Education Series—Immune Health: Making Claims & the Effects of Aging

INSIDER Education Series

The percentage of those aged 65 years and older using dietary supplement products is higher than any other age group and has doubled in recent years. Aging is associated with decreased immunity, increased morbidity and mortality resulting from infectious agents, and poor nutritional status. Deficiencies in vitamin E, B6, folate, zinc and selenium, for example, are particularly common, and deficits in these micronutrients have been reported to negatively influence immunity. Thus, the regular use of dietary supplement products by the elderly may provide an opportunity to enhance immunity in this at-risk population.

Dietary supplements may be marketed with claims that associate the use of the product with beneficial effects for the structure or function of the body, so long as claims are not being made that might indicate that the product is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. So how does that work when the claim concerns the immune system, that part of the body that is most directly responsible for curing and preventing disease?

Attend this Webinar to hear:

• A review of the effects of aging, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies on various parameters of immunity
• A detailed discussion of published clinical trials that have evaluated dietary supplements in the elderly
• Commentary on the safety of dietary supplement use in the elderly
• A review of FDA and FTC actions relative to immune claims and suggestions for making compliant immune system structure/function claims

Speakers:

Barry W. Ritz, Ph.D., is an active researcher in the emerging field of nutritional immunology. Ritz currently holds a research faculty position as an instructor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa., and serves as a consultant on technical and regulatory matters to a number of leading companies in the dietary supplement, functional food and wellness industries. He is involved in a number of professional organizations, including the American Society for Nutritional Sciences, and has been a member of the dietary supplement industry for more than nine years. His research interests in nutrition science are varied, including the evaluation of immunomodulatory nutraceuticals, bioactive peptides as functional foods and the influence of nutritional status on the innate immune response to influenza infection. Ritz has presented his research at national and international meetings, has numerous publications in scientific journals and recently completed a chapter on the use of nutraceuticals for immune restoration in the elderly. he has been featured on a number of radio shows and in print, most recently interviewed by Cooking Light Magazine.

Steven Shapiro is a partner in the New York City-based firm of Ullman, Shapiro & Ullman, LLP, and has more than 20 years of experience in food and drug regulatory matters. He regularly advises clients on food and drug law matters relating to the manufacture and marketing of foods, dietary supplements, drugs and cosmetics as well as advertising matters involving the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). His practice concentrates on areas of interest to the natural products industry and spends much of his time advising companies on the intricacies of DSHEA as it relates to the marketing of dietary supplements. Shapiro also counsels clients in matters relating to enforcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including inspections and responses to warning and courtesy letters. He is a contributor to many natural product trade magazines and a frequent lecturer on topics of concern to the natural products industry at tradeshows and for the Food and Drug Law Institute where he is a member of the Food and Dietary Supplement Committee.

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• Immune Health: Making Claims & the Effects of Aging