|
| News Advisory
NIH Holds State-of-the-Science Conference
on Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements for Chronic Disease Prevention,
May 15 – 17, 2006 |
| What: |
An impartial, independent panel will be charged
with reviewing the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness
and safety of multivitamin/mineral (MVM) supplement use for
chronic disease prevention on May 15 – 17. The panel will
issue a statement of its findings on the final day of the
conference, and will hold a press conference at 2:00 p.m.
on Wednesday, May 17. Convened by the Office of Medical Applications
of Research (OMAR) and the Office of Dietary Supplements
(ODS) of the NIH, this conference is free and open to the
public and the media.
Conference speakers’ presentations, open discussions,
and the panel’s statement will focus on these questions:
- What are the current patterns and prevalence of the
public's use of MVM supplements?
- What is known about the dietary nutrient intake of
MVM users versus non-users?
- What is the efficacy of single vitamin/mineral supplement
use in chronic disease prevention?
- What is the efficacy of MVM in chronic disease prevention
in the general population of adults?
- What is known about the safety of MVM for the generally
healthy population?
- What are the major knowledge gaps and research opportunities
regarding MVM use?
|
| When: |
Monday, May 15, 2006, 8:30 a.m. — 5:00
p.m.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006, 8:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 17, 9:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.
Press Conference: Wednesday, May 17, 2006, 2:00 p.m. |
| Where: |
Natcher Conference Center
NIH Main Campus — Building 45
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Campus visitor information: http://www.nih.gov/about/visitor/index.htm
The conference will also be webcast live at http://videocast.nih.gov/.
(Reporters viewing the press conference via webcast will
be able to submit questions on-line through the videocast
website.) |
| Why: |
It is estimated that more than one-third
of American adults take multivitamin/mineral supplements
regularly. Recommendations regarding supplement use from
expert groups vary widely, as does the strength of the evidence
supporting such guidelines. In observational studies, MVM
use has been associated with better health outcomes but there
are few data available from randomized trials to provide
more definitive evidence. As more and more Americans seek
strategies for maintaining good health and preventing disease,
and as the marketplace offers an increasing number of products
to fill that desire, it is important that consumers have
the best possible information to inform their choices. Toward
that end, this conference is expected to delineate gaps in
current knowledge and to provide guidance about how NIH can
help to fill those gaps. |
| Background: |
The conference is sponsored by OMAR and ODS,
and cosponsored by ten other federal agencies, through the
NIH Consensus Development Program. A backgrounder is available
at http://consensus.nih.gov/forthemedia.htm.
In addition, the Office of Dietary Supplements has a variety
of resources available at http://ods.od.nih.gov/news/mvm_conference_2006.aspx.
|
|
For More Information:
Conference agenda, speakers, logistics, and online registration are available
at http://consensus.nih.gov/.
To schedule interviews, please contact Kelli Marciel by e-mail at marcielk@od.nih.gov
or by phone at (301) 496-4819.
Note to TV Editors:
The press conference will be broadcast live via satellite at the following
coordinates:
C-Band Galaxy 3C
Transponder: 21C
Orbital Location: 95 degrees west
Downlink Frequency: 4120 H
Audio: 6.2/6.8
Test time: 1:30-2:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Note to Radio Editors:
An audio report of the conference results will be available after 4:00
p.m. Wednesday, May 17 from the NIH Radio News Service by calling 1-800-MED-DIAL
(1-800-633-3425) or visiting http://www.nih.gov/news/radio/index.htm.
The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting
policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning,
managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components.
The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible
for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information
is available at http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical
Research Agency — is comprised of 27 Institutes and Centers
and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.
It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic,
clinical, and translational medical research, and investigates the
causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For
more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
|
Subscribe to
receive future NIH news releases.