ODS Conferences and Workshops

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2010

Probiotic Foods and Supplements: The Science and Regulations of Labeling
June 12, 2010
The goals of this symposium are to facilitate the exchange of ideas regarding labeling and substantiation of claims for probiotics among academic, industry and regulatory professionals and to discuss ways to translate and communicate research results in an understandable way to the consumer and to health professionals. Target audience includes academicians interested in conducting research on health benefits of probiotics; scientists, communications experts and regulatory specialists from companies involved in, or interested in, marketing of probiotics; US government regulatory experts tasked with oversight of probiotic foods and dietary supplement products; other experts in the field interested in the development of probiotics for the US market. This symposium is supported by the New York Academy of Sciences, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements, the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Economic Analysis of Nutrition Interventions: Methods, Research, and Policy
February 23–24, 2010
The workshop consisted of three half-day sessions which covered the key areas identified above. Sessions featured focused podium presentations, with each session concluding with a panel discussion. Products of the workshop include a summary of the discussions, identification of knowledge gaps, and suggestions for future research initiatives.
- Workshop Proceedings Summary
- Agenda and Presentation PDFs

2009

Vitamin D Biomarkers Methods Workshop
December 16, 2009
ODS is sponsoring the Nutrient Biomarkers Analytical Methodology: Vitamin D Workshop. The workshop will consist of a series of short, focused podium presentations interspersed with open discussion sessions on the currently available analytical methods and interpretation of findings. A final session will summarize the discussions, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest a research agenda for future studies.
Soy Protein and Isoflavones Research: Challenges in Designing and Evaluating Intervention Studies
July 28–29, 2009
The purpose of this workshop is to provide guidance for the next generation of soy protein and isoflavone human research. Specifically, the workshop objectives are to identify (1) methodological issues relative to exposures and interventions that may confound study results and interpretation and (2) scientifically sound and useful options and solutions for dealing with these issues in the design, conduct, reporting of results, and interpretation of ongoing and future studies.
- Workshop Guidance J Nutr. 2010 Jun;140(6):1192S-1204S.
NIDA-ODS Symposium: Caffeine: Is the Next Problem Already Brewing?
July 7–8, 2009
7th International Conference on Diet and Activity Methods
June 5–7, 2009
ICDAM is an international conference devoted to improving methods and measures for both diet and physical activity. All surveillance studies monitoring diet or physical activity, and all epidemiologic studies examining those factors in relation to health, depend on the strength of the assessment methods. The conference is co-sponsored by the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, the National Cancer Institute Applied Research Program, Active Living Research and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
8th Annual Oxford International Conference on the Science of Botanicals
April 6–9, 2009
This conference is supported by a cooperative agreement between the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica/CAS, China, The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR, India), American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) and the Society for Medicinal Plant Research (GA). Its purpose is to review, discuss, and explore the confluence of current research topics in natural product chemistry, pharmacognosy and botanicals. Topic areas will include such issues as authentication, cultivation, collection, and post-harvest practices for producing quality plant material, and chemical, toxicological methods for quality/safety assessment of botanicals.
Dietary Supplement Element Methodology Workshop
March 23–24, 2009
The purpose of this workshop was to evaluate the state of analytical methods for nutrient and non-nutrient minerals (including toxic elements) in dietary supplement products and to identify gaps in methodology, with a view toward designing a research program to fill the unmet methods needs of stakeholders.

2008

Vitamin Methodology Workshop
July 7–9, 2008
The purpose of this workshop was to evaluate the state of analytical methodology on vitamins suitable for dietary supplements and identify gaps in the analytical science for the purpose of meeting future methods needs of stakeholders.
ODS Dietary Supplement Research Practicum 2008, June 9 - 13 at NIH
June 9–13, 2008
Vitamin D and Health in the 21st Century: Research Needs and Tools for Researchers
April 8, 2008
Microscopic Identification and Characterization of Botanicals and Plant Materials
March 10–14, 2008
This is an intensive five day course with an approximately equal mixture of lecture and hands on training. At the end of the course the student should be able to write a brief monograph identifying the different cell types present in the sample and use the web to gather additional information on plant taxonomy.

2007

Analytical Methods and Reference Materials Program Stakeholders' Meeting
September 10, 2007
The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health is announcing a public meeting to solicit comments that will assist the ODS with the continued implementation of an overall strategy for research, development, validation, and dissemination of analytical methods and standard reference materials for dietary supplement ingredients. This meeting will be held Monday, September 10, 2007 in the Lister Hill Auditorium on the NIH Campus in Bethesda, Maryland 20892. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will be open to the public.
Vitamin D and Health in the 21st Century
September 5–6, 2007
This conference seeks to evaluate available evidence on the efficacy and safety of vitamin D, identify gaps in knowledge on the efficacy and safety of vitamin D in general and across the life cycle, inform NIH and other Federal Agencies on research priorities in the area of vitamin D and health, and disseminate the conference proceedings and executive summary to inform the broader nutrition community.
- Conference Proceedings
- NIH News Release
Black Cohosh Safety Workshop
June 28, 2007
The workshop was a follow-up to the November 22, 2004 Black Cohosh workshop convened by NCCAM and ODS. The purpose of the second workshop in 2007 was to update and improve our understanding of the safety issues surrounding this botanical. The workshop provided brief overviews of the pre-clinical and clinical research that have been performed and published over the thirty months that have passed since the last workshop. Academic and industrial scientists presented results of their studies on the species. Regulatory scientists from countries that have recently addressed the marketing of black cohosh were asked to explain their stances and presented the clinical data that are the basis of policy changes, if any.
- Workshop Summary Nutrition Today. 44(4): 155-162, July/August 2009.
The Science of Botanical Supplements for Human Health: A View from the NIH Botanical Research Center Program
April 28, 2007
At this workshop taking place at the 2007 Experimental Biology Meeting, scientists from all six Botanical Research Centers funded by ODS and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), will discuss a spectrum of research activities ranging from plant identification to clinical investigation. Investigators will share strategies used in standardizing botanicals as research materials, applying newer technologies to botanicals research, and assessing efficacy of botanical preparations in early phase clinical trials. The goal of the centers is to advance the scientific base of knowledge about botanicals, including issues of their safety, efficacy, and biological action. Registration for the 2007 Experimental Biology Meeting is required for attendance at this workshop.

2006

What You Need to Know About Multivitamin and Mineral Supplements, FNCE 2006
September 17, 2006
The purpose of this session was two-fold: 1) to provide information on the state-of-the-science on the associations between use of multivitamin and mineral supplements with chronic disease risk in adults. In addition, to review the findings of a systematic evidence-based review commissioned by NIH on this topic, and the implications for dietetic practice; and 2) provide findings from recent nationwide (NHANES) population-based surveys of total dietary intakes of children and adolescents, including dietary supplement use; and to summarize implications for dietitians in the planning and assessment of dietary intakes.
5th Oxford International Conference on the Science of Botanicals
August 21–24, 2006
This conference is supported by a cooperative agreement between the NCNPR and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR, India). Its purpose is to review, discuss, and explore methods for determining the identity, purity, quality, and processing of plants, commonly known as botanicals. Topic areas will include such issues as authentication, cultivation, collection, and post-harvest practices for producing quality plant material, and chemical, toxicological methods for quality/safety assessment.
47th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pharmacognosy: Natural Products On Target
August 5–9, 2006
The following are the topics of the symposia that were presented at this meeting: 1) Synthetic and Biosynthetic Paths to Natural Products; 2) Clinical Evaluation of Herbs and Supplements: Trials, Toxicology and Drug Interactions; 3) Chemical Biology of Natural Products I: Molecular Targets; and Chemical Biology of Natural Products II: Molecular Methods.
North American Research Conference on Complementary & Integrative Medicine
May 24–27, 2006
The North American Research Conference on Complementary & Integrative Medicine will showcase original scientific research through keynote and plenary presentations, oral and poster presentations, and innovative interactive sessions. Presentations will include research in basic science, clinical studies, methodology, health services, and education.
NIH State-of-the-Science Conference on Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements and Chronic Disease Prevention
May 15–17, 2006
It is estimated that more than one-third of American adults take multivitamin/mineral (MVM) supplements regularly. Recommendations regarding supplement use from expert groups vary widely, as does the strength of the evidence supporting such guidelines. The goal of this conference is to assess the evidence available on MVM use and outcomes for chronic disease prevention in adults, and to make recommendations for future research.
- Conference Statement
Zinc, Alcohol, and the Immune System
May 11, 2006
The purpose of the workshop is to review the scientific evidence that 1.) Alcohol abuse and zinc depletion undermine the immune system thereby increasing susceptibility to infection, 2.) Alcohol abuse and zinc depletion increase oxidative stress, and in this way cause tissue injury, 3.) The mechanism of zinc action is through its possible restorative effects on the immune system and/or antioxidant pathways, 4.) Zinc deficiency is a risk factor for alcohol-induced liver injury, and 5.) Consumption of zinc is a safe and effective means of affording protection from alcohol-induced tissue injury. Based on an assessment of the state-of-the-science, the panel will identify gaps in our knowledge and make recommendations for targeted initiatives in basic and translational research.
Biological/Environmental Reference Materials Symposium
April 30 – May 4, 2006
The Tenth International Symposium on Biological and Environmental Reference Materials, BERM 10, was held in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, from April 30 to May 4, 2006. As a continuation of the symposium series, held alternately in the European Union and the United States of America since 1983, BERM 10 is intended to be a forum to address issues related to the development of biological and environmental reference materials and their role in the quality assurance of analytical measurements.

2005

Why, When, What, and How of Clinical Trials: Educational Sessions
November 9, 2005
With growing recognition of the importance of conducting clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements, the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) was invited to organize three educational sessions at the November 2005 SupplySide West International Trade Show and Conference. The sessions featured scientists from academic and government who spoke on the value of conducting clinical trials, designing trials to test hypotheses, appropriate selection of test materials and study subjects, and interpreting study findings, and funding clinical trials.
Dietary Supplement Use in the USA: Who's Using What and Why
October 24, 2005
Dietary supplement use is so pervasive in the United States today that it is becoming impossible to obtain estimates of total nutrient intakes without accounting for them. This session at the 2005 American Dietetic Association's Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo presented current data on, why people use dietary supplements, how to collect and assess information about them, and some authoritative resources that dietitians can use.
Workshop on Diet, Nutrition, and Dietary Supplement Use in Autism: Evaluation of the Evidence
October 6, 2005
The workshop will focus on providing NIH with an overview of the current state of the science on dietary supplements and related interventions in managing autism. In addition, the workshop will identify the specific scientific questions that can be addressed concerning research needs and opportunities and will provide NIH with examples of investigating the role of dietary supplements in management of ASD.
Role of Betaine in the Treatment of Alcoholic Liver Disease
October 3, 2005
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the Office of Dietary Supplements, and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine are sponsoring a 1-day symposium to explore the role of betaine in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease.
- Symposium Summary AJCN 2007 Jul;86(1):14-24.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and their Role in Cardiac Arrhythmogenesis Workshop
August 29–30, 2005
The major goals for this workshop are to: (1) review the epidemiological evidence and the data from randomized trials on the role of omega-3 fatty acids in susceptibility to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death; (2) explore the basic mechanisms by which omega-3 fatty acids affect cardiac excitability at the cellular and organ level; (3) identify the gaps and barriers in our basic understanding of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiac electrical activity at the cellular, tissue, and whole body levels; and (4) provide prioritized recommendations for additional research studies to (a) better understand the basic mechanisms coupling omega-3 fatty acids to cardiac electrical activity and (b) facilitate translation of this knowledge to the treatment and prevention of cardiac arrhythmias.
- Conference Proceedings (PDF, 5.8MB)
- Executive Summary (PDF, 32kB)
Use and Misuse of Biomarkers as Indicators of Cancer Risk Reduction Following Dietary Manipulation
July 12–13, 2005
The purpose of this workshop is to provide the scientific community and the lay public a general background of what is ongoing in biomarker validation in general and to mention what is needed in particular. The conference goals are to review and discuss the criteria for surrogate endpoints for cancer risk, identify biomarkers that are influenced by diet and determine their relationship to cancer risk and tumor behavior, and explore emerging biomarkers for their relevance to nutrition and cancer prevention.
Bioactive Food Components Meetings
March 24 – April 1, 2005
The Office of Dietary Supplements and other interested parties in the federal government are exploring approaches to evaluate the significance of bioactive food components in health promotion and disease prevention. These meetings will focus on existing and new approaches to assessing health effects and the suitability of these approaches to assessing the health effects of bioactive food components.
An NIH Conference on Dietary Supplements, Coagulation, and Antithrombotic Therapies
January 13–14, 2005
NHLBI, ODS, and other cosponsors are convening a national conference to increase our understanding of the potential for dietary supplements to interfere with hemostasis and antithrombotic therapies.

2004

Carnitine: the science behind a conditionally essential nutrient
March 25–26, 2004
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Office of Dietary Supplements are sponsoring a 2-day conference to address topics related to Carnitine.
- Conference Proceedings Ann NY Acad Sci. 2004 Nov;1033:1-197.