Bioactives, Functional Foods, and Supplements Research Portfolio

Advancing Health through ILSI US and Canada

Overview Goals & Impact Current Projects Proposed Projects Working with ILSI Contact Us References

Overview

Our Purpose

The Bioactives, Functional Foods, and Supplements Research Portfolio is dedicated to advancing health through enhanced understanding and communication of the optimal utilization of dietary bioactives. Through the development of recommended intake guidelines and pinpointing research gaps, we strive to elevate the dissemination of crucial health and safety insights pertaining to bioactive substances.

Leadership Committee

April J. Stull, PhD, RDN, FAND (Lead) – Associate Professor, Baylor University, USA
Richard M. Black, PhD – Chief Scientific Officer, WISEcode; Adjunct Professor, Tufts University School of Nutrition, Tufts University, USA
Johanna Dwyer, DSc, RD – Senior Scientist Jean Mayer USDA HNRC on Aging at Tufts University and Professor of Medicine Tufts Medical School, USA
Kelsey Mangano, PhD, RDN – Associate Professor, Nutrition Program Director, University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA
Janet Novotny, PhD – Research Physiologist, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Beltsville, USA
Connie Weaver, PhD - Distinguished Professor of Research, San Diego State University; CEO Weaver and Associates Consulting LLC., USA

Goals & Impact

The overall goal of this research portfolio is to improve consumer health and well-being by fostering greater awareness of the safe and efficacious utilization of bioactive compounds, functional foods, and supplements.

To accomplish this, ILSI plans to target three outcomes:

Provide quantified intake recommendations for bioactive compounds in food. Using the existing framework and intake recommendations for flavan-3-ols as a road map, these guidelines will serve to inform and optimize dietary consumption for enhanced health benefits.^1,2
Identify knowledge gaps in research and support solutions for selected bioactives, functional foods, or dietary supplements.
Improved communication and heightened consumer awareness regarding the health and safety information associated with bioactive products, along with guidance on optimal utilization for maximizing health benefits.

Current Projects


Working Group 1: Framework for Developing Recommended intakes for Dietary Bioactive Supplements
About the Project:	This project aims to establish a framework for the development of intake guidance for dietary supplements while considering bioavailability, efficacy, form, matrix, and safety to parallel the existing framework for bioactives in food.
Leadership:	Lead Author: Janet Novotny – USDA; Co-Authors: Johanna Dwyer – Tufts University & Tufts Medical Center, Mario Ferruzzi – Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Bill Gurley – FDA Center at Ole Miss, Peter Hutt – Covington & Burling LLP, Colin Kay – Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Esther Myers – IAAND, Andrew Shao – ChromaDex, and Connie Weaver – San Diego State University
Outcome:	Peer-reviewed paper
Status:	Current Funders: Amway and Pharmavite
	The ILSI U.S. and Canada Research Program seeks funding, as well as research collaborations with organizations, institutions and companies that share our commitment to—and consideration for—improving health, well-being and environmental stewardship.
	Contact us to get involved!

Proposed Projects


Recommended Intake Ranges for Coffee
About the Project:	The goal of ILSI’s project is to convene a panel of experts to further promote evidence of coffee as “healthy” through the establishment of dietary consumption recommendations for coffee that optimize intake of specific bioactive compounds recognized as having health benefits.
Outcomes:	Systematic Review & Meta-analysis, Recommended Intake Ranges for Coffee
Status:	The ILSI U.S. and Canada Research Program seeks funding, as well as research collaborations with organizations, institutions and companies that share our commitment to—and consideration for— improving health, well-being and environmental stewardship.
	Contact us to get involved!


Recommended Intake Ranges for Lutein
About the Project:	The goal of ILSI’s project is to convene a panel of experts to establish recommended intake ranges of lutein.
Outcomes:	Systematic Review & Meta-analysis, Recommended Intake Ranges for Lutein
Status:	The ILSI U.S. and Canada Research Program seeks funding, as well as research collaborations with organizations, institutions and companies that share our commitment to—and consideration for— improving health, well-being and environmental stewardship.
	Contact us to get involved!


Recommended Intake Ranges for Anthocyanins
About the Project:	The goal of ILSI’s project is to convene a panel to establish recommended intake ranges of anthocyanins.
Outcomes:	Systematic Review & Meta-analysis, Recommended Intake Ranges for Anthocyanins
Status:	The ILSI U.S. and Canada Research Program seeks funding, as well as research collaborations with organizations, institutions and companies that share our commitment to—and consideration for— improving health, well-being and environmental stewardship.
	Contact us to get involved!

Working with ILSI

ILSI helps fuel innovation by providing companies, academic institutions, NGOs, and governmental agencies with a wide view on issues related to health and wellness and environmental stewardship. By working with us, you can:

Access a multidisciplinary network of leading experts and scientists from academia, government, NGOs, risk assessment bodies and other industry representatives. ILSI's collaborative, multi-sectoral model provides our partners with access to academic, private, and public sector researchers and experts, which brings credibility and objectivity to mitigate the risk of bias in ILSI-led research.
Collaborate on projects and research in a cost-effective way by pooling resources. ILSI's collaborative structure helps to spark greater scientific innovation and production, as well as professional excellence.
Participate in important research projects without paying a membership fee. ILSI U.S. and Canada does not require a membership fee! Our goal is to provide greater participation in ILSI's successful public-private partnerships.
Gain visibility and credibility. ILSI actively communicates and disseminates research, findings, and outcomes via scientific conferences, presentations, speaking engagements, publications, webinars, newsletters, social media, and more.
Contribute to trusted and impactful science. By working with ILSI, you can integrate your expertise with others' while staying up to date with the latest scientific developments. This also helps to enrich the careers of professionals and other stakeholders working with ILSI.

References

Yates, A.A., Dwyer, J.T., Erdman, Jr. J.W., King, J.C., Lyle, B.J., Schneeman, B.O., Weaver, C.M. (2021) Perspective: Framework for developing recommended intakes of bioactive dietary substances. Advances in Nutrition 12: 1087-1099.
Crowe-White, K.M., Evans, L.W., Kuhnle, G.G.C., Milenkovic, D., Stote, K., Wallace, T., Handu, D., Senkus, K.E. (2022). Flavan-3-ols and Cardiometabolic Health: First Ever Dietary Bioactive Guideline. Advances in Nutrition 13, 2070–2083.

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About ILSI

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) is a global, nonprofit federation committed to improving public and planetary health by convening international experts from academia, the public sector, the private sector and other NGOs to advance evidence-based scientific research.

ILSI operates within a framework of the highest principles of scientific integrity. Our trusted professionals and volunteers around the world work synergistically and transparently across sectors and disciplines.