Glosario
132 términos utilizados en la investigación de suplementos y la evaluación de evidencia.
Study Types
A trial where both participants and researchers know who receives the treatment.
A study examining how different supplement doses affect outcomes.
A small preliminary study to test feasibility before a full-scale trial.
A study conducted in a living organism, typically animal models.
A laboratory study conducted on cells or tissues outside a living organism.
A study where participants receive both the treatment and placebo in sequence.
A study comparing the supplement against an inert substance to isolate true effects.
A trial where neither participants nor researchers know who receives the treatment.
A comprehensive review that identifies and critically evaluates all relevant studies on a topic.
A statistical method combining results from multiple studies for stronger conclusions.
A detailed description of a single patient's experience with a supplement.
An analysis including all participants as originally assigned, regardless of compliance.
A research study that tests a supplement or intervention in human participants.
An observational study tracking a group of people over time to assess outcomes.
A study where participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups.
Evaluation of research by independent experts before publication.
A study that observes outcomes without intervening or assigning treatments.
A break between treatment periods to eliminate residual effects of the previous intervention.
Nutrients & Supplements
An amino sulfonic acid with inhibitory neurotransmitter properties, modulating GABA and glycine receptors.
A spice (Crocus sativus) containing crocin and safranal with antidepressant and sleep-support properties.
A Pacific Island plant (Piper methysticum) containing kavalactones with anxiolytic properties.
A trace mineral involved in collagen cross-linking and connective tissue integrity.
A carotenoid antioxidant from microalgae with potent free-radical scavenging activity.
Small protein fragments bound to copper ions, studied for wound healing and tissue remodeling.
An essential amino acid involved in collagen formation, iron absorption, and immune function.
Indigestible plant material that supports digestive health and gut microbiome diversity.
A trace mineral essential for thyroid hormone production.
The most abundant mineral in the body, essential for bones, muscles, and nerve function.
A fat-soluble antioxidant protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage.
A fat-soluble vitamin essential for vision, immunity, and cell differentiation.
A precursor to glutathione, the body's master antioxidant.
An amino acid from tea leaves that promotes relaxation without sedation.
An antioxidant compound essential for cellular energy production.
Live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts.
The active compound in turmeric with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
An adaptogenic herb used to reduce stress and cortisol levels.
A botanical extract that may inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, studied for hair loss.
A B-vitamin essential for DNA synthesis, cell division, and tissue growth.
A B-vitamin essential for nerve function, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell formation.
A trace mineral essential for thyroid function and antioxidant defense.
A water-soluble antioxidant essential for collagen synthesis and immune function.
A hormone regulating the sleep-wake cycle, produced by the pineal gland.
The most abundant protein in the body, supporting skin, hair, joints, and connective tissue.
Essential fats (EPA/DHA) with anti-inflammatory properties supporting cardiovascular and brain health.
A mineral involved in 600+ enzymatic reactions, including sleep and stress regulation.
A mineral essential for oxygen transport and red blood cell production.
An essential mineral supporting immunity, wound healing, and protein synthesis.
A fat-soluble vitamin crucial for calcium absorption, immunity, and overall health.
A B-vitamin essential for keratin production and hair, skin, and nail health.
Mechanisms of Action
A class of herbs and compounds that may help the body resist and adapt to physical and mental stress.
A metabolic pathway that converts toxic ammonia into urea for excretion by the kidneys.
Plant-derived compounds that can bind estrogen receptors and modulate hormonal activity.
The class of psychoactive compounds in kava responsible for anxiolytic and sedative effects.
A glutamate receptor involved in synaptic plasticity, memory, and neural excitability.
A selective barrier of endothelial cells that controls which substances enter the brain from blood.
The body's primary stress hormone, produced by the adrenal glands.
The three-phase cycle (anagen, catagen, telogen) of human hair follicle growth.
Temporary hair shedding caused by stress, illness, or nutritional deficiency.
The body's master antioxidant, a tripeptide produced in every cell.
Programmed cell death — a controlled process essential for tissue homeostasis.
A chemical messenger transmitting signals between nerve cells in the brain and body.
Small signaling proteins released by immune cells to regulate inflammation and immunity.
The chemical processes by which the body converts nutrients into energy and building blocks.
The process by which nutrients pass from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.
The community of trillions of microorganisms living in and on the human body.
The biological process of producing collagen protein in the body.
A neurotransmitter regulating mood, sleep, appetite, and the precursor to melatonin.
The brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, promoting calm and sleep.
An imbalance between free radical production and the body's antioxidant defenses.
An unstable molecule that damages cells by stealing electrons from other molecules.
The body's internal 24-hour clock regulating sleep-wake cycles and physiological processes.
A potent androgen hormone that drives pattern hair loss by miniaturizing hair follicles.
An enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, the hormone linked to pattern hair loss.
A property or substance that reduces inflammation in the body.
A substance that neutralizes free radicals, protecting cells from oxidative damage.
The time required for the body to eliminate half of a substance's active amount.
The proportion of a supplement that is absorbed and available for use by the body.
Health Conditions
Rapid hair loss during the active growth phase, typically caused by chemotherapy or toxins.
Hot flashes and night sweats caused by hormonal changes, particularly during menopause.
A state of elevated physiological and cognitive activation that interferes with sleep onset.
An imbalance in the gut microbial community linked to inflammation and disease.
A cluster of conditions increasing risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Gradual loss of memory, attention, and thinking ability with aging.
Discomfort, aching, or soreness in any joint of the body.
An irresistible urge to move the legs, especially at rest and in the evening.
Misalignment between the body's internal clock and external environment.
The condition of the scalp skin and follicular environment affecting hair growth.
Cellular harm caused by excess free radicals overwhelming antioxidant defenses.
The body's physiological and psychological response to perceived threats or demands.
Inflammation of the skin causing itching, redness, and irritation.
Persistent tiredness or exhaustion not relieved by rest.
Persistent excessive worry or fear that interferes with daily activities.
A disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
An autoimmune condition causing patchy hair loss when the immune system attacks hair follicles.
A condition where the blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin.
Underactive thyroid gland producing insufficient thyroid hormones.
An inadequate level of a vitamin or mineral needed for normal body function.
The immune system's response to injury or infection, which can become chronic and harmful.
Persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early.
The most common form of hair loss, driven by genetics and DHT hormone.
Research Measurements
A consistent error in study design that skews results in one direction.
Improvement in symptoms due to the belief of receiving treatment, not the treatment itself.
A measurable indicator of a biological state, used to assess health and treatment response.
A measure of how spread out data values are from the average.
A measure comparing the rate of an event occurring between two groups over time.
A scatter plot used to detect publication bias in meta-analyses.
A measure of the percentage of variability across studies due to true differences.
The tendency for studies with positive results to be published more often than negative ones.
The degree of variation in study results across a meta-analysis.
A graphical display showing individual study results and the pooled meta-analysis estimate.
How many people need to take a supplement for one additional person to benefit.
The number of participants enrolled in a study.
A result unlikely to have occurred by chance, typically at p < 0.05.
A measure of the magnitude of a treatment's impact, independent of sample size.
A range of values likely to contain the true effect size, typically at 95% confidence.
The probability of observing results as extreme as the data, assuming no true effect.
The ratio of event probability in the treatment group vs. the control group.
The ratio of odds of an event in the treatment group vs. the control group.
Regulatory & Compliance
When a dietary supplement alters the effectiveness or safety of a prescription medication.
Liver damage caused by drugs, supplements, or other chemicals.
The maximum daily nutrient intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects.
A document verifying a supplement batch's tested potency, purity, and contaminant levels.
The US agency responsible for regulating food, drugs, and dietary supplements.
The system for reporting serious side effects from supplements to the FDA.
A participant's voluntary agreement to join a study after understanding its risks and procedures.
A certification indicating a supplement has been tested for safety and label accuracy.
A certification indicating a supplement meets rigorous quality standards set by the US Pharmacopeia.
Independent laboratory verification of a supplement's contents, purity, and potency.
Manufacturing standards ensuring supplement quality, purity, and consistency.
The 1994 US law regulating dietary supplements as a special food category.
A claim that a product treats, cures, or prevents a disease — prohibited for supplements.
A claim describing how a supplement affects the body's structure or function, not disease.