Unit 1 Paper

This posting is a unit paper and review of the first portion of my BIO156 Semester.  Although Part2 is simply reflection on the class, I would recommend Part1 to readers who aren't interested in the course anyway.  It is about a topic that I found most compelling in the first part of the semester.  A piece in the textbook focused on the use of vitamins and supplements.  For this assignment we were challenged to do more research on our chosen topic, and I believe people should be aware of the things that I found so that they can be informed consumers.

Part 1:

Dietary Supplements, Dangerous?

In our first unit in BIO156 this semester we covered so much ground.  One aspect of this that I found to be particularly interesting was a section in the book about dietary supplements.  There are two types of dietary supplements, those that are packaged and sold as such, and so-called functional foods.  I have always had some interest in more "traditional" medicine and surprised to find out how little research is done in this area.  It makes sense when it comes to functional foods, because the health benefits are said to be natural properties of the foods.  Testing this could be extremely difficult, and expensive, and there isn't a lot of interest in doing so because it wouldn't be very cost effective for companies.  The reasoning for supplements was somewhat similar  but I was shocked at how little oversight there is on the production of these products.  There are huge regulatory issues that go along with supplements because they simply aren't regulated.  As we learned about cell function in our class and how important balance within the body is to maintaining proper function through homeostasis, it made me question even more why people are so accepting of there being little to no research or testing on these products or regulations on their contents.  I take a couple of basic supplements, and have always used some basic herbal remedies.  I feel like there should be a lot more research into herbal and traditional medicine than there currently is because some of those things seem to have worked for people very well for hundreds of years.  As far as the supplements go, I would really like to be able to trust that a supplement I am taking is what it says it is, and isn't full of a lot of junk that I don't want or need in my body!

Photo Credit

Information on the FDA's own website is confusing.  Their statement on dietary supplements states that "generally, manufacturers do not need to register their products with FDA nor get FDA approval before producing or selling dietary supplements (Dietary Supplements)"  This makes their previous statement that, "FDA regulates both finished dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients" seem inaccurate (Dietary Supplements).  From reading their site I learned that the FDA does hold companies accountable for the safety of their products, requiring that any adverse effect incidents be reported, and both that products be safe, and that their labeling not be misleading.  However, since these companies aren't required to register their products it seems like enforcement would be difficult.  An article on the FDA's own site warns about taking the supplement WOW because it allegedly contains Reumofan Plus, a substance that they had previously warned about being dangerous to consumers (Dangerous Supplement).  Although the article says that they had previously warned about the product, and that it contained dangerous things that should only be used under a doctor's direct supervision, they apparently didn't move to ban the substance.  Instead, when companies rebranded the product to try and sell off reserve stock, the FDA simply put out another warning.  What is most concerning about this whole issue is that people are taking multivitamins and supplements because they believe that they will improve or help them maintain their health.    According to an article published by MedLine Plus, Less than a quarter of people who take multivitamins do so because their doctor recommended it(Benefits Unproven).  People's belief in the power of vitamins and supplements comes at a big cost.  The industry brings in $30 billion per year in the United States (Benefits Unproven).  The contents of these pills however is not monitored, and there can be unexpected ingredients.  Not only that, because there is no testing required on their benefits, they can be a huge waste of money.  And in come cases research that has been done indicates that artificially high levels of some vitamins and minerals can cause complications other than hypervitaminosis (Calcium Supplements).

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So what have we learned from this?  1.The FDA states that they regulate vitamins and supplements, albeit under different guideline from their other food and drug regulations.  2.Through these regulations, the FDA holds companies accountable for their product's safety  though they are not required to even register their products before releasing them into the marketplace.  3.The FDA does not however have much power over supplements, and simply issues warnings instead of banning or limiting concerning substances. 4.People take multivitamins and supplements because of a belief that they will support health, spending billions of dollars every year, despite there being little to no proof of the benefits.  What can you do?  Ask you physician.  If you are using an supplements make sure that your physician knows as they can interact with and cause complications with medications or medical procedures.  But the best thing that you as a consumer can do is to be aware.  Check the history of the company that makes any supplements that you use.  Read all the labeling and ask critical questions.

Sources:

Calcium Supplements May Raise Odds of Heart Death in Women. HealthDay. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_133948.html. Accessed 18 February 2013.

Dangerous Supplement Now Sold as 'WOW'. FDA. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm333188.htm. Accessed 18 February 2013.

Dietary Supplements. FDA. http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/default.htm. Accessed 17 February 2013.

With Benefits Unproven, Why Do Millions of Americans Take Multivitamins?. Healthy Day. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_133698.html. Accessed 18 February 2013.

Part 2. Thinking About the Course (In complete sentences, numbered answers, no word limits)

1. What one assignment or activity you performed in this unit are you the most proud of? I really liked doing the DNA extraction lab.  I did very well on the assignment and enjoyed completing it as well.  It was the first time that I had interacted with an online lab tool like that so I was really pleased with how smoothly I got through it.  I also really liked how detailed it was, and felt like I had a hands on experience in doing it even though I wasn't able to physically do the work myself at home.
2. What do you now understand best about the information in this unit?  After completing this unit, I feel like I have a much greater understanding of cell function, and specifically the transport methods used by cells.  The different kinds of passive and active transport that go on in cells was covered quite well through the course, and assigned lab activities also helped to make the ideas more tangible.  Diffusion through simple osmosis through the lipid bilayer, through channels, gated channels, and facilitated transport are all forms of passive transport that were illustrated well in the material, as was active transport.  Through understanding of these, and the ways in which our cells function I feel like I ave a greater understanding of how important homeostasis is.  For me this has real world application for athletic endeavors   By better understanding how cells absorb the materials they need to function their best, I can work to feed my cells properly before, during and after activity to maximize my performance and health through the process.
3. What actions did you take for yourself to enhance learning or enjoyment of the material? As I mentioned in my answer to number 2, I tried to apply what I was learning to my own life in a greater sense   Understanding the most basic structures of our bodies and how they function can help us to reach for our own health goals and achievements in a more proactive way.  I also tried to include my kids in my lab projects when possible.  It became a time of discovery and learning for all of us together!
4. When did you feel most “connected” with the course? Most distanced? I have felt most connected with the course when I have been able to do hands on activities that demonstrate the concepts in the book.  Both through physical, and through virtual, online labs.  I also really like when I can take something like cell function, and look at it on a larger scale.  How does cell function play a role in what I need to do as an athlete for example?  By looking for ways where this information is directly connected with my life on a greater scale, I have found it easier to be excited about learning and understanding the material.  I found the chemistry part of the course most distancing.  I haven't taken a chemistry class in over a decade, and don't remember doing very well with it at that time either.  Suddenly facing biochem without having someone who could explain it in person was kind of overwhelming.  I ended up doing okay on the lab work for that section but it took hours for me to complete what I'm sure should have taken far less time.
5. What could I offer you to help your understanding or enjoyment of the material?  I would really like a hands on molecule lab.  A virtual lab where we can manipulate molecules to better understand their bonding and structures would be a great way to help with the chemistry and molecule portion.  Something were students can create and break apart molecules, see the valance electrons, and be able to manipulate elements to be able to create and see the different kinds of bonds and structures of basic molecules of life.