|
Up-to-the-Minute Company News New AACE Medical Guidelines for Use of Dietary Supplements; Endocrinologists Encourage Education Before Use
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of
Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) today announced the release of its medical
guidelines for the clinical use of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals
(DS/N).
"AACE Medical Guidelines for the Clinical Use of Dietary Supplements and
Nutraceuticals" were published in the September/October 2003 issue of
Endocrine Practice, a peer-reviewed journal of AACE. The guidelines,
discussing DS/N as alternative care medicine, focus on hormonal and metabolic
agents.
"The purpose of these guidelines is to clear up misconceptions regarding
the use of dietary supplements," stated Donald A. Bergman, MD, FACE, President
of AACE. "Many physicians and patients are unaware of the hidden dangers
associated with interactions between drugs and supplements."
Numerous issues face physicians who encounter patients taking, requesting,
or inquiring about use of DS/N. In addition to philosophic and controversial
questions regarding the use of unproven therapies, or therapies with weak
scientific substantiation, a pragmatic issue is whether the DS/N in question
will interfere with conventional medications, various nutrients, or even other
DS/N the patient may be taking. Patients should be strongly cautioned against
taking any DS/N that may interact with any current or potentially needed
medication. Furthermore, the study of drug to DS/N, nutrient to DS/N, or DS/N
to DS/N interactions is not required by the Food and Drug Administration, as
are drug to drug interactions. This makes it unlikely that many such
interactions with DS/N have been discovered or that they will be adequately
studied.
One nutraceutical in particular, St. John's wort, has shown to have
potential interaction with medications such as cyclosporine, iron, and oral
contraceptives. Other interactions, such as lithium and caffeine, insulin and
ginseng, and estrogens and grapefruit juice, can also have serious
repercussions.
Jeffrey I. Mechanick, MD, FACE, Chairman of the AACE Nutrition Guidelines
Task Force, points out, "As the supplements grow in popularity, it is
essential physicians become more knowledgeable about these products. The AACE
guidelines are the first of their kind and offer physicians much more than a
reference; rather, a springboard to further educate themselves and their
patients about the benefits and risks associated with DS/N."
AACE is a professional medical organization with approximately 4500
members in the United States and over 70 other countries. Founded in 1991,
AACE is dedicated to the optimal care of patients with endocrine problems.
AACE initiatives inform the public about endocrine diseases. AACE also
conducts continuing education programs for clinical endocrinologists,
physicians whose advanced, specialized training enables them to be experts in
the care of endocrine disease, such as nutrition, obesity, diabetes, thyroid
disorders, growth hormone deficiency, osteoporosis, cholesterol disorders, and
hypertension.
For an electronic version of the guidelines please visit
http://www.aace.com/clin/guidelines or for further information visit AACE Online at
http://www.aace.com.
|