nutraMetrix Educational Institute TM
a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization
nEI Course Objectives
A two-day comprehensive course with lectures, discussion and case studies for all health professionals. Themes include: principles of nutrition, nutritional interventions for achieving optimal health, nutraceutical applications to promote health and to provide adjunctive management for patients with specific health conditions.
Day 1, Morning Session 1: Nutrition Principles for the Clinician
Presented by Nancy Miller-Ihli, Ph.D.Objectives: At the end of this session you should be able to:
- Review basic nutrition information regarding dietary components of foods (macronutrients, vitamins and minerals, etc).
- Understand how poor dietary trends have led to an alarming prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other chronic diseases in the U.S.
- Discover the significant health benefits of low glycemic impact eating (Low GI/GL).
- 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 of various dietary guidelines.
- Appreciate what constitutes the fundamentals of a healthy eating program.
- Learn who recommends the use of nutritional supplements.
- Evaluate the sources your patients access for nutritional information.
Day 1, Morning Session 2: Free Radicals, Oxidative Stress & Antioxidants in Health and Disease
Presented by Deedra Mason, ND.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.
Day 1, Afternoon Session 1: Inflammation & Nutrition
Presented by Deedra Mason, ND.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.
Day 1, Afternoon Session 2: Principles of an Effective Weight Management System
Presented by Nancy Miller- Ihli, PhD.Objectives: At the end of this session, you should be able to:
- Understand the scope of the obesity epidemic and its impact on health.
- Understand the pathways and progression: insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and Type II diabetes.
- Review the wide range of health benefits of low glycemic impact eating (Low GI/GL).
- Review selected literature re: effectiveness of weight loss ingredients.
- Learn the essentials of an effective weight management system including: patient education, nutraceutical interventions, behavior modification and follow-up.
- Know the most valuable metrics pertaining to weight and health.
- Appreciate the unique challenges associated with the childhood obesity epidemic.
- Discuss your patients’ weight loss information sources.
Day 2, Morning Sessions 1 & 2: Nutraceutical Regimens- Part I & II
Presented by Deedra Mason, ND.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.
Day 2, Afternoon Session 1: Nutritional Genomics, Nutrigenetics: Scientific Basis and Applications
Presented by Stan Pierce, Jr, DC.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. Review original nutraceutical clinical research.
- 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.
Day 2, Afternoon Session 2: Nutraceutical Research: Challenges & Presentations
Presented by Perry Krichmar, MD.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.
Day 2, Afternoon Session 3: Quality Control & Regulatory Issues in the Nutraceutical Industry
Presented Perry Krichmar, MD.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.
