Most recently, Dr. Fabricant served as the director of the Division of Dietary Supplement Programs at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where he directed all agency policy, public affairs and regulatory action regarding the dietary supplement industry. He has a PhD in pharmacognosy from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he has served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy since 2009. He has also published extensively and is internationally recognized for his regulatory and governmental public health expertise and natural products research.
 
Health E-Insights: How much of what you set out to do would you say you accomplished in your FDA role?
 
Dr. Fabricant: A great deal. I wanted to enhance enforcement. And we made it clear that the regulatory tools are there and the agency’s muscles can be flexed.
 
Health E-Insights: What are your proudest accomplishments in the past 3-5 years?
 
Dr. Fabricant: My two children, Joshua and Lauren. Professionally, I’m very proud of the firsts we had at FDA while I was there: mandatory recalls, enjoining firms for not meeting cGMPs. I did everything I could to live up to the oath I swore to protect public health. During my previous run at NPA, I was very proud of my Senate testimony on steroids masquerading as dietary supplements. The recently introduced Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act covers a lot of the same ground I discussed then.
 
Health E-Insights: Where do you envision the most significant growth occurring in the supplement industry in the next few years?
 
Dr. Fabricant: The industry is definitely trending upwards. While many supplement users are older now, Millennials are extremely health conscious. Younger generations are growing up with natural products as a regular part of their lives. It is second nature to them.
 
Health E-Insights: Do you think technology will change the industry?
 
Dr. Fabricant: Yes. When you consider petroleum, every part of the resource is used—gasoline for cars, plastics, petroleum jelly. I think we’re seeing a shift toward that kind of resourcefulness in plant products. That’s what the sustainability movement is all about.
 
Health E-Insights: What direction do you see the supplement industry moving?
 
Dr. Fabricant: Onwards and upwards. With people continually looking for more, with demands on people’s time, with not being able to eat as well or be as active as they’d like, interest in supplements and the natural industry will continue to grow as people search for ways to live healthy lives.
 
Health E-Insights: If you could wave a magic wand and make industry changes, what is one thing you would do?
 
Dr. Fabricant: I would like to see the industry producing best-in-class information and publishing that on a regular basis, for the betterment of consumers and the industry.
 
Health E-Insights: What is the one message you want the industry to hear from the NPA?
 
Dr. Fabricant: We are really the industry’s association. We’re 78 years old, and we exist as a partnership between industry, suppliers, retailers and consumers; one community that we’re all a part of, and we love it that way.     

Sheldon Baker is well-known for creating nutraceutical brand marketing and public relations campaigns. For Health E-Insights interview consideration, contact him at [email protected]. And follow him on Twitter @NutraInk.