Ingredient Spotlight: Conjugated Linoleic Acid
September 19th 2011CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid, is a mixture of 28 isomers-compounds with the same molecular formulas but different structural formulas. CLA is a naturally occurring fatty acid most commonly found in dairy and in beef from ruminant animals able to synthesize it from the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid. Average intake of CLA by humans is estimated at around 130 to 440 mg/day.(1) The largest percentage of CLA in the diet (about 90%) is composed of the cis-9-trans-11 isomer (c9,t11).(2)
Ingredient Spotlight: Resveratrol
May 12th 2011Resveratrol (3,5,4’-trihydroxystilbene) is a polyphenol synthesized by several plants in response to adverse conditions (e.g., environmental stress or pathogenic attacks). It is classified as a phytoalexin, a class of plant-derived antibiotics that serves as part of a plant’s defensive arsenal.(1) Resveratrol is found in numerous plant species such as mulberries, peanuts, and grape skin, and in less commonly known plants such as Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum).(2)
Dietary Supplement Ingredient Spotlight: Calcium
January 28th 2011Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Bones and teeth comprise approximately 99% of total body calcium. The other 1% is distributed within cells and in the extracellular fluid. Although it may seem insignificant, this 1% must be carefully maintained in order for the body to carry out complex biochemical and physiological processes, including nerve conduction, muscle contraction, enzyme regulation, blood clotting, and control of blood pressure. Calcium Sources: Absorption and Bioavailability