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Janet Tou, Ph.D., assistant professor in Human Nutrition and Foods in the Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, joined more than 100 other professors and graduate students from universities throughout the U.S. and Canada to participate in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) course, “Dietary Supplement Research Practicum 2008.” The Practicum was held on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, June 9-13, 2008.

ODS offers this annual intensive course to provide essential knowledge of dietary supplements to academic faculty and their doctoral or post-doctoral students with a serious interest in this subject. Experts from NIH, academic institutions, and Federal regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) served as speakers.

The ODS practicum provides a thorough overview of issues, concepts, unknowns, and controversies about dietary supplements and supplement ingredients. It also emphasizes the importance of scientific investigations to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and value of these products for health promotion and disease prevention and treatment, as well as how to carry out this type of research.

On Wednesday, June 11th, participants spent the day in Washington, D.C., to meet with representatives from professional associations, media, the dietary supplement industry, and consumer advocacy groups that study, advocate, regulate, or educate about dietary supplements.