U.S. Agencies Launch Supplement Label and Ingredient Database

SECAUCUS, N.J.—A federally funded database of dietary supplement brands, manufacturers and ingredients is now available to the public through a collaborative effort by the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, the National Library of Medicine, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Termed the Dietary Supplement Labels Database, the project includes information about more than 3,000 brands of dietary supplements, including ingredients in the products and information about the brand manufacturer. The database is available at http://dietarysupplements.nlm.nih.gov/dietary/index.jsp.

For each product the database lists the label contents including ingredients, suggested use, warnings, claims and contact information, and also provides links to background information on the ingredients themselves.

As part of the program launch, a panel of agency representatives and project leaders will speak at the upcoming SupplySide East trade show and conference April 27 to 29 in Secaucus, N.J. The panel will demonstrate the database and its uses, and show specific information about ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamin K, flavonoids and isoflavones. The panel will also present the results of nationwide study of adult usage of multivitamin/mineral products. Representatives from all three collaborating agencies will speak.

The session is set for April 27, 3 to 3:50pm, and is part of a 4-track, 30-session education program. Details are available at www.supplysideshow.com/east.