A new database to guide reference material selection for dietary supplement and nutrition science

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Nutritional Science
• Pharmacognosy

Background:

• Accurate chemical characterization of dietary supplements is crucial for health research.
• Reference materials (RMs) are essential for reliable analytical measurements.
• Identifying suitable RMs for complex dietary matrices is a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the difficulty in finding appropriate reference materials for dietary supplement analysis.
• To introduce a new, publicly available database to facilitate RM discovery.
• To enhance the reliability and reproducibility of research and regulatory testing in the field.

Main Methods:

• Development of a comprehensive database of reference materials.
• Implementation of search and comparison functionalities within the database.
• Coordination by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements.

Main Results:

• A new Reference Materials Search Tool (RMST) is now publicly available.
• The RMST provides comprehensive data records for various reference materials.
• The tool enables efficient discovery and selection of fit-for-purpose RMs.

Conclusions:

• The RMST significantly improves the ability to find and select appropriate reference materials.
• This resource supports more robust chemical analysis of dietary supplements, foods, and natural products.
• The tool aims to overcome barriers to reproducible research and regulatory testing.