Last month the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) delivered its 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans in an effort to curb rising obesity rates and obesity-related diseases currently impacting over one-third of children and more than two-thirds of adults in the US. Now in its seventh iteration, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines make a strong case for reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical exercise—though the dietary supplement industry was vocal that the Guidelines could have placed greater emphasis on the beneficial role of certain nutritional supplements in a healthy diet.
 
“The 2010 Dietary Guidelines are being released at a time when the majority of adults and one in three children is overweight or obese and this is a crisis that we can no longer ignore,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These new and improved dietary recommendations give individuals the information to make thoughtful choices of healthier foods in the right portions and to complement those choices with physical activity. The bottom line is that most Americans need to trim our waistlines to reduce the risk of developing diet-related chronic disease. Improving our eating habits is not only good for every individual and family, but also for our country.”
 
Mr. Vilsack’s Department of Health and Human Services counterpart, Kathleen Sebelius agreed, pointing to the improved focus on the enjoyment of food, but suggesting smaller portions on a plate that’s half filled with fruits and vegetables.
 
“Helping Americans incorporate these guidelines into their everyday lives is important to improving the overall health of the American people,” said Secretary Sebelius. “The new Dietary Guidelines provide concrete action steps to help people live healthier, more physically active and longer lives.”
 
The new Guidelines also included 23 “Key Recommendations” for the general population and six additional “Key Recommendations” for specific population groups, such as women who are pregnant. Along with the usual fruits and veggie recommendations, the new Guidelines also echoed the ongoing push for whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and seafood, and advocated the reduced consumption of sodium, saturated and transfats, sugars and refined grains.
 
Filling in the Blanks
 
Generally speaking, dietary supplement industry advocates were supportive of the recommendations contained in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines.
 
“The new Dietary Guidelines set high standards that will require a concerted effort among numerous scientific disciplines to gradually change consumer behavior,” said Roger Clemens, DrPh, IFT President Elect and a member of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. “In addition, it is extremely important that we ensure that the current food system, from farm to fork, has the capacity to meet future needs and that the food industry continues its efforts to develop healthier food choices that appeal to consumers.”
 
“The actual guidelines are not so different than the 2005 guidelines, but there is bigger promise for bringing visibility to these guidelines with the First Lady carrying the message to eat healthy and be physically active to the public,” said American Society for Nutrition (ASN) Spokesperson Connie Weaver, PhD, who served on the 2005 Committee. “The message of enjoy your food, but eat less, is straightforward, effective advice that everyone can understand.”
 
However, while the new 2010 Guidelines specifically mention nutrients of concern—fiber, potassium, vitamin D and calcium—suggesting that supplements could be a viable option to address existing nutrient shortfalls, other industry advocates expressed concerned that the Guidelines seemed to soft-pedal the valuable role nutritional supplements can play in a healthy diet, especially as it relates to Omega-3 consumption.
 
“While we are very supportive of the guidelines overall, we would have liked to see more discussion regarding the valuable role of other supplements, such as omega 3s,” commented Duffy MacKay, ND, vice president, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Washington, D.C.. “We know that people aren’t eating the recommended two servings of cold water fatty fish per week—this would have been a reasonable place to recommend the inclusion of an omega 3 supplement.”
 
The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED), Salt Lake City, UT, concurred and added that EPA and DHA did not make the USDA and HHS’s list of concerns despite documented estimates that more people die from low omega 3 intakes than from low fruit and vegetable consumption in the US. “Even though the agencies recommended increased seafood intakes and separately noted that supplements and functional foods can play a valuable role in the diet, the report failed to recognize the benefits of supplements or foods fortified with EPA and DHA,” GOED said via press release. 

“While GOED commends the two agencies for recognizing that ‘…fortified foods and dietary supplements may be useful in providing one or more nutrients that otherwise may be consumed in less than recommend amounts,’ we are disappointed in the failure to acknowledge the scientific evidence supporting the need for additional intake EPA and DHA, for the prevention of chronic disease (i.e. cardiovascular disease),” the organization added. “Recommendations to include the use of supplements and ‘functional foods’ with added EPA and DHA to achieve intake targets associated with EPA and DHA and reduced risk of chronic disease are supported by the evidence as reviewed by the Nutrient Adequacy Subcommittee of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and should have been recognized by inclusion as guidance in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.” 

CRN also expressed hope that future Guidelines might include expanded recommendations for specific consumer groups. “We’re pleased to see that the updated version of the Dietary Guidelines included new recommendations, such as iron for pregnant women. Perhaps the 2015 version might take it a step further with a recommendation for iodine-containing multivitamins, as this has recently been recognized as a potential emerging public health concern among women of reproductive capabilities,” said Mr. MacKay. “We’d also like to see a multivitamin recommendation for the aging population, as we know the elderly often struggle with meeting their nutrient requirements.”