University News
Kinesiology Prof Participates in NIH Practicum
June 25, 2008
MACOMB, IL -- Michael Godard, assistant professor of kinesiology at Western Illinois University, joined more than 100 other professors and graduate students from universities throughout the U.S. and Canada at the recent National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) course, "Dietary Supplement Research Practicum 2008." The practicum was held on the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, June 9-13.
According to Godard, ODS offers the annual intensive course to provide essential knowledge of dietary supplements to academic faculty and their doctoral or post-doctoral students with an interest in this subject. Experts from NIH, academic institutions and federal regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), served as speakers.
"The practicum provided a thorough overview of issues, concepts, unknowns and controversies about dietary supplements and supplement ingredients," Godard noted. "It also emphasized the importance of scientific investigations to evaluate the efficacy, safety and value of these products for health promotion and disease prevention and treatment, as well as how to carry out this type of research."
Participants also spent the day in Washington, D.C., meeting with representatives from professional associations, the media, the dietary supplement industry and consumer advocacy groups that study, advocate, regulate, or educate about dietary supplements.
Godard is currently conducting a research study examining the effects of Cactus Pear Fruit supplements on blood sugar level and body fat percentage.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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