Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 20, No. 1, 20 (2001)
Published by the American College of Nutrition
Introductory Editorial
Harry G. Preuss, MD, FACN, CNS and
Sidney Stohs, PhD, FACN
Georgetown University, Washington, DC (H.G.P.)
Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska (S.S.)
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INTRODUCTION
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 TOP
 INTRODUCTION
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With this issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (JACN), we begin a series of review articles providing available information on dietary supplements. Our goal is to perform a non-biased review of those supplements taken regularly by the public. Why is this necessary?
A current trend in public health is an attempt to prevent chronic disorders, especially those arising during aging. Many individuals want to design their own health strategies, since the public perceives that they can become involved in acceptable means to prevent disease, maintain good health and control health care costs. Very few dispute the fact that, in general, it is beneficial to never begin or, at least, to stop smoking, to exercise adequately, to keep body weight down and to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. For the vast majority, these are excellent principles to follow. However, certain problems arise that prevent this. Those addicted to smoking find it difficult to stop, many cannot afford the time necessary for proper exercise, and some people are not receiving proper nutrition despite adequate available knowledge. Focusing on the nutrition issues, what are the specific basic causes of the problems? First, some natural elements that are believed to be necessary for health are not present in adequate amounts in today’s commonly consumed foods. Secondly, some individuals will not eat proper foods through a dislike, the inability to have a ready supply available, lack of time to eat properly and/or a specific dislike of the most nutritious foods. In this context, could supplements help?
Supplements have been offered as means to upgrade our nutritional status and prevent chronic disorders. More and more individuals, as well as health care professionals, are becoming aware that regular ingestion of some health supplements may be beneficial to health. Unfortunately, many supplements have not been adequately researched to be sure of their efficacy or safety. Anecdotal reports are not an appropriate basis on which determinations of efficacy should be made. There are many reasons for a lack of research. Unlike many of the pharmaceutical companies, those handling nutraceuticals do not have sufficient funds to do proper research and/or are not willing to fund research without adequate patent protection. In turn, the government has not sufficiently supported research in these areas. Nevertheless, there are supplements about which many believe there is evidence to suggest that the benefit-risk ratios are highly favorable, for example, saw palmetto, glucosamine, vitamin E, folic acid and other B vitamins and soluble fibers such as psyllium. In these cases, the risks are reasonably low when the supplements are taken properly, and the margin of safety in the dosing is excellent. Are there unforeseen possibilities for adverse reactions with long-term use of nutraceuticals? Such possibilities will always exist. However, because of their natural status and long-term use in many cases, adverse events are less likely than for many pharmaceuticals recently released.
Accordingly, we will attempt to update the benefit/risk of many popular supplements in upcoming issues of the JACN. Often, the reader may ask "is that all there is?" This may be our objective, because we want the reader to appreciate what is not known, as well as what is known.
Received September 12, 2000.
