Conference on Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements to be Held May 15-17

The National Institutes of Health convened a 3-day state-of-the-science conference titled Multivitamin/Mineral [MVM] Supplements and Chronic Disease Prevention on May 15-17 in the Natcher Auditorium on its main Bethesda campus. Sponsored by ODS and the Office of Medical Applications of Research, the conference assessed the evidence available on the use of MVMs and outcomes for chronic disease prevention in adults and make recommendations for future research.

Specifically, the conference explored the following key questions:

• What are the current patterns and prevalence of the public's use of MVM supplements?
• What is known about the dietary nutrient intake of MVM users versus non-users?
• What is the efficacy of single vitamin/mineral supplement use in chronic disease prevention?
• What is the efficacy of MVM in chronic disease prevention in the general population of adults?
• What is known about the safety of MVM for the generally healthy population?
• What are the major knowledge gaps and research opportunities regarding MVM use?

The first two days of the conference consisted of presentations by experts in the field as well as public discussions. On day three, an impartial, independent panel of scientists presented a draft statement of its collective assessment of the evidence to answer the questions above. By that time, the panel had reviewed the published literature, including a systematic literature review commissioned through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. A final statement was released approximately one month after the conference.

Go to http://consensus.nih.gov/2006/2006MultivitaminMineralSOS028main.htm to obtain further information about the conference.

Value of Berries and B Vitamins for Neurodegenerative Disorders is Inconclusive, New Review Concludes

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are the two most common age-related neurodegenerative disorders. They and other disorders of the nervous system account for more long-term care, chronic suffering, and diminished quality of life than all other disorders combined.

A new evidence review by the federal government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) systematically examined research to assess the effects, associations, mechanisms of action, and safety B vitamins and, separately, berries and their constituents to prevent and treat neurocognitive disorders. AHRQ evaluated human, animal, and in vitro studies on specific B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12, and folate) as well as a dozen types of berries (such as blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries) and their constituents (e.g., tannins, anthocyanins, and phenolics). It found 85 human studies and 17 animal or in vitro studies pertinent to B vitamins, but only 1 human study and 18 animal and in vitro studies relevant to berries.

Overall, the research base is inadequate to judge whether B vitamins or berries may be of value in disorders of the brain. The majority of human studies were of poor quality; most used cross-sectional designs that, for example, failed to adjust for potential confounders and were not standardized for B-vitamin measurement techniques and tests of cognitive function. Animal studies typically failed to use well-established models for neurocognitive disorders and instead used severely vitamin-deficient rodents. And almost all the studies of berries have been performed in a single laboratory.

B Vitamins and Berries and Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disorders was prepared by the Tufts-New England Medical Center's Evidence-based Practice Center in Boston under AHRQ's sponsorship. ODS co-funded this effort together with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). To access the full report, go to http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/berrytp.htm.

Dr. Joseph Betz Receives Botanical Research Award

We're happy to report that ODS's Joseph M. Betz, PhD, is the first recipient of the Norman R. Farnsworth Botanical Research Award, given by the American Botanical Council, to honor "outstanding effort" that has advanced the knowledge of medicinal plants and natural products. We'll quote from the award announcement because it cogently describes Joe's work and its importance to better research on botanical dietary supplements and the manufacture of high-quality products.

"One of the major challenges facing medicinal plant scientists, health professionals, health writers, and members of industry, is how to interpret information in the scientific and medical literature related to herbs and medicinal plant preparations. All too often, published papers fail to accurately and adequately identify the botanical material used in a study or referenced in a case report. In addition, within the herb industry, determining the proper identity and qualities of botanical materials is of primary importance in issues of quality control, good manufacturing practices, herb safety and clinical efficacy. In order to help ensure proper identity, validated analytical methods must be established for each botanical and/or botanical preparation. This has been one of the primary areas of concern in the herb industry for over a decade.

"Dr. Joseph M. Betz stands out as a leader in this field... [A]t the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), he helped establish the framework for the development of validating the analytical methods to be used for botanicals. Now in his role at the Office of Dietary Supplements, where he is the Director of the Dietary Supplements [Analytical] Methods and Reference Materials Program, he is the point man in the government's attempts to foster and fund efforts to validate analytical methods and reference materials so that the analyses used by various parties are accurate, consistent and meaningful. Dr. Betz, a pharmacognosist by training, and a man committed to scientific research on medicinal plants, is eminently qualified and most deserving for this award."

The award is named for Norman R. Farnsworth, PhD, the world renowned medicinal plant scientist, who is a professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. There he directs the ODS-funded Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research in Women's Health. The American Botanical Council is a nonprofit, international organization that educates professionals, consumers, and the media on the safe and effective use of herbs and botanical supplements.

International Model for Nutrient Risk Assessment Established

People around the world have increased their intake of nutrient substances by eating more fortified and functional foods as well as by taking dietary supplements. In turn, there has been growing interest on an international level to determine levels of intake that may pose risk.

On May 2-6, 2005, a scientific workshop convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization of the United Nations met in Geneva, Switzerland to develop a model for nutrient risk assessment. The model combines information from dietary intake assessments with information from hazard identification and characterization to carry out risk characterization. The process is preceded by a problem formulation step.

The workshop report includes a complete description of the model and is available online at http://www.who.int/ipcs/highlights/ nutrientproject_may18/en/index.html. ODS provided some financial support for the workshop. Dr. Elizabeth Yetley, ODS Senior Nutrition Research Scientist, participated in the workshop.