AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENTISTS DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS FORUM EXAMINES SCIENCE BEHIND NUTRACEUTICALS
Arlington, VA -- June 12, 2000 --Leaders of scientific associations
and scientists from nutraceutical companies, universities and government agencies
will gather at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)
Dietary Supplements Forum: Exploring the Science of Nutraceuticals, June
28-30, 2000 to discuss the burgeoning field of nutraceuticals. Experts,
many whom may have opposing views on issues like regulation and standardization,
will set aside their differences to examine breakthrough scientific research
that will eventually lead to --
- improved dietary supplement quality and
consistency
- a reduction in the misuse and distribution of
fraudulent products
- increased consumer confidence in herbal remedies
The forum will be held at the International Trade Center in The Ronald Reagan
Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, in Washington, D.C. Discussion topics
include understanding Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, promoting
consistency in testing botanicals, and overcoming the challenge of communicating
information on supplements to consumers.
The following summarizes some specific case studies to be discussed:
When Active Ingredients Become Inactive Ingredients -- Is the teabag you.
re using to deliver an herbal remedy really the most effective delivery
system? The AAPS Forum explores how different forms of delivery (i.e., capsules,
tea bag, energy bar, powder, etc.) determine the effectiveness of nutraceuticals.
Ethnic Differences in Herbal Supplements Use -- According to professors
at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, minorities lead the country in use
of herbal remedies. Elderly Hispanic women are most likely to use such healing
practices, and in fact, many grow their own herbs rather than purchase pre-packaged
nutraceuticals.
Demographics of Nutraceutical Users -- Based on a 1998 JAMA study,
researchers at The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy conclude there are three
types of people who use nutraceuticals:
- Inexperienced Users -- uses products
recommended by friends or family
- Experienced Users - educated, enjoys a high
income and knows how to prepare teas, combine and dose herbal
remedies, etc.
- Traditional Users -- affects a large portion of the Hispanic market and
includes those who base usage on traditions passed on from generation to
generation.
Can Vitamins or Herbal Remedies Lose Their Efficacy? -- They
can, but consumers don. t know when products expire because the FDA
does not require expiration dates for dietary supplements. So how do
consumers know when products have lost their potency? Do botanicals
react differently in hot, cold, humid, or dry environments? A professor
at the University of Minnesota will address the issue of shelf life
testing for dietary supplements.
Organizations participating in the forum include: Council for Responsible
Nutrition, American Nutraceutical Association, US Pharmacopeia, FDA,
Consumer and Healthcare Products Association, American Herbal Products
Association, and various universities and pharmaceutical companies.
AAPS is a professional, scientific society of more than 10,000 members employed
in academia, industry, government and other research institutes worldwide.
Founded in 1986, AAPS aims to advance science through the open exchange
of scientific knowledge, serve as an information resource, and contribute
to human health through pharmaceutical research and development. For more
information about AAPS, visit AAPS Online at www.aaps.org.
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Editor's Note: For more information on the AAPS Dietary Supplements
Forum, contact Marie Bertot (bertot@nixongroup.com)
at 305-573-9955, ext. 210. During the forum, contact Lisa Mozloom at 305-528-5341.
For complete up-to-date meeting information, visit www.aaps.org/edumeet/ds/index.html.
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