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Researchers study use of
dietary supplements
By Dave Stephens
Assistant
Campus Editor
Thousands of dietary supplements are bought and
sold in the United States every day, and unlike food additives or drugs,
which require testing by the Food and Drug Administration, these supplements
do not have to be proven effective.
Purdue's Botanicals Center for Age-Related Research,
which is funded by the National Institute of Health with a five-year
$7.8 million grant, was created to help study if and how dietary supplements
work.
"We are studying whether or not some of the botanical
dietary supplements, which can be purchased in health food stores, …
can actually do the health promoting things they claim to do," said
Connie Weaver, director of the Botanical Center and head of the foods
and nutrition department.
Weaver said supplements like grape extracts, soy
protein powders and green tea extracts will be studied.
To help the public learn about the research conducted
at the Botanical Center, an open house will be held today in Stewart
Center, Room 213. The day begins at 9 a.m. with a symposium and continues
with a poster session at 1:30 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 206, and
guided tours of the research facilities at 3:30 p.m.
Weaver is studying botanicals that might be able
to substitute for estrogen replacement therapy when women go through
menopause.
"Only 10 to 20 percent of women comply with estrogen
because they don't like taking drugs and because of the side effects
and risk of breast cancer," said Weaver.
She said that some women would prefer using a dietary
strategy because they believe soy would not have the same impact as
estrogen.
Marlene Troyer, assistant to the head of the food
and nutrition department, said, "In an age where people spend so much
money on implements there's really not much hard science in this area."
However, Dorothy Morre, a professor of foods and
nutrition, said the field of botanicals and alternative medicines is
growing rapidly. "The Purdue University Botanical Center is only one
of four centers nationwide created to address this area scientifically,"
said Morre.
Weaver said the center would help make Purdue a
leader in dietary botanical study.
Weaver said the center's goals are to training
professionals with health related career tracks, to aid related industries,
to understand the efficiency and safety of products and to be a resource
to the public for sound scientific information.
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CAMPUS DESK PHONE:
(765)
743-1111 ext. 253
Campus editor:
Laura Pelner
Assistant campus
editors: Kurt Esposito,
Dave Stephens
To
send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org
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