Potential Conflicts of Interest on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

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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