ANA to Develop Nutraceutical Policy Paper
for Presentation to AMA Council
Released: December 23, 1997
An important and significant meeting that may impact the nutraceutical
industry took place in Dallas, Texas, on December 6, 1997. The Ethics and Judicial Affairs
Council of the American Medical Association invited representatives of the American
Nutraceutical Association to attend an open
forum on ethical issues affecting physicians. Among the issues debated before the AMA
Council was the role of physicians in recommending and selling nutritional supplements and
other health related devices to their patients. The council is developing a position paper
to address this issue; it is expected to be completed by June, 1998. The American
Nutraceutical Association was invited to provide information to the council on this
important topic.
Representing the American Nutraceutical Association was Don Berryhill, Ed.D., Ph.D., and Bob Settineri, M.S., vice-president of communications for the ANA. Dr. Berryhill serves as executive director of the Research Center of Excellence for the Biological and Physical Sciences, Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. He is also a member of the ANA advisory board. Both were invited to address the AMA Council.
"History was made in Dallas that weekend," states Berryhill. "This was the first time that the AMA and the ANA had ever had formal contact. The forum provided an opportunity for us to present our views on how the ANA could provide information through scientific research and peer reviewed abstracts to health care professionals on nutraceutical supplementation."
"The ANA was organized as a result of the phenomenal growth of the nutraceutical industry. Its roles are to guide the dissemination of information on cutting edge technology and to provide a mechanism for assisting the health care professional in educating the patient/consumer for making informed choices about nutritional supplements and preventive health care products and programs," stated Dr. Berryhill.
Berryhill believes that physicians are a critical link in the educational process when consumers to them for information on the therapeutic benefits of nutritional supplements. He sees the ANA as a valuable resource for physicians searching for this information.
"First, the ANA is in a position to serve as a clearinghouse for information on nutraceuticals," he states. "Secondly, the association can provide the physician with the latest case studies and clinical research in periodicals and journals on the benefits of glyconutritional products. Third, the association seeks to provide information to the health care professional on the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) and how it impacts the nutraceutical industry."
Bob Settineri was as enthusiastic as Berryhill over the results of the
landmark meeting between the two associations. "A recent survey conducted by the
Leiner Health Products Research Group indicates that there is a tremendous amount of
interest on the part of consumers in alternative and complementary medical
therapies," he stated.
"Over 60% of the respondents to the Leiner survey felt that a recommendation from
their personal physician to begin a supplementation program would be the strongest factor
in persuading them to investigate the possible benefits," Settineri shared with the
Council.
"The ANA, through its symposia and documented research, can provide health care
professionals with the latest information enabling them to make recommendations to their
patients based on scientific research. As vice president for communications of the ANA, it
is my goal in 1998 to provide this information to health care practitioners through our
various educational materials."
Berryhill and Settineri will be working closely with Allen Montgomery, CEO of the ANA, in
outlining a plan of action based on the Dallas meeting. "A task force has been
appointed by the ANA to develop a policy paper on questions related to the ethics of the
distribution of nutraceutical products by members of the health care delivery
system," Settineri noted. Once this position paper is completed, a copy will be
presented to Robert M. Tenery, Jr. MD, chair of the Ethical and Judicial Affairs Council
of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Tenery requested the ANA to provide his committee with this position paper so that it can be circulated for reading by members of the AMA Council for their consideration before they vote on the AMA policy paper that deals with the sale of health related goods and services by physicians. Serving as co-chair of this ANA task force will be Jack Pfeifer, MD, a vascular surgeon from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Allen Kratz, PharmD, a pharmacist from Naples, Florida.
"We are very excited that the task force from the ANA will be
providing input to the AMA for consideration on this important topic. Our ultimate goal is
to forge a close alliance among all health care professionals to promote optimal health
for patients and consumers, and to provide
educational programs on nutraceuticals for health care professionals," noted ANA
president, Allen Montgomery.
Another major goal of the ANA for 1998 is to create a governing body to
monitor the nutraceutical industry and address the issues of product purity, content, and
labeling of nutritional supplements. "We will soon be announcing the formation of a
coalition of major nutraceutical companies
and colleges of pharmacy to explore the development of an ANA product certification
program," Dr. Berryhill stated.
"The ANA, in its role as a neutral third party, is in an ideal
position to certify product quality which will add confidence and reliability to
nutraceutical products for consumers ," Settineri points out. "
"Physicians, pharmacists and other members of the health care delivery system are
looking for this type of validation and product certification program in order to
responsibly recommend certain nutraceutical products to their patients."
Nutraceutical companies desiring more information on the future ANA
certification program may telephone the ANA office at (205) 980-5710 or fax (205)
991-9302.
American Nutraceutical Association
4647T Highway 280 East, #133 / Birmingham, AL 35242
Executive Office: 205.980.5710 Fax: 205.991.9302
Web site: http://www.americanutra.com