Session: Nutrition Principles for the Clinician
Objectives: At the end of this session you should be able to:
- Understand how poor dietary trends have lead to alarming prevalence rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other
chronic diseases in the US.
- Learn the structure, role and importance of the macronutrients, micronutrients and minerals.
- Discover the significance of glycemic index/glycemic load for optimal nutrition.
- Know the types, role and therapeutic applications of dietary fiber.
- Review the composition and role of fats and oils.
- Recognize the impact, advantages and limitations to various food pyramids.
- Appreciate what constitutes the fundamentals of healthy eating.
- Recognize the role and responsibility of society for promoting good nutrition.
- Understand how to respond to the nutritional needs of our nation.
- Learn the challenges for modifying the nation's poor nutritional behaviors.
Session: Free Radicals, Oxidative Stress & Antioxidants in Health and Disease
Objectives: At the end of this session you should be able to:
- Understand the different types, sources and nature of oxidants or free radicals.
- Learn the role and impact of oxidant stress on health.
- Explain how oxidant stress may play a role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, cancer, aging, retinopathy and other diseases.
- Know the biomarkers for evaluating oxidant stress.
- Learn the importance and functions of antioxidants.
- Know the various bioflavonoids, antioxidant vitamins and minerals.
- Appreciate the recent medical literature on the bioflavonoids including: in vitro studies, animal models and clinical trials.
- Know the principles and significance of the ORAC assay.
- Appreciate the natural food sources that are high in ORAC.
Session: Inflammation & Nutrition
Objectives: At the end of this session you should be able to:
- Appreciate the role of inflammation in chronic diseases such as: cardiovascular, asthma, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and rhino-sinusitis.
- Know the key cell types, cytokines, eicosonoids and adhesion molecules involved in the inflammatory process
- Learn the importance of biomarkers in inflammation
- Understand the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid metabolic pathways
- Know the consequences of an overproduction of omega-6 with a concomitant underproduction of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Appreciate the AHA guidelines for the use of omega-3.
- Understand the role of Vitamins B-6, B-12 and folate in homocysteine metabolism.
- Know the importance of homocysteine in inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
Session: Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, Principles of an Effective Weight Management System
Objectives: At the end of this session, you should be able to:
- Understand the importance, role and effects of insulin resistance in contributing to abnormal carbohydrate metabolism.
- Learn the pathways towards developing insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, Type II diabetes.
- Review the scope of the obesity epidemic and its impact on health.
- Understand the importance of low glycemic index foods for weight control and optimal health.
- Learn the essentials of an effective weight management system including: nutraceutical interventions, patient education and follow up.
Session: Nutritional Genomics, Nutrigenetics : Scientific Basis and Applications
Objectives: At the end of this session you should be able to:
- Know the principles of nutritional genomics.
- Understand the role and applications of nutrigenetic testing in practice.
- Explain the concept of genetic single nucleotide polymorphism (gene SNP) and provide some examples.
- Appreciate the scientific basis and clinical applications of nutrigenetic testing in: heart health, antioxidant/detoxification mechanisms, Vitamin B metabolism, bone health, inflammation and insulin sensitivity.
- Learn how to interpret and explain a nutrigenetic report to your patients.
- Appreciate the future of nutritional genomics and nutrigenetic testing.
Session: Nutraceutical Regimens- Part I & II
Objectives: At the end of these sessions, you should be able to:
- Recognize the need for appropriate nutritional supplementation - based on literature review, government surveys and guidelines.
- Know the fundamentals of nutrition supplementation and delivery.
- Learn what individual nutrients and nutrient regimens are needed for: optimal health, bone & joint health, immune health, anti-inflammation, digestive health, vision & cognitive health, female and male health, heart health.
- Describe the benefits and define the role for key nutrients including: glucosamine, omega-3 fish oils, calcium, bioflavonoids (i.e. lutein, lycopene, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, polyphenols), fat and water soluble vitamins, minerals, fiber and some common herbs.
Session: Nutraceutical Research: Challenges & Presentations
Objectives: At the end of this session you should be able to:
- Understand the differences between nutraceutical and pharmaceutical research.
- Appreciate the challenges specific to nutraceutical clinical research.
- Review original nutraceutical clinical research.
Session: Quality Control & Regulatory Issues in the Nutraceutical Industry
Objectives: At the end of this session you should be able to:
- Learn what quality control measures are important to evaluate nutritional supplements.
- Understand the regulatory issues of the supplemental industry such as DSHEA.
- Know the difference between a structure/function claim vs. a disease claim.
- Provide examples of structure/function claims for a particular supplement.
- Learn the essentials of risk management when using nutritional interventions.
- Know how to report adverse reactions for nutritional supplements.