A sulfur-substituted fatty acid analog with hypolipidemic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.  TTA is an activator of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, and increases mitochondrial beta-oxidation (the process of oxidizing fatty acids for energy).  Not coincidentally, TTA is used as an ingredient in various weight loss supplements, although its efficacy in humans has not been studied.

See Ferulic Acid.

The inner bark of the tree, Ulnus umbra.  The bark was used by Native Americans and early European settlers to the US as a laxative, antiseptic, analgesic and emollient.  It’s high in mucilage, a sticky, gelatinous substance containing polysaccharides and glycoproteins that coat and sooth irritated tissues.  This property of Slippery Elm accounts for its medicinal uses as a treatment for sore throats, colitis and wounds.  It also contains oligomeric procyanidins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

Slippery Elm bark powder or extracts are sold as standalone supplements, or as ingredients in “cleansing”/”detox” supps.  It’s also a component of the unproven alternative cancer “cures” Essiac and FlorEssence.

See Curcuma longa Extract.

An herbal laxative used in a range of “detox” and “cleansing” products, as well as over-the-counter commercial preparations (such as Ex-Lax).  There are several related species of plants used, but Cassia angustifolia and Cassia acutifolia are the most common.  The active ingredients are known as sennosides, which induce laxation via ”stimulation of propulsive activity” in the colon.

An isomer of fructose marketed as a low-calorie sweetener under the trade name Naturlose.  Tagatose is a monosaccharide that’s approx. 92% sweet as table sugar (sucrose), but is poorly digested and absorbed.  Despite its potential, tagatose is still not widely used in the US, although that may change in the future – especially since it may have therapeutic applications for diabetes and digestive health.

Also known as mycose.  Trehalose is a disaccharide found in mushrooms, insects, other fungi, plants and bacteria.  It consists of 2 glucose units linked together by an alpha 1-1 glucoside bond.  Trehalose digests more slowly than many other dietary sugars, and has a moderate glycemic index.

Trehalose is used largely as a cryopreservative and food additive, as it’s hygroscopic and enhances the stability of proteins.  Trehalose also has potential therapeutic uses: animal studies have shown it has protective effects in Huntington’s Disease and Alzheimer’s.

Also known as isomaltulose.  A disaccharide derived from sucrose, palatinose is a fully-digestible carbohydrate with a low glycemic index.  It’s considered GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by the FDA, and is increasingly used as an alternative, ”tooth-friendly” sugar in various foods, meal replacement products and sports drinks.

A carnitine derivative with therapeutic applications for cardiovascular disease(s). Human clinical trials indicate propionyl-l-carnitine can improve exercise capacity in patients suffering from peripheral arterial disease. It may also have uses for improving erectile dysfunction and other disorders. One (animal) study also suggests it could be useful for reducing hyperinsulinemia and body weight.

An extract from a type of edible ant (Polyrachis vicina) that’s used in traditional Chinese medicine to enhance virility and fertility, as well as boost the immune system and act as an overall restorative/rejuvenator.  Needless to state, there are no studies to verify this, although dried ant powder is pretty nutritious.  Ant extract is used as an ingredient in certain bodybuilding supplements; it was also used as an ingredient in one novelty energy drink in the UK.