Know your supplement customer?

More than two-thirds of all U.S. adults report taking dietary supplements, according to a new survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN). Conducted on-line with a national sample of 2,010 adults 18 and older, the survey also found that 71% of U.S. adults with household incomes of $50,000+ take supplements, and 90% of supplement users read and follow supplement label directions. Who do they trust for reliable information on supplements? Medical doctors/physicians top the list, with pharmacists coming in second. While the percentage of supplement users is equally distributed across the nation’s regions, there are also interesting findings about where they purchase their products. Perhaps the best news of all: 83% of supplement users express overall confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of dietary supplements. All good news as we head into the most productive months for supplement purchases.

More at: www.crnusa.org/CRNconsumersurvey

Celebrating two decades of landmark legislation

Yes, Virginia, there is a law. And it’s working. Twenty years after the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, commonly known as DSHEA (pronounced D’shay), CRN celebrated the law’s October birthday with glances back and forward thoughts. Writing in The Hill, CRN President & CEO Steve Mister told Congressional staffers that “With more than 150 million Americans taking supplements every year… [the supplement industry] needs to collaborate even more to help FDA enforce the law…” And he reminded readers of this popular Capitol Hill publication that a 2013 Frost & Sullivan economic report found “…that certain dietary supplements have an economic as well as health benefit for older Americans in particular.” Calling DSHEA “a good law,” Mr. Mister’s guest commentary was one of a handful of articles that CRN published in various publications highlighting the importance of the law that demonstrates the dietary supplement industry is, in fact, regulated. Capping off the educational portion of the DSHEA birthday celebration, CRN ran full-page ads in Roll Call and Politico.

Raise the bar for regulatory compliance

CRN recently launched a free resource that compiles FDA Warning Letters sent to dietary supplement companies into a searchable online tool to help industry achieve better regulatory compliance. By using the database to evaluate the government’s warning letter allegations of good manufacturing practices (GMPs) violations, products making impermissible claims, and products tainted with illegal ingredients, companies can learn from others’ mistakes and increase the level of compliance with the law. The database also has value for consumers, particularly in helping them avoid companies receiving Warning Letters that specifically address products illegally marketed as dietary supplements, when in fact, they contain undeclared drug ingredients. Just one piece of CRN’s self-regulatory efforts, this new initiative was created to encourage companies to put their consumers first. 

CRN scientists share supplement tips with pharmacists, nurse practitioners

Hundreds of pharmacists and nurse practitioners are expected to participate in a free December 9 webinar on dietary supplements hosted by the Pharmacist Society and Generation NP, the premier closed-loop social networking platform for health care professionals. CRN’s three scientists—a naturopathic doctor, a toxicologist, and a regulatory expert—will serve up science with a side of practical advice focused on ten of the most asked about dietary supplement categories. Based on CRN’s experience with previous webinars held with this on-line community, the participants demonstrate high levels of engagement, ask valuable questions, and come away with an enhanced perspective on the benefits and safety of dietary supplements. This webinar, part of an on-going series, is part of CRN’s efforts to reach health care practitioners with science-based information about dietary supplements that they can use in their practices. To view the webinar on demand, contact Gretchen Powers (gpowers@crnusa.org).

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