Leila G Saldanha | PubMed Health

PubMed2005

Introduction to and perspectives from the Symposium on Nutrient Disease Relationships: closing the scientific knowledge gap.

The U.S. Congress through the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 authorized the use of health claims on food labels. These claims describe the relationship between a substance and a disease or health-related condition. In addition, Congress directed the U.S. FDA to apply a significant scientific agreement standard in approving these claims. Since 1990, the FDA has approved several health claims, but has also denied claims that did not meet this standard. The purpose of The Nutrient Disease Relationships: Closing the Scientific Knowledge Gap symposium was to provide researchers with perspectives to keep in mind when designing studies that examine the relationship between a nutrient and a disease or health-related condition, to help close the scientific knowledge gap for nutrient-disease relationships of scientific, consumer, and public health interest.

Health Education↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Development of the analytical methods and reference materials program for dietary supplements at the National Institutes of Health.

The need for validated analytical methods and reference materials to identify and measure constituents in dietary supplements is essential. Such methods allow for the documentation that products meet manufacturer's specifications and contain what their labels declare. In March 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a proposed rule that would establish specific current good manufacturing practices for dietary supplements. This proposed rule requires that companies create a quality control unit to set specifications and ensure compliance with these specifications using scientifically valid procedures. This report provides insights and lessons learned from 3 meetings the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health helped organize. These meetings were structured to (1) educate individuals about the importance and need for validated analytical methods and reference materials to identify and quantify constituents of dietary supplements; (2) identify resources required to fulfill this need; and (3) serve as a platform to obtain input from interested parties to help frame the research agenda for the Dietary Supplements Methods and Reference Materials Program within ODS. Stakeholder's opinions and views expressed at these 3 meetings are outlined in this report.

Dietary Supplements↗