Since this is all over the news, at least online, I feel it needs a response. I love all the attention that our industry has been getting... sort of. On one hand, it brings us lots of attention. On the other hand, it's an opportunity for ignorant individuals to gain the spotlight and divert attention to their own causes.
Last week, the National Institutes of Health (notice the "dot-gov", as in government) announced their plans to study the following botanicals:
Allium sativa (Garlic)
Ginko biloba (Ginko)
Crataegus oxyacanthus (Hawthorn)
The elusive "phytoestrogens"
From the NIH website,
The goal of the [1.5 day] workshop is to assess the current state of research on the mechanisms of action responsible for the cardiovascular effects of several widely used herbal dietary supplements, and the evidence for their clinical efficacy. At the conclusion of the workshop, attendees will develop recommendations for future research.
Various speakers during the exhaustive 1.5 day event include:
3 Ph.D.'s
3 M.D's
5 folks from the US FDA
OK. So that's got me a little concerned. I'd like some representation from my industry, if for no other reason than to be there to report back on the overall tone of the meeting.
For the curious, I'm providing a link to the entire 1.5 day workshop agenda. Here's a condensed version:
Botanical Medicine: Bridging the Gulf between Promise and Proof
Linda Engel, Acting Director
Division of Extramural Research and Training, NCCAM
NIH Perspectives on Dietary Supplements
Paul Coates, Director, ODS
(Two scary sounding topics, but with only thirty minutes in total to talk about both of them. How much damage can be done in that short time-frame?)
Development of Botanical Drugs: Regulatory Perspectives on Early Phase StudiesShaw Chen, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(Thirty minutes, again. They must be quick learners.)
Then Garlic gets put under the spotlight. For pretty much the rest of the day.
Garlic
Chair: Eric Block, State University of New York at Albany
Introduction and Overview of the Chemistry and Medicinal Properties of Garlic
Eric Block, State University of New York at Albany
Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Effects of Garlic
Larry Lawson, Plant Bioactives Research Institute
Effect of Garlic on Biosynthesis and Serum Levels of Cholesterol and Lipids
Rolf Gebhardt, University of Leipzig, Germany
Effect of Garlic on Arteriosclerosis
Gunter Siegel, Free University of Berlin, Germany
Effect of Garlic in Experimental Animal Models
Jose Pedraza-Chaverri, National University of Mexico, Mexico
Effect of Garlic Powder Tablets on Atherosclerosis
Alexander N. Orekhov, Moskow State University, Russia
Clinical Trials: Effect of Garlic Preparations on Cardiovascular Disease and Its Risk FactorsChristopher Gardner, Stanford University
Herbal Interactions with Cardiovascular Drugs
Adriane Fugh-Berman, George Washington University
Effect of Steam-distilled Garlic Oil on Cardiovascular DiseaseDavid Maslin, University of Wolverhampton, UK
Wow. Ten lectures. And the day isn't even over. Time for Ginko!
Ginkgo Biloba
Chair: Curt D. Furberg, Wake Forest University
Vascular Effects of Ginkgo Biloba: Pre-clinical Studies
John Farquhar, Stanford University
Efficacy of Ginkgo Biloba in the Treatment and Prevention of Cerebrovascular Disease and Cognitive Impairment: The GEM Study
Jeff Williamson, Wake Forest University
Whew! I'm glad they didn't try to pack in seven more speakers. That's it for the first day, now we'll head for round two!
Flavonoid-containing Botanicals
Chair: Curt D. Furberg, Wake Forest University
Cardiovascular Protection: The Role of Alcohol and Red Wine Polyphenols
Dale Parks, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Hawthorn Extract for Congestive Heart Failure: Pre-clinical and Clinical Studies
Keith Aaronson, University of Michigan
Cardiovascular Effect of Soy Phytoestrogen: Pre-clinical Studies
Thomas Clarkson, Wake Forest University
Clinical Studies of the Cardiovascular Effects of Phytoestrogens
Greg Burke, Wake Forest University
Seems to me like our friend Allium is at the forefront of this meeting. One can only hope that these scientists, doctors and researchers keep an open mind to what they are listening to, and that the speakers and presenters offer up unbiased and factual information.
Cross what ever you have two of folks, or you might need a prescription next time you want to make guacamole.