The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) announces the release of the 2005 issue of the
Annual Bibliography of Significant Advances in Dietary Supplement
Research. This seventh issue of the Bibliography includes abstracts
of 25 noteworthy dietary supplement research papers published in
2005, as judged by an international team of reviewers.
Compared with previous issues of the Bibliography, this issue
has more papers testing the efficacy of commercially available
products against their marketed claims. The 2005 Bibliography also
includes papers on the efficacy of botanicals, effects of B-vitamins,
calcium, and vitamin D on fractures, interaction of mineral supplementation
on mineral status, and the effects of vitamin E on cardiovascular
disease. Each of the 25 papers reports a study result that is of
importance to the field of supplement research, as it describes
mechanisms by which supplements act to create a health effect or
provides a better understanding of the health effects in individuals.
The Bibliography is part of the ongoing commitment by the Office
to meet the information needs of a wide variety of audiences on
the subject of dietary supplements. "Each year, the bibliography
provides a snapshot of key scientific research published in the
field." said Paul M. Coates, Ph.D., director of ODS. "It is important
to remember that the entire collection of scientific literature
on a particular topic, not the results of a single study, must
be considered when making research or health care recommendations."
In their introduction to the 2005 Bibliography, the editors highlight
the need for researchers to better characterize test materials
used in research. "Even though the best work in the field is highlighted
in the bibliography, there were several methodological issues with
the studies. But these issues are not unique to dietary supplement
research," said Rebecca B. Costello, Ph.D., co-editor of the Annual
Bibliography.
"Researchers need to sufficiently describe the supplements being
tested in their studies, as this enables other scientists in the
field to duplicate the study findings," said Leila Saldanha, Ph.D.,
R.D., co-editor of the Annual Bibliography. To assist authors and
editors working in the area of natural products research, ODS has
compiled this list of valuable resources that can be accessed through
its website: http://ods.od.nih.gov/Research/ProductQualityResources.aspx.
Of more than one thousand papers that were considered from 58
peer-reviewed journals, 261 were sent for evaluation to an international
team of 50 scientific reviewers. The selection of the 25 papers
to be included in the Bibliography was based on the rankings of
these scientists, who are recognized experts in the fields of nutrition,
botanical sciences, and public health.
This year's issue was released September 17, 2006 at the Food & Nutrition
Conference & Expo of the American Dietetic Association.
Copies of the Annual Bibliography of Significant Advances in Dietary
Supplement Research 2005 may be downloaded from the ODS website
at http://ods.od.nih.gov/Research/Annual_Bibliographies.aspx.
Copies may also be requested by e-mail (ods@nih.gov), or by writing
to the Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health,
6100 Executive Blvd., Rm. 3B01, MSC 7517, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7517,
USA.
The mission of the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) is
to strengthen knowledge and understanding of dietary supplements
by evaluating scientific information, stimulating and supporting
research, disseminating research results, and educating the public
to foster an enhanced quality of life and health for the U.S. population.
For additional information about ODS, visit http://ods.od.nih.gov.
The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible
for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers.
This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and
activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also
includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific
areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available
at http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's
Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and
Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting
and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research,
and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both
common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and
its programs, visit www.nih.gov.