2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The NDL will provide scientific and technical expertise for acquisition, evaluation & compilation of composition data for foods and dietary supplements. NDL will develop & implement appropriate sampling strategies, define & direct the analytical program & evaluate quality of data received. Data generated will be disseminated at regular intervals by using electronic media. NDL will provide supervision of scientists, administrative support, space and additional personnel to carry out this program. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) NDL will continue to expand and improve the databases for as many as 100 components in foods and dietary supplements to assure the representativeness & timeliness of those values. Under the comprehensive National Food & Dietary Supplement Analysis Program data for traditional components will be updated while data for emerging components will be added. These will include individual flavonoids, selenium & specific forms of Vitamin E and D and individual fatty acids. Data will be obtained through USDA-directed contracts with commercial labs & collaborative agreements with Universities and other government labs. Labs will be selected in a competitive process according their use of valid methods and quality control procedures for individual components. Research concerning the variability of nutrients in specific foods and dietary supplements will be initiated. Efforts will continue to determine the appropriate methods of data dissemination in keeping with rapidly changing computer and internet technology. 3.Progress Report This report documents research conducted under a Reimbursable Agreement between ARS and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Additional details of research can be found in the report for the in-house associated project 1235-52000-051-00D, "Development of Accurate and Representative Food Composition Data for the U.S. Food Supply." This research is conducted under the National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program (NFNAP). During 2007, over 500 samples representing 10 food items were sent to laboratories for specific nutrient analyses, monitored by rigorous quality control procedures. Nutrient Data Laboratory (NDL) sampled a variety of retail foods, including milk (whole, 2%, 1%, and skim), calcium-vitamin D fortified orange juice, yogurt, seafood (clams, shrimp, and two types of finfish), and Hispanic/Latino foods. The milk samples were sampled from retail outlets in 24 locations across the U.S. The Hispanic/Latino samples were collected as part of a collaboration with the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute to develop a database of Hispanic/Latino foods. Samples were collected from three regional sites participating in the Hispanic Community Health Study. The remaining foods were sampled from retail outlets in 12 locations according to the NFNAP sampling plan. The milk, yogurt, and orange juice were sampled primarily to develop a database of vitamin D values and will also be analyzed for selected nutrients in order to monitor their nutrient content. In addition, the seafood samples will also be analyzed for vitamin D. All other food samples were prepared and analyzed for a panel of more than 100 traditional nutrients, according to standard protocols. To date, NFNAP nutrient data were used to add or update nearly 1,000 food items in the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. Development of a Special Interest Database on Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) was completed. Significant progress continued on the development of the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Foods Database, with the addition of 19 foods from Alaska Native and Northern Plains Indians. USDA's food composition data are regarded as the foundation and benchmark for all second-generation databases concerning nutrition monitoring, nutrition research, and food policy in the U.S. NFNAP has enabled NDL to provide current and nationally representative data needed in response to changes in the recommended intakes generated by the Institute of Medicine (i.e., vitamin E and folate) and issues of public health concern (e.g., caloric intake and obesity, intake of trans fatty acids, and sugars), as identified in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Healthy People 2005. In addition, food composition data for bioactive components are key elements in nutrition research projects, which investigate the role of component intake and health status. Data are received in quarterly reports and email contacts and frequent conference calls with principal investigators are conducted to monitor the progress of the project.