Nutrient Network Library: Furthering Nutraceutical Research
Biostar Nutriceuticals, San Mateo, CA, has launched a Nutrient Network Library (NNL), which is being touted as the first international nutrient library for the nutraceuticals industry. The library has been established to expedite the development of better health products and to be a reliable source for nutraceutical scientists to educate and promote good nutrition and health throughout the world. Explaining further was Richard Merriam, president, Biostar Nutriceuticals, "The library's focus is to contain information about all efficacious products that are known to mankind," he said. "The development of this library was begun to help establish a reputation for the nutraceuticals industry. Further more, it was created to develop the science for the industry and serve a place to put the science."
Who is it designed for?
This resource with scientific information and real time research is available free to anyone wanting to learn about how they can improve their health through proper nutrition or for companies wishing to develop effective products supported by solid science. Mr. Merriam said, "This library is open to the industry but anyone can participate in building the library. The goal is for it to be THE place to find the science on nutraceuticals throughout the world." He continued, "There is a lot of science that is being locked up in file cabinets and not shared because companies say that they will do something with it someday but they don't get around to it for one reason or another. What we are looking to do is have them open up their file cabinets and submit the documentation, so we can preserve this information forever."
This is an industry library that is designed for the nutraceutical industry. It is not owned by any individual company, but by all those in the industry who participate in the NNL. It is constantly being expanded an updated. New research, clinical trials, new products and articles are continuously being added.
PCSs and product categories
Currently, in its first phase of development, there are over 2600 product families represented in the NNL by product catalog sheets (PCSs). "PCSs are product family sheets," explained Mr. Merriam. "For instance, the sheet for ginkgo would describe the entire ginkgo family and within that family any ginkgo related members would be associated in that sheet. If someone wanted to promote a study they conducted on ginkgo they could post it within the references in the library itself." Additionally, phase two, which is in development, will allow access to the references and science within the NNL.
The NNL is organized under 12 different categories of products including amino acids, branded raw materials, colors (natural), excipients, enzymes and probiotics, essential oils and flavors, formulation blended, herbs and botanicals, oils and oleoresins, proteins, specialty products and supplements and vitamins and minerals.
Building by partnership
The library is built by professionals from the nutraceutical research community within a collaborative strategic partnership environment. Any qualified professional, researcher or company can participate in developing the library. Biostar will be an overseer to verify the accuracy of the data and to maintain the highest standards. Any new information or changes are submitted to the NNL librarian who reviews the information and may request additional substantiation. The submission is then reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Board. For more information visit www.nutrientlibrary.com; www.nutrientnetwork.com.-R.M.