PDR for Nutritional Supplements (Hardcover)

~ Sheldon Saul Hendler (Editor), David Rorvik (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The large numbers of Americans currently supplementing their regimen with various vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients need a reliable, research-based source of information on these supplements. The authors of this latest entry in the "Physician Desk Reference" series are well qualified to provide such a source: Hendler, a biochemist and physician, is author of The Doctor's Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia, while science and medicine journalist Rorvik has written several books on diet and nutrition. Augmented by various useful indexes, the text consists primarily of excellent, lengthy monographs giving information on trade names, supplement description and pharmacology, indications and usage, contraindications and precautions, possible adverse reactions, overdosage, dosage and administration, and how supplied (liquid, caplet, etc.). Claims proven, not proven, and disproven are summarized, with literature citations appended. Unlike other PDRR volumes, the descriptions are not based primarily on information supplied by the manufacturers but on analysis by the authors themselves. In addition, tables list the ingredients of multivitamins or vitamin/mineral tablets, as well as U.S. Food and Drug Administration phone numbers, a list of state Poison Control Centers, and common laboratory values. Recommended for drug reference and consumer health collections. Anne C. Tomlin, Auburn Memorial Hosp., New York
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

A growing number of people use nutritional supplements on a regular basis. Most common nutrients such as vitamin D and calcium have well-known, documented benefits, but others base their claims on highly speculative data. Those seeking objective, scientific information about nutritional supplements will find it in the newest addition to the PDR family. It offers a "concise yet, comprehensive overview of the entire spectrum of current nutritional products." Sheldon H. Handler, a physician with a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology, and David Rornik, a science and medicine reporter for Time magazine, have written 200 monographs covering approximately 1,000 products.

Like the other PDR volumes, this one begins with a series of indexes: supplement name (common/generic name); brand name; category (e.g., probiotics, vitamins); indications (therapeutic or preventive purpose); side effects (potential adverse reactions); interactions (problems when used with other drugs, herbs, foods, or supplements); companion drugs (supplements that may be used in conjunction with prescription drugs to reverse adverse effects, relieve symptoms of the illness, or treat complications); and manufacturers. The "Companion Drug Index" is a unique and very useful feature. There is also a product identification guide with color pictures. This is quite limited. Many popular brands (such as Centrum and NatureMade) do not appear.

The descriptive monographs are arranged alphabetically by supplement name. These entries include trade or brand names and a description of the product with emphasis on its chemical and biochemical importance for humans. They also cover the actions and pharmacology of the supplements, explaining what they do, how they do it, and why they may be used. A summary of the research about the product with the most significant findings, both pro and con, as well as information about contraindications, adverse effects, interactions, information about dosage and administration, and overdosage, is included also. Available product information about forms and dosages and relevan and citations from the literature complete the entries. Although the authors assume that readers have a basic knowledge of biochemistry, the monographs are accessible to lay readers, who will encounter less medical jargon here than they do in the other PDR volumes.

The PDR for Nutritional Supplements has several helpful tables that compare various calcium, iron, multivitamin, multivitamin-mineral, and vitamin B complex products. It also has a brief list of common laboratory test values and directories of poison control centers, drug information centers, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration telephone services. This new source fills a gap in reference collections even though it does not cover all of the popular products that are currently available. It is useful for public, academic, and health sciences libraries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 700 pages
• Publisher: Thomson Healthcare; 1st edition (March 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563633647
• ISBN-13: 978-1563633645
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #251,941 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Highest Quality Information, October 4, 2001

By	Orlando Ferrer (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

As a medical technician who helps advise patients with nutritional problems, I have read nearly every major dietary supplement guide that has been published in the last decade. This PDR is, by far, the best such guide I have found. The doctors I work with are equally enthusiastic about its in-depth analysis, full citations to the supporting literature and its refreshing objectivity. This is the first time, to my knowledge, that nutritional supplements have been accorded the same in-depth treatment given, in other guides, to prescription drugs. This book should be "must" reading for every doctor, dietician, pharmacist and for every lay person who wishes to intelligently share in the management of his/her own health. There has never been a resource like this before.

For those interested in herbal medicine, there is a separate PDR dealing with herbs; although I do not find the herbal PDR as useful as The PDR for Nutritional Supplements, which covers all the other nutritional/dietary supplements, as well as some of the active constituents of popular herbs, the herbal book is also better than most. Initially I wondered why Medical Economics, the highly respected publisher of the PDR series of books, did not combine the herbs with the other dietary supplements and cover all of them in one reference book. An editor at Medical Economics told me that had they done so they would have had to sacrifice much of the in-depth treatment they have provided--far in excess, as I have previously noted, of anything available in any of the other books--in order to squeeze all of the supplements discussed into one marketable tome. We can all be thankful that they did not do this. Both books are indispensable, as is every word in them.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What We've Been Waiting For!, April 4, 2001

By	"rstrn" (La Jolla, CA United States) - See all my reviews

With all the claims and hype about one supplement or another, it's very hard to know what is legit. This book answers the need perfectly. In one or two pages (occasionally more) it condenses the chemical nature of the supplement, claims made for it, laboratory and animal and human research, risks and precautions and doses. If there is no credible basis for the claims, it says so; if there is support, it says that, too! There are indexes by supplement name, brand name, categories, needs ("indications"), side effects, etc. This is a truly handy, useful, and solid reference guide. You'll be glad to have it!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brim Full of Information, November 17, 2001

By	Eugene Wildman (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Tired of getting your supplement information from the vitamin shop clerk? This is state of the art stuff. Finally here is a book that both the lay person and the physician can safely turn to. The author has no axe to grind. He neither overstates nor understates, but is carefully objective in his presentation and allows the evidence to speak for itself. Dr. Hendler brings to his subject an open mind, wide ranging intelligence, and a rigorous training in all of the relevant disciplines. He refuses to be a shill either for entrenched medical orthodoxy or starry eyed alternative approaches. The result is a cornucopia of information.