USA
FDA Commissioner Gottlieb unveils sweeping plan to revamp supplement regs
The BIG news from the US last week was the statement by FDA Commissioner Dr Scott Gottlieb, MD, about dietary supplements.
In a wide ranging statement, Dr Gottlieb discussed the inception of a public dialogue process this spring to discuss possible changes to DSHEA, launching a Botanical Safety Consortium, and ways to reinvigorate the NDI process.
“[W]e are announcing a new plan for policy advancements with the goal of implementing one of the most significant modernizations of dietary supplement regulation and oversight in more than 25 years,” said Dr Gottlieb in his statement.
The statement also discussed the possibility of a mandatory listing requirement for products, which Dr Gottlieb said could “provide significant benefits by improving transparency in the marketplace and promoting risk-based regulation.
“It could also help facilitate efficient enforcement of the law and establish new mechanisms to identify bad actors who put the public at risk and undermine consumer confidence in the entire industry.”
For more on this, and the industry reaction to the statement, please click HERE.
What are SPINS’ top trends for US dietary supplements in 2019
Trends forecasters at Chicago-based SPINS are predicting that mitochondrial function, better sleep, keto, and CBD are top trends for dietary supplements this year.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network, SPINS director of industry insights Brent Coons and SPINS senior manager of natural insights and innovation research Jessica Hochman presented a range of macro- and micro-trends predicted to dominate the natural products space this year.
Among the macro-trends is mitochondria function, which is linked to increased interest in ketogenic diets. Interest in mitochondrial function will bring interest to “classic supplements by heritage brands,” said Coons, and will revive interest in ingredients like L-carnitine, CoQ10, creatine, alpha lipoic acid, and PQQ.
Another macrotrend is sleep, while micro-trends include wildcrafting, keto-supplements, and CBD, they said. For CBD, Hochman said SPINS was really watching the beverage category.
For more on these trends, please click HERE.
Asia
Researchers to study microbiome in Malaysia's Orang Asli tribes
A new study by researchers at Monash University Malaysia will investigate associations between cultural practices and diet with the gut and oral microbiome in Peninsular Malaysia's indigenous tribes (collectively called Orang Asli).
Microbiome assessment will be performed using kits from uBiome, according to a report in our Asia edition.
There are three main reasons for the study, explained lead researcher Professor Maude Phipps.
1. “In terms of genetics, we know that the Orang Asli comprise three main groups: the Negritos (the last of the hunter-gatherers), Senoi and proto-Malays. Each group can be divided into six sub-groups or tribes,” explained Phipps.
“We know from the work we've done that the Orang Asli are the descendants of the earliest homosapiens out of Africa, so they're very interesting, genetically and historically. Also, they are very under-represented — we hardly know anything about their microbiome, be it in their gut, oral mucosa or nasal cavity.”
2. To detail the environmental differences across the different groups and tribes of indigenous peoples.
3. To assess the impact of such a study on the level of understanding of both the gut and oral microbiome of rural and urban Malaysian populations would be significant.
Europe
French agency updates rules on use of vitamin A in food supplements
The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) has increased the maximum level of vitamin A in food supplements across different population groups.
For the general population, the maximum level of vitamin A (as Retinol equivalent (RE)) permitted for food supplements increases from 800 micrograms (μg) RE to 1000 μg RE. However, this is not recommended for pregnant or menopausal women.
Vitamin A levels for food supplements recommended for children 10 years old or younger are set at 200 μg RE. Children over 10 years old are set a maximum recommended level of 500 μg RE.
For more on this, please click HERE.