Herbal Medicine & Dietary Supplements Flashcards
7 cards from real HCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Herbal Medicine & Dietary Supplements flashcards as text
What does the term 'bioavailability' mean in the context of dietary supplements?
Answer: The proportion of a nutrient or compound that is absorbed and available for use by the body
Bioavailability refers to the fraction of an ingested substance that reaches systemic circulation and is available to exert its physiological effect.
A client following a strict plant-based diet is concerned about nutrient deficiencies. Which vitamin is MOST commonly deficient in vegans due to its near-exclusive presence in animal products?
Answer: Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal-derived foods; vegans are at significant risk for deficiency and should supplement or consume B12-fortified foods.
Which mineral is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, commonly deficient in the US population, and often recommended by holistic coaches for stress, muscle tension, and sleep?
Answer: Magnesium
Magnesium participates in over 300 enzymatic processes including ATP production, muscle relaxation, and nervous system regulation, and is widely deficient due to processed food diets.
Which form of magnesium supplement is generally considered best tolerated and most bioavailable for systemic effects such as sleep and stress reduction?
Answer: Magnesium glycinate
Magnesium glycinate (bound to the amino acid glycine) is highly bioavailable, gentler on the GI tract, and glycine itself has calming properties that complement magnesium's relaxing effects.
A client asks about omega-3 fatty acid supplements for inflammation. Which source provides EPA and DHA in their preformed, readily usable state?
Answer: Fish oil or algae oil
EPA and DHA are the biologically active omega-3s; fish oil and algae oil contain these in preformed state, whereas flaxseed provides ALA which must be converted (inefficiently) to EPA/DHA.
When educating a client about herbal-drug interactions, which class of medications should a holistic coach flag as MOST at risk for interaction with common herbs such as garlic, ginkgo, and fish oil?
Answer: Blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants/antiplatelets)
Garlic, ginkgo, and fish oil all have antiplatelet effects and can potentiate anticoagulant medications like warfarin, increasing bleeding risk.
Under current US law, dietary supplements are regulated under which framework, meaning they do NOT require pre-market approval for safety or efficacy before being sold?
Answer: Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994
DSHEA (1994) classifies dietary supplements as a special category of food, placing the burden of proving a product unsafe on the FDA rather than requiring pre-market manufacturer proof of safety.