Preliminary Agenda

Subject to change. Click speaker names for bios, where available.

7:30 am CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

8:20–8:30 am
Opening remarks
Steve Mister, CRN President & CEO

8:30–9:20 am
Keynote:
The Enigma of Botanical Dietary Supplements
—Synergy—Can it be Studied?
Norman Farnsworth, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago

Session I: Different perspectives on nutritional supplement research

9:30–10:15 am
Interpreting the results of recent high-profile randomized controlled trials:  
Is nutrient supplementation justified by the science?
J. Michael Gaziano, M.D., M.P.H., Harvard University

In the early-to-mid 1990’s a series of prospective, randomized, controlled trials (RCT) were initiated to confirm beneficial effects of supplemental nutrients observed in earlier epidemiological, in vitro and animal studies. The majority of these trials, now complete and published, have shown no significant benefit on the primary outcomes of interest. This presentation will review some of these trials conducted on B vitamins, and vitamins C and E, and assess, based on these data, whether nutrient supplementation is still justified.

10:15–10:45 am BREAK

10:45–11:30 am
Randomized trials of nutrient supplementation: 
Where to go from here?
Alan R. Kristal, Dr.P.H., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Large RCTs conducted over the past ten or so years appear to refute evidence from observational or small experimental studies suggesting that nutrient supplementation could reduce the risk of chronic disease.  In retrospect, many of the small experimental studies and large RCTs have not been optimally designed to assess nutrient-chronic disease relationships. This presentation will discuss some of the limitations of small experimental studies and recent RCTs, and will provide suggestions for how future intervention studies should be designed to better address the potential of nutritional supplementation for chronic disease prevention.

11:30 am–12:00 pm
Q & A with Session I Presenters
Moderator: Paul Coates, Ph.D., Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH

12:00–1:15 pm LUNCH

Session II: Scientific and methodological issues in dietary supplement research

1:15–2:00 pm
Unique challenges and possible solutions for the scientific evaluation of botanicals and specialty dietary supplements
Joseph M. Betz, Ph.D., Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH

When it comes to assessing their health effects in humans, researchers of botanicals and specialty supplements face challenges that are different from those presented with nutrients. Natural variations in phytochemical content of plants due to growing conditions and other factors combined with heterogeneity of commercial preparations renders research on these products difficult to conduct and results difficult to compare. In addition to the usual research challenges such as assuring the selection of appropriate endpoints and that studies are adequately powered and proper experimental controls are in place, investigators must devote considerable attention to the selection and characterization of the intervention. This presentation will discuss some recent studies, including whether the proper research questions were addressed, and how to create more informative trials in future research.

2:00–2:45 pm
Integrative approach to research:
Overcoming the methodological and evidentiary challenges
Representative of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) —To be announced, invited

2:45–3:00 pm
Q & A with Session II Presenters
Moderator: To be determined

3:00–3:30 pm BREAK

Session III: The responsibility of the practicing physician; interpreting research into practice

3:30–4:15 pm
Nutritional supplements in health maintenance and the management of disease: 
How does one use the evidence, or lack of it?
Dennis Bier, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine

Practitioners are faced with the difficult task of filtering science for their patients. When it comes to diet and health, the complexity of nutrition science, combined with the 24-hour headline-grabbing news cycle and at times unscrupulous marketing tactics makes this filtering process a grueling challenge for time-strapped practitioners.  This presentation will discuss how practitioners should navigate this process amidst less than ideal and often confusing scientific evidence.

4:15–5:00 pm
Interpreting studies: The importance of context and the role of the practitioner
David S. Jones, M.D., President of the Institute for Functional Medicine

The current medical model has failed to stem the rising tide of chronic disease. Clinicians are no longer encouraged to integrate the art and science of medicine and have been taught to quickly gather data on a patient, focus this data into a diagnosis, and use the diagnosis as a guide to the correct prescription or procedure. Clinicians should be encouraged to adopt a more personalized, integrated, and systems-medicine approach that takes into account the existing research, but is not limited to it. A more individualized approach to patient care may be better suited to address the complex nature of individuals living with a chronic disease.

5:00–5:15 pm
Q & A with Session III Presenters
Moderator: To be determined

Dessert Reception

8:00 pm
Linger at the Terranea Resort and enjoy a dessert reception for attendees of both The Workshop and The Conference

Sponsored by:

Speakers

Listed alphabetically, click speaker names for bios, where available.

	Joseph M. Betz, Ph.D. Director, Dietary Supplement Methods and Reference Materials Program Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health
	Dennis M. Bier, M.D. Director, Children's Nutrition Research Center Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
	Paul Coates, Ph.D. Director, Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health
	Norman Farnsworth, Ph.D. Research Professor, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy Director, Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Pharmacy
	J. Michael Gaziano, M.D., M.P.H. Chief, Division of Aging Brigham and Women's Hospital Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
	David S. Jones, M.D. President and Chief Medical Officer, The Institute for Functional Medicine
	Alan R. Kristal, Dr. P.H. Associate Head, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Public Health Sciences Division, Cancer Prevention Professor of Epidemiology, University of Washington, School of Public Health and Community Medicine
	Steve Mister President & CEO, Council for Responsible Nutrition