Dietary supplements and its legal regulations
Osama O Ibrahim
Bio Innovation, USA
: J Food Nutr Disor
Abstract
Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet and are not drugs for disease treatments. They are vitamins, minerals, herbals, botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, metabolites and many other products. Some supplements play an important role in health, for example calcium and vitamin D are important for keeping bones strong and folic acid is important for pregnant women to prevent certain birth defect in their babies. Dietary supplements are available in the market in the form of tablets, capsules, soft gels, gel caps, powders, drinks and energy bars. These dietary supplements do not have to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before marketing as required for prescription drugs or overthe counter drugs but manufacturers must register their manufacturing facilities with the FDA and are responsible to having evidence that their dietary supplement products are safe and label claims are not misleading. With a few well define exceptions dietary supplements such as pre-workout for athletics and weight loss products may only be marketed to support structure or function of the body, without claiming to treat a disease or condition and must include a label that highlight “These statements have not been evaluated by FDA and this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases”. Popular dietary supplements including safety and risks will be highlighted.
Biography
Osama Ibrahim is a highly experienced, principal research scientist with particular expertise in the field of microbiology, molecular biology, food safety, and bioprocessing for both pharmaceutical and food ingredients. He is knowledgeable in microbial screening /culture improvement; molecular biology and fermentation research for antibiotics, enzymes, therapeutic proteins, organic acids and food flavors, biochemistry for metabolic pathways and enzymes kinetics, enzymes immobilization, bio-conversion, and analytical biochemistry. He was external research liaison for Kraft Foods with Universities for research projects related to molecular biology and microbial screening and holds three bioprocessing patents. In January 2005, he accepted an early retirement offer from Kraft Foods and in the same year he formed his own biotechnology company providing technical and marketing consultation for new start up biotechnology and food companies.
E-mail: bioinnovation04@yahoo.com
