title: A "glyconutrient sham".
abstract: The discipline of glycobiology contributes to our understanding of human health and disease through research, most of which is published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Recently, legitimate discoveries in glycobiology have been used as marketing tools to help sell plant extracts termed "glyconutrients." The glyconutrient industry has a worldwide sales force of over half a million people and sells nearly half a billion dollars (USD) of products annually. Here we address the relationship between glyconutrients and glycobiology, and how glyconutrient claims may impact the public and our discipline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. schnaar@jhu.edu
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Schnaar
authors.forename: Hudson H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Freeze
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D033241:Lawyers; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010465:Perception; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010919:Placebos