CDC Launches Nutrition, Health Project

ATLANTA--The CDC Foundation, a non-profit enterprise associated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), established a $3.5 million program at the CDC to conduct data analysis and educational activities focused on the potential use of dietary supplements to address specific nutritional needs. The program's top priorities are expanding educational efforts related to folic acid intake and birth defects, and examining the nutrient status of an obese and dieting population. Wyeth Consumer Healthcare is the lead financial supporter of the project, with additional contributions from BASF Corp. and DSM Nutritional Products.

The Optimal Nutrition and Long-Term Health Project will first launch a communications campaign to women of childbearing age, highlighting the benefits of folic acid from a multivitamin in preventing birth defects. The group plans to work with several outside organizations and through medical practitioners, including obstetricians and gynecologists. Following this phase, the CDC (www.cdc.gov) will examine the nutrient status of obese, overweight and dieting individuals.

"Using existing data gathered from two national studies, we will look at overall micronutrient status relative to body mass index, dieting practices and supplement use," said William Dietz, M.D., Ph.D., director of CDC's division of nutrition and physical activity. "This analysis will provide important information about a growing subgroup of the population and their nutrient needs as they try to control their weight."

Dietz's team will also look at patterns of supplement use and attitudes about dietary supplements to identify factors that may impact messages about supplementation. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal for dissemination to the scientific community.

Charles Stokes, president and chief executive officer of the CDC Foundation, said the organization was appreciative of the funding provided by Wyeth, BASF and DSM to launch the program. "This support will allow us to bring together experts from different centers at CDC as well as from other non-profit groups to explore issues around supplementation and optimal nutrition," he said. "This collaboration is really the first of its kind for the CDC Foundation and can serve as a model for future projects that help CDC further its mission."