Glossary
This glossary defines words used by Nuvite Labs in communications with our customers and the general public. It is not a complete dictionary of health, wellness, or nutritional supplement terms. If you have questions or comments, email Nuvite Labs' webmaster@aznutritional.com.
Absorption
The digestibility of a dietary supplement into the bloodstream (similar to bioavailability)
Antioxidants
A class of biochemicals that have been found to protect cells from free-radical damage.
Binders
Binders hold tablets together and prevent breakage. Binders are substances that give cohesive qualities to powdered materials; they hold the ingredients together for tablet formulation. A common binder is cellulose.
Bioavailability
The rate and extent to which a drug or dietary supplement is absorbed into general circulation, thereby permitting access to the site of action. Measured by the concentration in body fluids, usually blood, or by the magnitude of the response. Expressed as a fraction of an administered dose.
Coating
Coating allows for easier swallowing, prevents powdering, masks odor and offensive tastes, and enhances stability and freshness.
Dietary supplement
Dietary supplements may contain the following kinds of ingredients: vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, other plant-derived substances, amino acids (the individual building blocks of protein) and concentrates, metabolites, constituents, and extracts of these substances. They are intended for ingestion in pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid form and are not represented for use as a conventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet.
Disintegrants
Disintegrants help the product to break up inside the digestive tract. They are added to the formulation to help the tablet disintegrate after consumption, thereby releasing the active ingredients. Common disintegrants include several modified cellulose derivatives, which work by swelling when wet.
Efficacy
A synonym for effectiveness.
Emulsifiers
Emulsifiers are surface-active agents that promote the formation and stabilization of an emulsion. An emulsifier also helps to keep raw materials used in the formulation in suspension.
Enteric coating
This is a barrier applied to oral medication that controls the location in the digestive system where it is absorbed. Enteric refers to the small intestine, therefore enteric coatings prevent release of medication before it reaches the small intestine.
Enzymes
Chemical catalysts that help initiate biochemical processes.
Essential fatty acids (EFA’s)
Sources of fat in the diet, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Excipients
Excipients are inert substances used in the manufacturing of supplements. They are used to give consistency or form for compressing materials into a tablet. Vitamin tablets cannot be manufactured without excipients; they ensure quality control in the tablet manufacturing process. Tablet excipients help ensure that the bulk powder flows smoothly through the equipment, and that the tablets are of the right consistency so they will break down in the body as predicted. Tableting is a combination of science and art; it takes years of experience to master the tableting process. Some of the common excipients include binders, fillers, lubricants, and disintegrants.
Fillers
Fillers allow tableting of small amounts of nutrients to be large enough to manufacture. Also, fillers are inert materials added to the tablets to increase their bulk, in order to make them fit a particular size tablet mold for compression. Some common fillers are calcium phosphate and cellulose.
Flavors and Sweeteners
Flavors and sweeteners are used to increase the palatability of certain supplements; these are used especially in chewables and sublinguals.
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
Foods that have been created or modified by the use of genetic engineering techniques in which DNA has been introduced, deleted, or inhibited.
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
Procedures for manufacturing dietary supplements that are used to ensure a consistent level of quality. GMPs embody procedures that ensure purity, cleanliness, freshness, and proper labeling. The FDA has written very specific GMPs to regulate the manufacturing of supplements.
I.U. (International Unit)
An international unit (I.U.) is a standard unit of measurement of biological activity that is used for fat soluble vitamins A,D, &,E (as well as for some hormones, enzymes, and vaccines). It is an internationally-recognized standard established by the International Conference for Unification of Formulae. One I.U. represents a different amount for different substances. The weight equivalents for fat soluble vitamins are as follows: Beta Carotene (Vitamin A) — 1mg. = 833 IU; Vitamin D — 2.5 mcg = 100 IU; Vitamin E — 1mg = 1 IU.
Lubricants
Lubricants allow tablets to be ejected from its mold without fracture. Lubricants are inert material added in very small amounts (usually less than 1%) to the powder blend to prevent the compressed tablet from sticking to the tablet punches and dies. Common lubricants include vegetable stearins (similar to vegetable shortening), stearic acid, and magnesium stearate.
Nutraceutical
Any non-toxic food extract supplement that has scientifically proven health benefits for disease treatment or prevention. Products are manufactured under good manufacturing practices (GMPs). Nutraceuticals are not whole foods, yet are partially or completely derived from them. There are four types of nutraceuticals:
vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements in the form of pills or capsules
products based on extracts from foods or beverages in normal use (such as garlic, broccoli, red wine)
food extracts claiming a medical benefit (such as oat bran lowering cholesterol, aloe vera juice healing ulcers)
natural substances that people might not usually eat but that may prevent or treat illness (such as colloidal silver, hypericin, ginsenosides)
Nutrient
Food or substance that supplies the body with elements necessary for metabolism.
Nutrition
All the processes involved in the taking in and utilization of food substances by which growth, repair, and maintenance of activities in the body as a whole or in any of its parts are accomplished. Includes ingestion, digestion, absorption, and metabolism.
Shelf-life
The period of time during which a dietary supplement remains sufficiently potent to be effective. The expiration date on a product label should indicate the end of this time period.
Structure / function claims
A statement that describes the role of a nutrient or dietary ingredient and its affect on a structure or function in humans, as long as the statement is not a disease claim under the FDA’s regulations.
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