IADSA launches online portal to promote information on dietary supplements

04 Jun 2019 --- The International Alliance of Dietary Food Supplement Associations (IADSA) has launched a new online portal that serves as a new information resource that will facilitate more effective communication about the benefits of dietary supplements. The portal, named Mind the Gap, underscores the difference between the amount of nutrients needed to optimize wellbeing and the quantity people actually consume, according to IADSA. It also seeks to fill knowledge gaps, while showcasing the results of relevant research and real-life examples of successful national nutrition programs.

“Mind the Gap delivers additional communications support to our members, helping them to explain the value of supplementation,” says Cynthia Rousselot, Director of Technical and Regulatory Affairs at IADSA.

“Mind the Gap resources will be available in a range of formats – digital and printed. All will deliver a compelling narrative that can be used in whole or in part as the basis for meaningful discussions about the role of supplements in promoting health and wellbeing,” she adds.

Based in London, IADSA is the international association of the food supplement sector, with members from six continents, and a global platform that seeks to guide the evolution of policy and regulation in the sector.

IADSA borrowed the name Mind the Gap from the famous warnings posted at railway stations across the UK, which advise passengers to beware of the space between the train and the platform. 

The first two entries in the Mind the Gap series focus on the theme of vitamin D. They explain its benefits for improving bone density and provide an account of a successful fortification and supplementation initiative implemented in Finland. More stories will be added to the series in the near future.

Mind the Gap combines appealing visuals and engaging copy in a format that IADSA members may find straightforward to use either as it is or repurposed for their specific needs, the association notes. Starting June third of 2019 and for six weeks, IADSA will be promoting Mind the Gap to its followers on social networking sites using the hashtag #iadsamindthegap.

Online portals and apps support improved nutritional practices
The number of nutritional portals and apps is growing rapidly, as consumers and industry both benefit from information that is readily available online and/or easily accessed via smartphones. 

In this space, Panaceutics Nutrition uses patented technologies to combine digital data on daily habits, genomics and biomarkers, allowing for cost-effective and scalable manufacturing of individual formulations. This then drives its on-demand robotic manufacturing platform to make an individual’s “pill-free” blended formula, delivered in a ready-to-consume, shelf-stable packaged product. 

Late in 2018, Persona, a personalized nutrition platform launched Vitamin Packs Pro, a portal for nutritional assessment and dietary supplement analysis. The portal enables healthcare practitioners to quickly cross-reference and assess over 650 prescription medications to gain insights into how to avoid drug-nutrient interactions, according to the company.

Founded in 2005 and launched in 2007, MyNetDiary is an online diet log service with a considerable history that can be accessed from the MyNetDiary.com website. It boasts a database of 820,000 foods, diabetes tracking and low membership fees.

In smartphone applications, Neuriva (Schiff) previously launched Neuriva Brain Gym – a smartphone and computer app developed for training specific areas of cognitive function. 

Essentia launched the Nutritional Enhancement Calculator, designed to inform manufacturers about what’s required to upgrade their food or drink product to a higher protein classification. 

HealthWatch 360 is another mobile app for personalized nutrition and disease prevention, designed by nutrition scientists. The app provides personalized dietary and nutritional recommendations according to an individual’s health goals and personal profile.