ERNA Releases Vitamin Fact Book

BRUSSELSThe European Responsible Nutrition Alliance (ERNA) offers a comprehensive overview of vitamins, minerals and other food components, including food sources, recommended intakes and safety in its recently published fact book. The book Facts about Vitamins, Minerals and Other Food Components with Health Effects" was developed to provide an overview of information available in scientific literature and to correct misapprehensions.

The book discusess vitamins (A, B, C, D, E and folate); minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium and zinc); carotenoids (beta carotene, lycopene and lutein); and a number of bioactive substances, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), conjugated linoleic acid, L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10 (coQ10) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

Advances in research and technology means that the health-promoting benefits of these substances can be captured and presented in a convenient form that is widely available," said Patrick Coppens, secretary general of ERNA. The fact book was developed in light of the expansion of the Food Supplement Directive and in support of the vast array of scientific studies showing the beneficial role of vitamins, minerals and other substances for the maintenance and improvement of health."

ERNA was formed to work toward a common European approach to food supplements reflecting the interests of both consumers and the industry.  Made up of major European food supplement manufacturers and suppliers, it works with industry, consumer and regulatory bodies to ensure a future European market with a range of safe, quality products that reflect the latest in supplementation research.

In 2008, ERNA added scientific fact sheets about L-carnitine, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), CoQ10 and essential fatty acids (EFAs) to its roster of available information on bioactives available in the European market.