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Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) Captures Dietary Supplements Used by Cancer Survivors: The Case of Fiber Supplements
Author(s) -
Emenaker Nancy J,
Sorkin Barbara C,
Dwyer Johanna T,
Rodriguez LM
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.lb277
Subject(s) - medicine , colorectal cancer , ingredient , product (mathematics) , dietary fiber , dietary supplement , cancer , food science , chemistry , pathology , mathematics , geometry
Background More than 50% of all U.S. adults consume dietary supplements (DS) contributing to an estimated $35 billion in sales in 2015. Among these are DS often recommended by oncology practitioners for the reduction of disease risks, including risk of colorectal cancer. The Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) contains over 50,000 DS labels representing a large, and ever‐increasing, fraction of those sold in the U.S. Supplements touted as possessing anti‐cancer properties include multivitamins, botanical extracts, and isolated dietary components such as fiber. Objective Describe, for the specific case of dietary fiber supplements, how the oncology community (e.g., oncology health care professionals, researchers and patients) can use DSLD in assessing DS consumption hypothesized to affect cancer outcomes. Description The DSLD provides ready access to label data for dietary supplements sold in the U.S. using a web‐based interface. Method We searched DSLD for all products including the terms “fiber”, “colon cleanse” and “colon health” as either a product name, dietary ingredient, brand name, or label element. Results DSLD yielded a total of 4,873 products containing the search term “fiber” anywhere on the product label. A total of 181 products contained ingredients classified as “fiber” and 196 products contained “fiber” in the product name. 109 products contained “colon cleanse” anywhere on the product label; 58 contained “colon cleanse” on in the product name; and one contained “colon cleanse” in the dietary ingredient name. Finally, 235 products contained “colon health” anywhere on the label; and 5 contained “colon health” in the product name. DSLD can also be used in some cases to determine the type(s) of fiber claimed as present in each product, providing the potential for assessment of intake of soluble vs insoluble fiber. Conclusion DSLD serves as an online resource supplying a broad range of users, including the oncology community, with relevant DS information for research and clinical use Support or Funding Information Office of Dietary Supplements and the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.