Role of Antioxidants in Chronic Disease Prevention Dietary Supplement Trade Groups Call for Additional Funding for NIH Research

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Washington, D.C., May 10, 2000—Four dietary supplement trade organizations called upon Congress yesterday to increase funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for additional research behind the science of dietary supplements. In a letter to members of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, Council for Responsible Nutrition, National Nutritional Foods Association and Utah Natural Products Alliance urged members to increase funding to NIH. Specifically, the letter calls for earmarking additional resources for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) Õ both of NIH Õ in order to foster more research and information.

The $12 billion dietary supplement industry is one of the fastest growing in the world. With nearly half of all Americans using some type of dietary supplement, there is no question about the increased public interest by American consumers in the role that dietary supplements play in improved public health.

"With this increase in funding, NIH could be more effective in fulfilling its mission to educate healthcare practitioners and the general public on the benefits and risks of dietary supplements," the letter states. The May 9 letter calls for an increase in funding for NCCAM to $100 million for fiscal year (FY) 2001 (up from $68.7 million in FY 2000), and to double the appropriations for ODS to $10 million in FY 2001. The trade groups say the additional funds will help expand existing NIH programs to:

• Invest in additional scientific and clinically based research, coordinated with other institutes within NIH;
• Educate practitioners and the general public through conferences and meetings;
• Train additional investigators and invest in career development; and
• Publish peer-reviewed fact sheets and compile research literature.

According to the letter, NIH has "the best infrastructure to clinically examine the science of dietary supplements." The trade groups point to work NCCAM and ODS have already embarked upon concerning research on omega-3 fatty acids, St. Johnœs wort, ginkgo biloba, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.

The letter states: "Our associations represent manufacturers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers, all of whom have an abiding interest in the maintenance of health and wellness through proper nutrition and dietary supplements."