Re: Potential Conflicts of Interest on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

[Guest guest]

Incestuous!!

On 6/22/10 11:28 AM, " Novick " <jnovickrd@...> wrote:

> Potential Conflicts of Interest on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory

> Committee

>

> From the article..

>

> Saving U.S. Dietary Advice from Conflicts of Interest

> Food & Drug Law Journal

> VOLUME 65 NUMBER 2 2010

>

> MEMBER RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY UP TO & INCLUDING 2010

>

> 1. V. Van Horn, Ph.D., R.D., L.D. (Chair)

> - 2007 study on the impact of intervention of beverage choice of children

> funded in part by General Mills.

>

> 2. Naomi K. Fukagawa, M.D., Ph.D., (Vice-Chair)

> - None.

>

> 3. Cheryl Achterberg, Ph.D.

> - Scientific advisor to the Dannon Institute in 1998. Received a $150,538

> grant from Kraft General Foods in 1993-94. Received a $125,000 grant from

> ¹s Soup from 1995-97.

>

> 4. Lawrence J. Appel, M.D., M.P.H.

> - In 2003, listed as a consultant to Tropicana. In 2003, listed as receiving

> research grants from King Pharmaceuticals.

>

> 5. A. Clemens, Dr.P.H.

> - None.

>

> 6. Miriam E. , Ph.D.

> - In 2007 listed as having received over $10,000 from Mission Pharmacal (which

> makes the calcium supplement Citracal, which is sold by Bayer Pharmaceuticals)

> and over $10,000 from Lluminari (a producer of healthrelated multi-media

> content for General Mills, PepsiCo, Stonyfield Farm, Newman¹s Own, and other

> companies). In 2003, listed as being a member of the Mc¹s Corp. Global

> Advisory Council on Healthy Lifestyles.

>

> 7. Sharon M. Nickols-, Ph.D., R.D.

> - None.

>

> 8. A. Pearson, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.

> - 1994 study on chocolate¹s effect on cholesterol levels supported by the

> American Cocoa Research Institute (an arm of the Chocolate Manufacturers

> Association). 1999 study on monounsaturated fats was supported by the Peanut

> Institute. Research for 2000 study on lipid and lipoprotein responses to

> different diets partially supported by Abbott Laboratories.

>

> 9. -Escamilla, Ph.D.

> - None.

>

> 10. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, M.D., M.P.H.

> - In 2005 listed as being on the advisory boards of Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.,

> Abbott Laboratories, & , McNeil Nutritionals and Weight

> Watchers international Inc. 2004 study supported by funding from Abbott

> Laboratories Inc., Novo Nordisk, Roche, and Sanofi-Synthelabo. In 2005, listed

> as having received research funding from Eli Lilly and Company, Merck & Co.,

> Novartis AG, and Sanofi-Aventis. In 2004, listed as being a consultant to Eli

> Lilly, Roche, and Sanofi-Aventis. In 2005, listed as a member of the Clinical

> Advisory Board of the Grain Foods Foundation. In 1997, listed as being: on the

> advisory boards of the American Home Products¹ Wyeth-Ayerst labs and Knoll

> Pharmaceuticals; consultant to Lilly Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Hoffman-La

> Roche, Knoll, Weight- Watchers International, and Neurogen; on Knoll

> Pharmaceutical¹s Weight Risk Investigation Study Council, which provides

> research grants. In 1999, accepted grants or fees from Waner-Lambert on

> Rezulin, a diabetes drug. Research for 2000 study on the effects of folate and

> vitamins B-12 and B-6 on serum total homocysteine supported by Soup

> Company. 1997 study that compared meal plans and self-selected diet in

> relation to cardiovascular risk reduction supported by Soup Company.

> 1996 study on the benefits of a prepared diet in relation to cardiovascular

> disease supported by Soup Company.

>

> 11. B. Rimm, Sc.D.

> - In 2008, listed as receiving funding for obesity and diabetes research from

> Sanofi-Synthelabo and GlaxoKline.

>

> 12. Joanne L. Slavin, Ph.D., R.D.

> - Co-author of 2002 study on the ³effect of whole grain on insulin sensitivity

> on overweight hyperinsulinemic adults² funded in part by General Mills. 2001

> study on the ³effects of dietary arabinogalactan on gastrointestinal and blood

> parameters in healthy human subjects² sponsored by Larex Inc. In 1999 or

> earlier, conducted research for General Mills. Research for 1998 study on

> soybeans supported by the Minnesota Soybean Promotion and Research Council and

> Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. 1997 study on soy-protein supported

> by the Minnesota Soybean Promotion and Research Council and the Minnesota

> Agricultural Experiment Station.

>

> 13. L. , M.D., M.P.H.

> - Research for 1999 study on bran fiber in childhood supported in part by

> Kellogg.

>

>

> V. CONCLUSIONS

>

> There is a global pandemic of chronic diseases that is only getting worse. The

> government can help reduce this burden by educating the public about how to

> reduce or eliminate the risk of developing chronic diseases through diet and

> lifestyle. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, however, significantly

> underperform when it comes to preventing chronic diseases, though other

> diets‹principally the Mediterranean diet and also Harvard¹s Alternate

> Index‹perform much better, likely because they are more consistent with

> current scientific and medical knowledge. The United States thus has a great

> opportunity to help save lives by improving its dietary advice. To help take

> advantage of this opportunity, Congress should eliminate conflicts of interest

> in those who create the advice. This would involve two changes: 1) placing an

> appropriate health agency in charge of dietary advice, not the USDA; and 2)

> applying a new standard of apparent conflicts of interest to advisory

> committee members.

>

>

> Jeff

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

It seems like we went through a similar debate about the advisory " experts " used

in the drug approval process a few years back. If some consultant is

knowledgeable and working in the field of research, they don't generally get to

choose their projects, but work " where the money is " . In the drug industry it is

the drug companies who hire researchers and consultants, in the food industry it

is the food makers, who hire the lions share of researchers and consultants. It

seems there was also a related discussion about pay scale of regulators vs,

those consultants, while I am already concerned about the growing cost of our

government.

I have been disappointed by the apparent willingness of (some) climate

scientists to be corrupted by the surfeit of ever greater funding if they just

deliver the results their benefactors want to hear. I would hope that the vast

majority of professionals are truly professional and don't deliver preordained

results to curry favor with the highest bidder.

I am not optimistic that tweaking dietary advice will make a huge difference,

human nature being what it is. I suspect we have a much better opportunity to do

some good by getting low quality foods out of the schools and perhaps restoring

gym class and sports as a mass participation activity. (I applaud Michele

Obama's efforts against childhood obesity).

While the health insurers are (were?) probably leaders in connecting the dots

between diet and health consequences, insulating the consumers of health care

from the specific costs incurred by their personal behavior, provides zero

negative feedback to suppress that behavior.

JR

PS: A few decades ago I was called by a lawyer to be an expert witness in a

court case suing the power company over an injured client. That relationship

never progressed to a payday, or past the initial phone call, when the facts of

the case indicated his client was a dumb ass (Don't poke your power line with an

aluminum ladder!). I'd like to think most people are honest, even consultants.

On Jun 22, 2010, at 10:28 AM, Novick wrote:

> Potential Conflicts of Interest on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory

Committee

>

> From the article..

>

> Saving U.S. Dietary Advice from Conflicts of Interest

> Food & Drug Law Journal

> VOLUME 65 NUMBER 2 2010

>

> MEMBER RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY UP TO & INCLUDING 2010

>

> 1. V. Van Horn, Ph.D., R.D., L.D. (Chair)

> - 2007 study on the impact of intervention of beverage choice of children

funded in part by General Mills.

>

> 2. Naomi K. Fukagawa, M.D., Ph.D., (Vice-Chair)

> - None.

>

> 3. Cheryl Achterberg, Ph.D.

> - Scientific advisor to the Dannon Institute in 1998. Received a $150,538

grant from Kraft General Foods in 1993-94. Received a $125,000 grant from

’s Soup from 1995-97.

>

> 4. Lawrence J. Appel, M.D., M.P.H.

> - In 2003, listed as a consultant to Tropicana. In 2003, listed as receiving

research grants from King Pharmaceuticals.

>

> 5. A. Clemens, Dr.P.H.

> - None.

>

> 6. Miriam E. , Ph.D.

> - In 2007 listed as having received over $10,000 from Mission Pharmacal (which

makes the calcium supplement Citracal, which is sold by Bayer Pharmaceuticals)

and over $10,000 from Lluminari (a producer of healthrelated multi-media content

for General Mills, PepsiCo, Stonyfield Farm, Newman’s Own, and other companies).

In 2003, listed as being a member of the Mc’s Corp. Global Advisory

Council on Healthy Lifestyles.

>

> 7. Sharon M. Nickols-, Ph.D., R.D.

> - None.

>

> 8. A. Pearson, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.

> - 1994 study on chocolate’s effect on cholesterol levels supported by the

American Cocoa Research Institute (an arm of the Chocolate Manufacturers

Association). 1999 study on monounsaturated fats was supported by the Peanut

Institute. Research for 2000 study on lipid and lipoprotein responses to

different diets partially supported by Abbott Laboratories.

>

> 9. -Escamilla, Ph.D.

> - None.

>

> 10. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, M.D., M.P.H.

> - In 2005 listed as being on the advisory boards of Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.,

Abbott Laboratories, & , McNeil Nutritionals and Weight Watchers

international Inc. 2004 study supported by funding from Abbott Laboratories

Inc., Novo Nordisk, Roche, and Sanofi-Synthelabo. In 2005, listed as having

received research funding from Eli Lilly and Company, Merck & Co., Novartis AG,

and Sanofi-Aventis. In 2004, listed as being a consultant to Eli Lilly, Roche,

and Sanofi-Aventis. In 2005, listed as a member of the Clinical Advisory Board

of the Grain Foods Foundation. In 1997, listed as being: on the advisory boards

of the American Home Products’ Wyeth-Ayerst labs and Knoll Pharmaceuticals;

consultant to Lilly Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Hoffman-La Roche, Knoll, Weight-

Watchers International, and Neurogen; on Knoll Pharmaceutical’s Weight Risk

Investigation Study Council, which provides research grants. In 1999, accepted

grants or fees from Waner-Lambert on Rezulin, a diabetes drug. Research for 2000

study on the effects of folate and vitamins B-12 and B-6 on serum total

homocysteine supported by Soup Company. 1997 study that compared meal

plans and self-selected diet in relation to cardiovascular risk reduction

supported by Soup Company. 1996 study on the benefits of a prepared

diet in relation to cardiovascular disease supported by Soup Company.

>

> 11. B. Rimm, Sc.D.

> - In 2008, listed as receiving funding for obesity and diabetes research from

Sanofi-Synthelabo and GlaxoKline.

>

> 12. Joanne L. Slavin, Ph.D., R.D.

> - Co-author of 2002 study on the “effect of whole grain on insulin sensitivity

on overweight hyperinsulinemic adults” funded in part by General Mills. 2001

study on the “effects of dietary arabinogalactan on gastrointestinal and blood

parameters in healthy human subjects” sponsored by Larex Inc. In 1999 or

earlier, conducted research for General Mills. Research for 1998 study on

soybeans supported by the Minnesota Soybean Promotion and Research Council and

Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. 1997 study on soy-protein supported

by the Minnesota Soybean Promotion and Research Council and the Minnesota

Agricultural Experiment Station.

>

> 13. L. , M.D., M.P.H.

> - Research for 1999 study on bran fiber in childhood supported in part by

Kellogg.

>

>

> V. CONCLUSIONS

>

> There is a global pandemic of chronic diseases that is only getting worse. The

government can help reduce this burden by educating the public about how to

reduce or eliminate the risk of developing chronic diseases through diet and

lifestyle. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, however, significantly

underperform when it comes to preventing chronic diseases, though other

diets—principally the Mediterranean diet and also Harvard’s Alternate

Index—perform much better, likely because they are more consistent with current

scientific and medical knowledge. The United States thus has a great opportunity

to help save lives by improving its dietary advice. To help take advantage of

this opportunity, Congress should eliminate conflicts of interest in those who

create the advice. This would involve two changes: 1) placing an appropriate

health agency in charge of dietary advice, not the USDA; and 2) applying a new

standard of apparent conflicts of interest to advisory committee members.

>

>

> Jeff

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

I tend to agree but do think it is disappointing to see the conflicts, which

could be avoided.

While an appearance of a conflict, and even the acceptance of funding does not

guarantee influence of the outcome, the recent record speaks for itself (which

several major journals have shown) that the influence is effecting the outcomes

> I am not optimistic that tweaking dietary advice will make a huge difference,

human nature being what it is. I suspect we have a much better opportunity to do

some good by getting low quality foods out of the schools and perhaps restoring

gym class and sports as a mass participation activity. (I applaud Michele

Obama's efforts against childhood obesity).

She should have started with the Surgeon General.

Jeff