Lead contraindicated in people with GERD. Bone broth made by boiling chicken carcass contained • Hormone Sensitive Tumors: Curcumin may have estrogenic 7 - 9.5 µg/L of lead, as compared with that of tap water at activity, thus there is some caution not to use it in patients 0.89 µg/L.9 with hormone-sensitive tumors. Other authors suggest a Hypercalcemia: possible benefit. A single case report10 described a cricket player who drank • Fertility Treatments: Turmeric is said to be contraindicated 1 to 2 liters of bone broth at least 3 days/week for 6 months in people undergoing fertility treatments, so it may lower before developing hypercalcemia. No vitamin D-containing testosterone levels and decrease sperm motility. supplements were being taken, and other causes of hyper- • Iron Absorption Problems: Turmeric, in large amounts, calcemia were ruled out. The authors presumed that excess may inhibit iron absorption. vitamin D was coming from bone marrow, as vitamin D is Golden paste is often recommended for dogs with osteo - stored in fat; however, no analysis of the patient’s soup arthritis, cancer and chronic inflammatory conditions. The preparations was reported.10 usual recipe for golden paste consists of ½ cup powdered turmeric, 1 cup water, ¼ cup coconut oil, and 1 ½ teaspoon 1-TDC black pepper, gently heated. The usual dose for dogs is The company that produces 1-TDC (1-tetradecanol com- ¼ teaspoon to 1 tablespoon, divided daily. plex) claims that “1-TDC® Dual Action is a new generation In people, the dose of curcumin used in published studies of fatty acid oils with a different molecular structure and is as high as 6 grams per day. The published dose of turmeric properties that are far superior to traditional essential oils.” for dogs and cats is: 1-TDC (novel monounsaturated fatty acid mixture, also • Curcumin: canine, 50-250mg TID; feline, 50-100mg QD known as myristyl alcohol and tetradecyl alcohol) is taking • Dried herb: 50-600mg/kg, divided daily (optimally, TID) the agility world by storm. These fatty acids have been pro- (to maximum palatability tolerance) posed to reduce inflammation via reduced LTB4, IL1, expression of proteoglycan-degrading enzymes, and adhesion molecule Bone Broth expression. The cited references are for a human clinical trial Bone broth is an increasingly popular component of the using topical “cetylated fatty acid cream.”11-14 and the sup- paleo diet and has recently been recommended as a treat- porting trial in dogs is unpublished and poorly reported. ment for gut and psychology syndrome (GAPS) including autism, ADHD, depression, and schizophrenia.7 Advocates Medicinal Mushrooms claim (as reported on the “Today” show) that bone broth Medicinal mushrooms are fungi that have a significant contains “vitamins and minerals from the broken-down bones role in traditional Oriental medicine systems, and over 100 56 species are found in modern Chinese pharmacopeias. Their The best-studied medicinal uses for mushrooms include: use dates back at least to Neolithic times. Fungi are members • Prevention and treatment of immune deficiency/immuno- of neither the plant nor animal kingdoms, and there are an suppression estimated 3 to 5 million species and only