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The Willner Window Product Reference Catalog, Summer, 2013
since 1911
• Willner Chemists •
the nutritional supplement professionals
Stevia: New Flavors Now Available
Extracts of leaves from Stevia rebaudiana have been used for many years in traditional treatment of diabetes in South America. Various compounds in stevia has been
concentrated, and used as natural sweeteners. These compounds possess up to 250 times the sweetness intensity of sucrose, and they are noncaloric and noncariogenic.
Stevioside, a natural plant glycoside isolated from the plant Stevia rebaudiana, has been commercialized as a noncaloric sweetener in Japan for more than 20 years.
Some studies have shown that stevia may be beneficial to those with hypertension, and those with type-2 diabetes. Dosage: Add 2-8 drops, as needed. Each ml is equiv-
alent to 300 mg of Stevia. Willner Chemists has offered stevia as a liquid herbal concentrate, providing Stevia Leaf Extract, standardized to 90% Steviosides, in 1, 2 and 4
oz sizes:
Phyto-Tech™ Stevia Extract 90
1 fl oz, prod code: 56943. List Price: $8.30 - Disc Price: $6.64 ~ 4 fl oz, prod code: 56942. List Price: $22.90 - Disc Price: $18.32
2 fl oz, prod code: 56940. List Price: $12.80 - Disc Price: $10.24
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Now, Willner Chemists is pleased to offer six new stevia leaf extracts, in flavored form:
Phyto-Tech™ Stevia Extract - Chocolate, 2 oz, Alcohol Free (#60140)
Phyto-Tech™ Stevia Extract - Cinnamon, 2 oz, Alcohol Free (#60139)
Phyto-Tech™ Stevia Extract - Lemon, 2 oz, Alcohol Free (#60141)
Phyto-Tech™ Stevia Extract - Orange, 2 oz, Alcohol Free (#60144)
Phyto-Tech™ Stevia Extract - Peppermint, 2 oz, Alcohol Free (#60143)
Phyto-Tech™ Stevia Extract - Vanilla, 2 oz, Alcohol Free (#60142)
These new Stevia liquids are 100% Gluten Free, and contain only organic stevia leaf extract, veg-
etable glycerin, purified water and natural flavors/essential oils. The list price on the new, flavored
versions is $12.80 and the Willner discount price is $10.24.
Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, add 5-8 drops to a beverage or food. Shake well before
using.
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To listen to an interview on stevia and other therapeutic herbal supplements, go to www.willner.com and look up the May 22, 2011
Willner Window Radio Program
Alzheimer’s Disease
Recent News About the Influence of
Omega-3 Oils, Phosphatidylserine,
B-Vitamins and Green Tea Extract.
The role of diet, nutritional supplements
and herbs on the prevention and treatment
of Alzheimer’s disease is, as expected, con-
troversial. Agents that appeared promising in
early research sometimes fail to meet that
promise after additional testing. Sometimes,
we have to rely on common sense, as rigid,
scientifically designed experimental data is
unavailable, or unlikely to be forthcoming.
There is nothing wrong with common sense,
by the way. If a nutrient offers promise, and
that promise has a logical, scientific basis,
why not avail ourselves of its potential bene-
fit--especially if there is little downside to
doing so. And finally, certain foods and sup-
plements continue to pass both tests. They
make sense, and they continue to look
promissing in the laboratory.
We will start off with some comments
about two supplements in this category from
the Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3s are a type of polyunsaturated
fatty acid (PUFA). Research has linked certain
types of omega-3s to a reduced risk of heart
disease and stroke.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) permits supplements and foods to dis-
play labels with “a qualified health claim” for
two omega-3s called docosahexaneoic acid
(DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The
labels may state, “Supportive but not conclu-
sive research shows that consumption of EPA
and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce
the risk of coronary heart disease,” and then
acids to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine (pronounced FOS-fuh-
TIE-dil-sair-een) is a kind of lipid, or fat, that
is the primary component of the membranes
that surround nerve cells. In Alzheimer’s dis-
ease and similar disorders, nerve cells degen-
erate for reasons that are not yet understood.
The theory behind treatment with phos-
phatidylserine is its use may shore up the cell
membrane and possibly protect cells from
degenerating.
The first clinical trials with phosphatidylser-
ine were conducted with a form derived
from the brain cells of cows. Some of these
trials had promising results. However, most
trials were with small samples of participants.
This line of investigation came to an end in
the 1990s over concerns about mad cow dis-
ease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), a
fatal brain disorder believed to be caused by
consuming foods or other products from
affected cattle. Supplements containing phos-
phatidylserine are now derived from soy
extracts. The FDA permits supplements con-
taining very high-quality soy-derived phos-
phatidylserine to display a "qualified health
claim" stating that "Very limited and prelimi-
nary scientific research suggests that phos-
phatidylserine may reduce the risk of demen-
tia in the elderly. FDA concludes that there is
little scientific evidence supporting this
claim." . . .Experts agree that more research is
needed, and do not currently recommend
use of phosphatidylserine.
It is important to note that the above infor-
mation, as mentioned previously, is from an
organization (alz.org) that is very critical of
“alternative treatments.” They say the follow-
ing in the introduction to their review of vari-
ous “alternative treatments:” “. . .Claims
about the safety and effectiveness of these
products, however, are based largely on testi-
monials, tradition and a rather small body of
scientific research.”
That is ok. It never hurts to hear what the
“other guys” have to say. They only say good
things very grudgingly. So when they cannot
find very much negative to say about a sup-
plement, one has to take it as being very
close to a recommendation. I consider their
comments on omega-3 oils and phos-
phatidylserine as about as close to endorse-
ments as they can come.
B Vitamins
According to research by Douaud et al.
published in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, a new study is suggest-
ing that a high dose of B vitamins could stop
the onset of Alzheimer’s by preventing
shrinkage of the medial temporal lobe, the
area of the brain that defines the disease.
What does that mean? They found that this
part of the brain shrank slower in people
with mild cognitive impairment when they
took B Vitamins.
To reach these conclusions, the researcher
gave 156 elderly people with mild cognitive
impairment, the stage before dementia or
Alzheimer’s, a combination of vitamin B12
(500 mcg), B6 (20 mg) and folic acid or
placebo pills over a two year period.
As you might realize, this is not a typical B-
Complex formulation, but, instead, is a limit-
ed selection of B-vitamins designed to affect
homocysteine levels.
The 80 subjects receiving B Vitamins
showed significantly less brain degeneration
than the placebo group.
Lead researcher David Smith of Oxford
University said: "In those with high homocys-
teine levels, the specific areas of the brain
associated with Alzheimer's, disease shrank
eight times more slowly in those taking B
vitamins than in those on the placebo.”
“This is strongly indicative that the B vita-
mins may be substantially slowing down, or
even potentially arresting, the disease process
in those with early stage cognitive decline.”
“This is the first treatment that has been
shown to potentially arrest Alzheimer’s relat-
ed brain shrinkage.”
Previous research has shown that raised
levels of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy)
are associated with cognitive impairment,
Alzheimer's Disease, or vascular dementia.
. . . continued on page 92
list the amount of DHA or EPA in the prod-
uct. The FDA recommends taking no more
than a combined total of 3 grams of DHA or
EPA a day, with no more than 2 grams from
supplements.
Research has also linked high intake of
omega-3s to a possible reduction in risk of
dementia or cognitive decline. The chief
omega-3 in the brain is DHA, which is found
in the fatty membranes that surround nerve
cells, especially at the microscopic junctions
where cells connect to one another.
Theories about why omega-3s might influ-
ence dementia risk include their benefit for
the heart and blood vessels; anti-inflammato-
ry effects; and support and protection of
nerve cell membranes.
Two studies reported at the 2009
Alzheimer's Association International
Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (AAICAD)
found mixed results for the possible benefits
of DHA:
The first study was a large federally funded
clinical trial conducted by the Alzheimer's
Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS). In the
ADCS study, participants with mild to moder-
ate Alzheimer's disease taking 2 grams of
DHA daily fared no better overall than those
who took a placebo (inactive, lookalike treat-
ment). The data indicated a "signal" (prelimi-
nary but not conclusive evidence) that partic-
ipants without the APOE-e4 Alzheimer's risk
gene might have experienced a slight benefit.
More research is needed to confirm whether
that preliminary signal is valid. Results of this
study also appeared in the Nov. 3, 2010,
issue of the Journal of the American Medical
Association.
The second study—Memory Improvement
with DHA (MIDAS)—enrolled older adults
with normal age-related cognitive decline.
Those who took 900 milligrams of DHA daily
scored slightly better on a computerized
memory test than those receiving the place-
bo. MIDAS was conducted by Martek
Biosciences, the manufacturer of the DHA
used in both studies.
Experts agree that more research is needed,
and there is not yet sufficient evidence to
recommend DHA or any other omega-3 fatty