Clinical Updates

Although uncommon, turmeric and curcumin supplementation may increase bleeding risk during medical procedures, as reported recently. Turmeric and curcumin may also increase bleeding risk in people taking blood-thinning medication. For details, see the Concerns and Cautions section of our Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements and Spices Review.

Did taking a ketone supplement help with weight management a recent study? Find out in our article about supplements for weight management.

Does drinking coffee, or adding milk to it, increase the risk of kidney stones? Find out in our CL Answer about foods, supplements, and kidney stone risk.

Can taking a PPI drug such as Prilosec (omeprazole), Prevacid, or Nexium, reduce the absorption of calcium? The answer is yes, but there are ways to minimize this problem, as discussed in our Calcium Supplements Review.

Is it better to get B vitamins through supplements, foods, or a combination of the two? See our answer.

Can extra virgin olive oil improve memory and learning in people with mild cognitive impairment? Find out what a recent study found in the Memory section of our Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review.

Also see our answer to the question: Do any supplements, foods or lifestyle modifications help with brain function, like memory and cognition?

Reducing calorie intake can help with weight management but it can also lead to bone loss. Find out what experts have recently recommended to help curb bone loss and reduce fracture risk when dieting in our updated CL Answer about supplements and diets for osteoporosis.

Be aware that more vitamin D can now be added to breakfast cereals and nutrition bars based on a recent FDA ruling. Get the details in the What to Consider When Buying section of our Vitamin D Supplements Review.

Is pea protein powder is a significant source of the phytate, which can reduce mineral absorption? Find out what research suggests in the ConsumerTips section of our Protein Powders Review.

Can low blood levels of magnesium increase the risk of gout, and does magnesium supplementation help? Find out in the What It Does section of our Magnesium Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks among magnesium supplements.

Also see: Which supplements and foods help with gout and which may worsen it?

Aconite is a highly toxic plant compound that can cause dangerous heart arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. Find out which supplements may contain aconite and how to avoid it, in our answer to the question: How can I avoid aconite – a toxin – in Aconitum supplements?

A new report raises concerns that some arnica products (used to reduce bruising and swelling) may contain cheaper, substitute ingredients. Learn more in our CL Answer about arnica pills, gels, creams and sprays.

If you are allergic to sesame, here's some good news: The presence of sesame in a product must now be listed on labels as a food allergen. However, be aware that sesame may not be listed on products already on store shelves. We've added details about this to our answer to the question: What are "hypoallergenic" supplements? How can I find hypoallergenic supplements on ConsumerLab.com?

Although not on the label, we found out how much phytate, an anti-nutrient, is in our Top Pick for pea protein powder. Learn the details and implications in our updated Protein Powders and Shakes Review.

Can supplementing with black seed oil, or applying it to the scalp, increase hair thickness and slow shedding of hair? Find out in our updated article about supplements for hair.

Can taking urolithin A reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis? Find out what the latest research suggests in our answer about urolithin A which also discusses its use in reducing age-related muscle decline.

Find out if research supports the following lifestyle changes for reducing symptoms of tinnitus:

• Boosting fiber intake
• Avoiding refined sugar
• Restricting salt intake
• Using bimodal stimulation devices

Taking a large, monthly dose of vitamin D was associated with a 29% increase in the risk of death in older men and women, according to a recent study. Get the details in the How Much Is Too Much section of our Vitamin D Supplements Review, which explains additional risks of getting too much vitamin D, as well as how much is needed.

Some people supplement with collagen by mixing it in their coffee. Does that ruin the collagen? Find out in our updated CL Answer about the effects of coffee on nutrients. (Also see our Collagen Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks among products.)

Find out if the antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin) can cause ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and see a list of other medications that may have this effect in our article about tinnitus.

Is tricaprin (a medium chain triglyceride or MCT) beneficial in coronary artery disease and which products contain this ingredient? Find out in our updated CL Answer about supplements for heart health. (Also see our Review of MCT Oils.)

There’s some controversy over whether it’s better to buy whole flaxseed and grind it at home or buy ground flax. See what the evidence suggests in the ConsumerTips section our Flaxseed Review.

We are currently purchasing and will soon be testing additional whole flaxseed products and appreciate the hundreds of suggestions received this week from readers. In the meantime, if you need to purchase whole flaxseed, see our recommendations. Also see our current Top Pick for ground flaxseed.

Does dark chocolate increase the blood-thinning effects of medications such as clopidogrel (Plavix) and aspirin? See what a recent study found in the What It Does section of our Dark Chocolate & Cocoa Review, which includes our Top Picks among products.

Also see: Are there supplements, foods, or beverages that I should avoid when taking clopidogrel (Plavix)?

Does supplementation with creatine cause water retention or weight gain? Find out what a recent study suggests in the updated Concerns and Cautions section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for creatine and BCAA workout supplements.

Find out which supplements or foods help relieve acid reflux (heartburn) and which worsen it.

Experts in Europe recently cut in half the daily upper limit on how much copper people can safely consume. Find out how this compares to the limit in the U.S. and to amounts in multivitamins in the Copper section of our Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements Review.

Also see: What are trace minerals and do I need them?

What are "broad-spectrum" micronutrient supplements and how do they compare to multivitamins? Find out in our new article about "broad-spectrum" micronutrient supplements.

Also see our Top Picks among multivitamins.

Does a low-carbohydrate or a ketogenic diet reduce symptoms of acid reflux? Find out what research suggests in our updated CL Answer about food, supplements, and acid reflux.

Also, find out if zinc carnosine and the supplement Acid Soothe help improve symptoms of acid reflux.

Alginate supplements can help reduce symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD – a common cause of heartburn), but they may also reduce the absorption of medications, as well as vitamins, and minerals. Learn how to avoid this in the Concerns and Cautions section our Alginate Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among alginate supplements.

Do plasmalogen supplements improve memory and cognition? Are they safe? Find out in our new article about plasmalogen supplements.

To build muscle and burn fat, some people exercise without having eaten since the prior day. Having some protein or amino acids around the time of exercise can help with building muscle – but what’s the best time to do that? Find out what research suggests, in our updated CL Answer about essential amino acids.

Also see: I do moderate exercise for about an hour a few times a week. Which supplements might help me?

A diet extremely high in fish oil caused hair loss in a recent study in mice. Should this be a concern for people? Find out in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Fish Oil Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for fish oil.

Also see: Do hair supplements, such as Viviscal, Hair La Vie, and Nutrafol, or topical essential oils work?

Did consuming a large daily amount of cocoa flavanols help women with insulin resistance in a recent study? Find out in the What It Does section of our Dark Chocolate & Cocoa Review. Also see our Top Picks among dark chocolate bars and cocoa products.

Also see: Which supplements and foods can help lower or control blood sugar?

Can aloe or probiotics help reduce symptoms of acid reflux? Find out approaches to acid reflux.

We added information about whether certain supplements lower the risk of calcification in the coronary artery to our CL Answer about supplements for heart health.

Is there a link between canned fish and cancer, as there is for some other processed meats? Find out in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Tuna, Salmon, Sardines & Herring Review. Also see our Top Picks for canned fish.

Find out if the following improve, or worsen, symptoms of acid reflux:

• Turmeric & Curcumin
• Menthol (in toothpastes, mouthwashes and chewing gum)
• Alanine
• Glutamine
• Glycine

If you take metformin to treat diabetes, be aware that you are at higher risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. Recent laboratory research suggests a possible reason for this, as discussed in the ConsumerTips section of our B Vitamins Review. Also see our Top Picks among B12 supplements.

A recent study investigated how fish oil supplementation may help to reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Get the details, and learn if fish oil can help with osteoarthritis and other inflammatory conditions, in our Fish Oil Supplements Review, which includes our Top Picks for fish oil.

Also see: Which supplements can help with arthritis?

See which foods offer significant amounts of plasmalogens in our updated CL Answer about plasmalogens for cognitive function.

The NAD booster, nicotinamide riboside, might promote growth of existing cancers. Is there similar risk with niacin and niacinamide (nicotinamide)? Find out what evidence suggests in the Concerns and Cautions section of our NAD Booster Supplements Review.

Also, see our Top Pick among niacin supplements in our B Vitamin Supplements Review.

We’ve summarized in a simple table how to take vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids to maximize absorption.

Does taking vitamin D improve cognition or slow cognitive decline among older people with already sufficient blood levels of vitamin D? Find out what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of our Vitamin D Supplements Review.

Also see our CL Answer about supplements, foods and lifestyle modifications for brain function.

Find out how many cups of green tea per day is associated with lower risk of heart disease in the What It Does section of our Green Tea Supplements Review, and see our Top Picks for green tea.