Wielding the sword of professional ethics against misleading dietary supplement claims

摘要

What does the word "glyconutrient" mean to you? If you are a glycobiologist studying the complexities of cell communication facilitated by the interaction of sugar molecules attached to fats or proteins within the body, the term may have little meaning. While "glyco" is commonly understood to mean sugar, nutrient is somewhat more nebulous, referring loosely to an ingredient that supports life. Considering that glycobiology involves the complex interaction of an array of individually identified sugar chains that dominate the surface of cells and proteins and combine to contribute to cell creation and function, the term glyconutrient by itself does little to articulate meaning or purpose