July 8, 1997
CRN INTRODUCES BOOKLET ON VITAMIN AND MINERAL SAFETY
Now more than ever, consumers are turning to nutritional supplements to improve their health. This increased interest in supplements can raise questions about how much to take and which nutrients might present safety concerns. To address these issues, The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) is pleased to announce the publication of Vitamin and Mineral SafetyæA Summary Review, a synopsis of a comprehensive scientific report which quantifies safe levels of intake for two dozen nutrients.
The full report was authored by John Hathcock Ph.D., an internationally-recognized authority on micronutrient toxicology. Dr. Hathcock is CRN's Director of Nutrition and Regulatory Science and a former division director for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It was peer-reviewed by outside scientific experts, and a paper based on principles presented in the report is scheduled for publication in the August issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The full reportæthe first to define a direct safety approach for vitamins and mineralsæand the Summary Review focus on three major points:
1. Vitamins and minerals are safe within a wide range of intakes and, when used as recommended in product labeling, supplements are a safe and effective way to achieve optimal levels of these important nutrients. 2. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is not intended to define safety and, therefore is not a valid measure of safety limits. 3. The safety of nutrients at specific intake levels can only be established by a direct safety approach based on credible scientific data. This approach establishes safe intakes by identifying the NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) and the LOAEL (Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level)
Vitamin and Mineral Safety is being widely used and has been well received in the international regulatory arena and with domestic scientific organizations. Delegations from the United Nations Codex Alimentarius Commission, the European Commission, and several individual countries have used the report to establish regulatory policies for dietary supplements. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences has referenced this report in their deliberations to reshape the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) concept.
A copy of the Summary Review and/or the full report is available to the media by calling the CRN Communications Dept. The Summary Review is available to the public by sending a check for $5.00 to CRN.
Contact:
Council for Responsible Nutrition
(202) 872-1488
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