EMORY VITAMIN EXPERT LEADS THE WAY IN DEVELOPING NEW NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES

A group of leading nutrition-related scientists, physicians and public health officials from around the world met recently in Bangkok to clear any muddy waters that may exist concerning current recommendations for human intake of vitamins and minerals.

Donald B. McCormick, Ph.D., Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Biochemistry at Emory University, led the group of scientists who met in Thailand at the Joint FAO/WHO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization) Expert Consultation on Human Vitamin and Mineral Requirements at the end of September.

The scientists reviewed the most up-to-date scientific knowledge about vitamins and minerals and their effects on human nutrition, health promotion and disease prevention in both developing and developed countries. They will now begin outlining practical recommendations, help clarify controversy and propose new guidelines to help promote optimum health into the next millennium.

Dr. McCormick is internationally recognized for his research on vitamins and other cofactors, and was a recent participant in the IOM/NAS committee that updated the recommendations on B-complex vitamins for the U.S.

The last joint FAO/WHO guidelines relating to all the vitamins and minerals was issued 24 years ago.