It’s been said the more things change, the more they stay the same. In fact, taking time to look at the evolution of an industry and a magazine is an exercise in celebrating how far we’ve come, and soberly realizing how far we’ve yet to go. As Natural Products Marketplace—formerly Health Supplement Retailer—celebrates its 15th anniversary, we take a look back at some of the top issues from our first year of publication, and crib from Paul Harvey to give you the “rest of the story” of where we’re at now.
DSHEA
Obviously, the biggest story for the supplement industry in 1995 was the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act (DSHEA). Passed by Congress in October 1994 and signed into law by President Clinton, DSHEA carved out a regulatory category for dietary supplements and provided FDA with tools for effective regulation. In fact, FDA moved quickly to release proposed rules for dietary supplement labeling, and stated its intention to promulgate rules on GMPs (good manufacturing practices). Retailers gained the ability to use third-party literature to educate shoppers about the benefits of nutritional ingredients, and marketers moved to develop substantiated structure/function claims. In HSR’s “feedback” column, retailers said the passage of DSHEA gave them more flexibility in selling products and helped get the word out about product benefits.
The rest of the story … While FDA acted quickly on its proposed rules for labeling, it took 15 years for the agency to implement GMP regulations, as required by DSHEA. Industry pundits hope leveling the manufacturing playing field will eliminate some of the “bad apples” releasing products of questionable quality. At the same time, new leadership at FDA has stated their intent to more actively regulate the dietary supplement industry, and possibly look at whether expanded regulatory powers are necessary.
Ephedra
Even before DSHEA passed, there were concerns about the safety of ephedra-containing food supplements, particularly after a number of adverse events were linked to the weight-loss product Formula One, sold widely in Texas. The industry was working to develop voluntary cautionary labeling and dosage restrictions in hopes of keeping the botanical on the market. During 1995 and 1996, FDA held hearings about the situation, as state after state enacted legislation to restrict the sale of ephedra-containing products.
The rest of the story … While FDA proposed rules governing the use, marketing and dosage of ephedra, in 2004, the agency banned the sale of ephedra as a dietary supplement, finding the product posed a “significant or unreasonable risk” of injury when used as directed. Court cases have sought to overturn the finding, but ultimately the ban has stood, taking a traditional Chinese bronchial remedy off the supplement market.
DHEA/Melatonin
Another product category under the microscope was hormones, particularly melatonin and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). Mid-1995 saw mainstream media outlets reporting the potential health benefits of melatonin and retailers running out of stock as consumers stocked up to address sleep dysfunction, women’s health concerns and more. At the same time, (National Nutritional Foods Association) NNFA raised questions about whether melatonin and other hormone products were appropriate for sale as dietary supplements and urged retailers to seriously consider “the propriety of its continued sale.” As far as DHEA, as levels of the hormone naturally decline with age in the human body, it was promoted as the “fountain of youth,” counteracting stress, restoring libido and mediating the aging process. Sales quickly outpaced those of melatonin, as the mainstream media latched on to studies purporting to substantiate the claims of longevity.
The rest of the story … Various hormone-related products, including melatonin and DHEA, are sold in retail stores—including mainstream markets, through multi-level marketing (MLM) operations and over the Internet. Ongoing research has provided more assurance to retailers about the health effects of melatonin as an antioxidant and in addressing sleep dysfunction; studies on DHEA’s effects on weight management, anti-aging and depression are evolving, but positive.