Question

Case Study Choosing a Dietary Supplement Amy works the "pre-dawn" shift as a baker at a popular bistro. Amy is also a fulltime student, and the combination of taking a full course load at college and working early hours while her friends are sleeping has created a lot of stress for her. Amy's many commitments also make it important that she not become ill. Recently one of her coworkers suggested that she take Nutra mega supplements to help prevent colds, flu, and other illnesses. The product's label suggests that Nutramega helps prevent such problems, especially those associated with the changing of seasons. The label recommends taking two to three tablets daily for health maintenance and two to three tablets every 3 hours at the first sign of feeling ill. Amy looks at the Supplement Facts label on the bottle and finds that each tablet contains (as percent of the Daily Value): 33% for vitamin A (three-quarters is preformed vitamin A), 700% for vitamin C, 200% for niacin, and 100% for vitamin B-6. A month's supply costs about $50. compare with the Upper Tolerable Intake Levels for the four nutrients? How many tablets would be taken per day if Amy was feeling il? a. For vitamin A, use the % Daily Value 2. to calculate the micrograms RAE that would be in this larger dose. How does this compare to the Upper Level for Vitamin A? Use the % Daily Value to calculate the milligrams of vitamin C in this larger dose. How does this compare to the Upper Level for vitamin C? Use the % Daily Value to cal- culate the milligrams of niacin in this larger dose. How does this compare to the Upper Level for niacin? b C. Is a dietary supplement a safe way for Amy to prevent colds and the flu? d. Use the % Daily Value to calculate the micrograms of vitamin B-6 in this larger dose. How does this compare to the Upper Level for vitamin B-6? Does the recommended dosage of any of these nutrients pose any health risks? cost of a typical multivitamin supplement available at your local drug store? 4. Should Amy be concemed about meeting Answer the following questions, and check your response in Appendix A. e. her nutrient needs? Does the type of stress she is under increase her nutrient needs? After studying Chapter 8, what diet and supplement advice would you offer to Amy? 1. Are there any health risks associated with taking the "maintenance" dose of two to three tablets per day? How does this dose 5. Does the cost of this supplement seem reasonable? How does it compare to the 3.

Answer 1

1. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) or the highest level of daily nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects most healthy individuals. Intake above the UL increases risk of adverse events.

Theupper tolerable dose of Vitamin A is 3000microgram and the daily recommended amount is 700microgram for men and 600microgram for women .

The upper tolerable dose of Vitamin C is 2gm / day and the normal recommend daily amount is 60mg

The upper tolerable dose for Niacin is 35mgs /day and the normal range is 15- 30 mg /day .

The upper tolerable dose for Vitamin B6 is 100mgs /day and the normal range is 6-12 mg / day .

In each tablet of Nutramega :-

The amount of Vitamin A is 33%of daily value means = 33% of 600 microgram = 198microgram

The amount of Vitamin C is 700% of daily value means = 700 % of 60 mg = 420 mg

The amount of Niacin is 200% of daily value means = 200% of 30 mg = 60mg

The amount of Vitamin B6 is 100% of daily value means 100% of 12mg = 12mg

Consider she is taking two tablets each day then she is taking Vitamin A = 396 microgram , Vitamin C = 840 mg , Niacin = 120 mg and Vitamin B6 = 24mg

None of the nutrient components is crossing the upper tolerable limit so it would not cause any harm or adverse effects.

2. If Amy gets ill then she has to take two to three tablets every 3hours means she will take two to three tablets eight times a day. Consider she takes three tablets ,then total she tablets she would take are 24 tablets .

A) Then the amount of Vitamin A will be 24× 198 microgram = 4752 microgram.

B) Amount of Vitamin C will be 24× 420mg = 10080mg

C) Amount of Niacin will be 24× 60mg = 1440mg

D) Amount of Vitamin B6 will be 24× 12mg = 288mg

Compared to the upper tolerable limit of these nutrient components , Amy will have adverse effects due to intake of larger amount of these nutrients. All the nutrients will cause harmful effect on her health.

3. The cost of the drug is not resonable as it's too costly . Also it's amount for daily intake is larger and rather than causing good it would harm the health.

4. Amy should be concerned about her nutritional needs for the proper growth and development and to prevent disease and deficiencies. Her metabolic rate is much more than a usual person because she is both working and studying. She needs to be fit so that she can earn her livelihood and study well. The stress will increase her metabolic rate and will increase her nutrient needs .