Meeting News:
-AAPS Dietary Supplements Forum Examines Science
Behind Nutraceuticals

Leaders of scientific associations and scientists from nutraceutical companies, universities and government agencies gathered 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, 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 was held at the International Trade Center in The Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, in Washington, D.C. Discussion topics included: 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 discussed during the workshop:
· "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 explored 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 who use products recommended by friends or family
-Experienced users who are educated, enjoy a high income and know how to prepare teas, combine and dose herbal remedies, etc.
-Traditional users which 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 adressed the issue of shelf-life testing for dietary supplements.
At the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Dietary Supplements Forum, a scientist warned consumers that reading labels and comparing prices are not the best means to determine a dietary supplement's efficacy and potential side effects. Larry Augsburger, Ph.D., immediate past president of AAPS, chair of the meeting and professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, stressed that consumers need to engage in critical pre-purchase research on any dietary supplement they wish
to purchase.
"Currently consumers have no clear basis for determining product quality," said Augsburger.
"In fact, a product testing industry has evolved that has the potential to prey on consumers by selling a "seal of approval" that may or may not
be meaningful. Until government or industry
standards are put into place, consumers must take it upon themselves to learn the nuances of dietary supplements and to protect themselves from potential dangers, not to mention from wasting their money on less-than-efficacious products." Augsburger recommends that consumers know the answers to these questions:
· Could the product interact negatively with
prescription medications you may be taking? Case in point, a highly marketed energy bar for women does not warn against excessive doses of Vitamin-K that could interfere with certain blood clotting medications.
· Is the product absorbable in its purchased form? People assume that anything in a
capsule or pill gets absorbed into the body. The fact is, substances added to herbs or botanicals to create the capsule or pill can affect their ability to be absorbed. For example, in a recent study, two out of nine commercial Melatonin products did not disintegrate after more than 20 hours.
· Are there additional warnings or cautions about the category of dietary supplements that the manufacturer chose to omit? For example, a popular over-the-counter memory concentrate containing ginkgo biloba has potential drug interactions with medicines that prevent blood-clotting, yet the label has
no warnings.
Another suggestion is that consumers only use products cited in successful clinical trials. Interested parties can obtain this information by reviewing original studies via internet or by
contacting the studyís author.
Augsburger also cautioned consumers against choosing products based solely on price: there are no hard and fast rules that link price with quality or lack of quality. Several independent organizations exist with the purpose of insuring quality and consistency in dietary supplements. The
following may be helpful to consumers serious about researching popular over-the-counter dietary supplements:

· Consumerlabs.com
· Quackwatch.com
· Local poison control centers
· Local universities with pharmacy schools
· Local pharmacists

Organizations participating in the AAPS Dietary Supplements Forum included: AAPS, Council for Responsible Nutrition, American Nutraceutical Association, US Pharmacopeia, FDA, NIH, Consumer and Healthcare Products Association, American Herbal Products Association and various universities and pharmaceutical companies.