Significant Advances in Dietary Supplement Research Released in Annual Bibliography (2005)

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.

Contact Information

Kelli Marciel

Office of the Director (OD)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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