Daniel Schatzman

When FONA International Inc. (Geneva, IL) decided in 1999 to upgrade its corporate headquarters and research and development facility in Carol Stream, IL, the company had big plans. FONA’s plans were so big, in fact, that the site of its original facility was too small. Hoping to find a new location that could accommodate all of the upgrade’s planned improvements, FONA vice president of operations Terry Emmel reviewed 180 different buildings. About a third of the way into the process, he concluded that FONA would need to create the new building from scratch.

Digestive health is now on the radar of the federal government. In September, National Institutes of Health (NIH; Bethesda, MD) director Elias Zerhouni, MD, announced that the newly formed National Commission on Digestive Diseases is ready to assess state-of-the art science to address the needs of gastroenterologists and their patients.

In many respects, 2005 is beginning to look a lot like 2004. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Rockville, MD) is still promising the “imminent” publication of good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for dietary supplements.

The year 2005 could turn out to be a tipping point for the immune-enhancer category. Although new research has shown several natural ingredients to be helpful, other studies suggest that some products may be ineffective.

This summer, two events could have a big impact on the dietary supplement industry at home and abroad. The first is that the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Rome) is likely to approve new guidelines for vitamin and mineral food supplements. The second is that the European Court of Justice (Luxembourg) is expected to rule on the validity of the European Union’s (EU) Food Supplements Directive.

Recent natural products research suggests that ingredients derived from common foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains, may have beneficial effects on heart health. While scientists need to complete more research before they can have an accurate picture of how effective these ingredients are, excitement is building among consumers and manufacturers.

Two new studies are shedding some light on how omega-3s affect the developing nervous system. These studies, along with many others, are part of a growing body of evidence suggesting that the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) provide significant benefits to the eyes and brain.

While the ban did eliminate a top-selling ingredient, in the long run it may have ended up helping, rather than hurting, the industry. As manufacturers have backed away from stimulant-based approaches to weight loss, other ingredients have rushed in to fill the void. Moreover, manufacturers are now asking for more clinical and safety data.

In October, a skeptical American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG; Washington, DC) task force issued a new set of HRT guidelines for women-guidelines that do not recommend botanicals. According to the ACOG, “Few nutritional supplements have been rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness.”

With the expected release of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA; Rockville, MD) good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for dietary supplements just months away, some companies are still struggling with the new regulations.

Soy foods have come a long way since the early days of tofu and meat substitutes. In the past few years, food technologists have become adept at devising new applications for soy and have expanded the array of choices available to consumers.

The future looks encouraging for antioxidant research, despite some new articles that questioned the effectiveness of antioxidant supplements.

Vitamin and mineral supplement manufacturers are adding more ingredients to multivitamin formulas than ever before.

The herbal product category has had a difficult year. First came the ephedra ban. Then came new studies questioning the efficacy of several common extracts. And in case you missed those items, there was also the article on 'dangerous supplements still at large' in the May issue of Consumer Reports.Despite the steady stream of bad news, manufacturers are optimistic that the category will survive, and even prosper, in the years ahead.