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Nutrition Alliance Aims to Address Misconceptions About Supplements
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A multidisciplinary group of medical and nutrition experts hopes to shed light on misconceptions about vitamin and mineral supplementation.
In an effort to shed some light on misconceptions about optimal nutrition, including the appropriate use of vitamin and mineral supplementation, a multidisciplinary group of medical and nutrition experts has formed the Global Nutrition & Health Alliance (GNHA).
“The goal of the GNHA is to add to and elevate credible science behind vitamin and mineral supplementation and, in turn, educate about appropriate use,” said inaugural GNHA member Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, director of women’s heart health at the Heart and Vascular Institute in Lenox Hill Hospital. “As a member of the alliance, I hope to bring greater clarity and understanding to supplementation for consumers and health care colleagues alike.”
The GNHA assembled for the first time this past summer to examine the current nutrition landscape, which is arguably riddled with mixed messages that confuse patients and health care professionals alike. Going forward, the group plans to meet annually across the globe to “tackle the challenge of striving for optimal nutrition through diet alone and the value of supplementing with vitamins and minerals, when appropriate.”
Currently, the GNHA is focused on how to achieve daily recommended amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, which are often deficient in the average person’s diet.
“National guidelines for daily nutrient intake exist in almost every country. Yet, the reality is that much of the global population is overfed but undernourished,” said Nigel Denby, head of dietetics at Grub4Life.com. “The alliance seeks to dispel the many misconceptions about diet, nutrition, and supplementation of vitamin and minerals by providing scientific proof that will help people make better choices to achieve better health.”
To address those misconceptions, the GNHA plans to collaborate with academia and industry to conduct clinical studies and launch educational campaigns related to proper nutrition. The group is currently supported by an unrestricted grant from Reckitt Benckiser.
