Phytosterols in supplements containing : an example of variability of active principles in commercial plant based products.

Phytosterols are one of the bioactive components responsible for the beneficial effects of in Benign Prostate Hyperplasia. The aim of this study was to verify the actual variability of the phytosterols content in supplements containing serenoa, in order to provide useful elements to check the effectiveness of these preparations. The amount of campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol were determined by gas-chromatography in commercial raw materials and supplements containing serenoa in association or not with other botanicals.

Use of food supplements and determinants of usage in a sample Italian adult population.

Objective: The aims were to collect data on consumption of different food supplements in a sample of the adult Italian population and to characterize users by demographic, physical and health-related characteristics, lifestyle and behaviour.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: The study was conducted in 2008 in ten towns of Italy (two towns from each of the five macro-areas: Northwest, Northeast, Centre, South and Islands).

Reliability of a self-administered postal questionnaire on the use of food supplements in an italian adult population.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of a self-administered postal questionnaire on the use of food supplements. The study was carried out in subjects representative of an Italian adult population. Eight thousand eight hundred twenty-three subjects received the questionnaire; 1723 subjects completed it of which 102 twice (baseline and 1-month re-administration).

Plants and parts of plants used in food supplements: an approach to their safety assessments.

In Italy most herbal products are sold as food supplements and are subject only to food law. A list of about 1200 plants authorised for use in food supplements has been compiled by the Italian Ministry of Health. In order to review and possibly improve the Ministry's list an ad hoc working group of Istituto Superiore di Sanità was requested to provide a technical and scientific opinion on plant safety.

Convenient TLC for the detection of a herbal ingredient in a food supplement.

This study describes a practical and suitable approach to solve a real problem: the analysis of polyherbal products for which some specifications addressing the composition are lacking (e.g. chemical components).