Latest Evidence in Supplements
According to a recent report, the global dietary supplements market is expected to reach USD 278 billion dollars by 2024. Some supplements are claimed to have benefits that haven’t been validated by research. Others are claimed to have benefits that haven’t even been studied. Some really are validated by research as being worthwhile for certain people in certain situations.
The question is: Which are which? This section contains research reviews for popular supplements, and answers to the most common health claims made about them.
Does Ginkgo Biloba Have Health Benefits? The Evidence Reviewed
Introduction The Chinese have revered Ginkgo biloba as a sacred tree for thousands of years and extracts from its leaves, seeds, and roots are an essential part of classical Chinese medical practice (1). The Chinese name for Ginkgo biloba is “Silver Almond tree”...
Do Tribulus Supplements Have Benefits? 363 Studies Reviewed
Introduction Tribulus is a plant that is used to increase not only male stamina, libido, and sexual function, but also female pleasure and sensitivity. Does this herbal supplement live up to its reputation? Is this really an x-rated plant? What Is Tribulus?...
Do L-Arginine Supplements Have Benefits? 2,763 Clinical Studies Reviewed
Introduction L-arginine is described as an “ergogenic” or all-around “mojo booster” in plain English. It is marketed as an anti-ageing agent, sexual booster, and sports endurance agent. Fact or fiction? Let’s look at the evidence. What Is L-Arginine? Arginine...
Does Slippery Elm Have Health Benefits? The Evidence Reviewed
Introduction Slippery elm is a species of the elm tree family. It is commonly used for respiratory conditions (bronchitis, sore throat, cough, fever, and inflammation), gastrointestinal disease (peptic ulcers and diarrhea), dermatological conditions (skin abscesses...
Does L-Cysteine Have Health Benefits? The Studies Reviewed
Introduction Cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that is made by our bodies and used as a building block for proteins. Although classified as a non-essential amino acid, in rare cases, cysteine may be essential for infants, the elderly, and individuals with...
Does L-Methionine Have Health Benefits? A Scientist Explains
L-methionine (L-Met), aka methionine, is an amino acid needed to form protein in the body. It also has, as I have discovered, many other valuable claims attributed to it. What are some of those claims? These are some of the ones I’ve come across and will be tackling:...
Does Glucosamine Have Health Benefits? A Scientific Review of the Evidence
Introduction to Glucosamine Glucosamine is a supplement that most of us have heard of. A recent report from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics found that Americans spend around $13 billion per year on natural product supplements (1). Of these,...
Does Butyric Acid Have Health Benefits? The Research Reviewed
It can smell sickly (as in, um, vomit), or sweet, even added to perfumes. It can be found in certain foods, produced by our bodies or taken as a supplement. A quick Google search reveals the main claims of benefit for Butyric Acid (BTA), also known as Butanoic Acid,...
Are There Benefits to Carnosine? The Research Reviewed
Carnosine is a small dipeptide molecule that occurs naturally in the bodies of a wide variety of animals, plays important roles in energy metabolism, anti-oxidation, gene expression, protein integrity and phosphorylation, among others, but scientific research,...
Does Inositol Have Proven Benefits? 22 Studies Reviewed
Some of the claimed health benefits of Inositol, that are quickly stumbled upon online, include that it fights depressive symptoms, improves fertility, assists with weight loss, lowers cholesterol, promotes sleep, eases constipation and promotes strong, healthy hair....