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The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) released its 2007 Annual Bibliography of Significant Advances in Dietary Supplement
Research in late October.1,2 This publication, which is the 9th
annual issue produced by the ODS, contains annotations of 25 original papers on
dietary supplements published in 2007, including several featuring botanical
supplements.
A multi-step process was used to select the 25 papers.1
A preliminary search for original scientific research identified 437 papers from
83 journals. These studies were manually reviewed, after which 223 papers were considered
as possible entries for the bibliography. These papers were sent to 54 external
scientific experts in the fields of nutrition, public health, medicine and
pharmacognosy for evaluation.2 The papers were scored by these
external experts based on study design, public health significance, and
potential to advance the field. The 25 top-scoring papers were annotated for
the bibliography.
Like previous issues, the 2007 bibliography is intended to
serve as a snapshot of the year’s basic, observational, clinical, and
translational research on dietary supplements.1 Research summarized
in the bibliography includes studies and analyses into the effects of genistein
(a phytoestrogen in soybeans [Glycine max])
on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women, the antidiabetic effects of a
soluble dietary fiber fraction of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds in animal models, the use of a Salacia oblonga extract to improve
glucose control in diabetics, the vasoactivity of garlic (using 2 commercial
brands [Kyolic®, Garlicin® {Nature’s Way, Springville, UT}] and garlic [Allium sativum] cloves), the effects of
garlic on plasma lipid concentrations in adults with moderate
hypercholesterolemia (high blood pressure), and the anti-carcinogenic effects of
EGCG (a key catechin in green tea [Camellia
sinensis] extract) on breast cancer cells.
The 2007 bibliography may be downloaded from the ODS website
here.
Single print copies may also be requested from ODS by phone (301-435-2920) or
via e-mail (ods@nih.gov).2 Multiple
copies are available for use in academic settings.
—Courtney Cavaliere
References 1. Costello RB, Saldanha LG, eds. Annual Bibliography of Significant Advances
in Dietary Supplement Research 2007. Bethesda,
MD: Office of Dietary
Supplements; 2008.
2. Annual bibliography of significant advances in dietary
supplement research 2007 [press release]. Bethesda,
MD: Office of Dietary
Supplements; October 23, 2008. |