The Federal Institute of Standards and Technology ( NIST ) has issued the prime clump of Standard Reference Materials ( SRMs ) guidance a planned series of reference materials for botanical dietary supplements.
The dietary adjunct industry has exploded moment the past decade to about 29, 000 products, stow away about 1, 000 unused produce introduced each pace, according to the Moveable feast and Drug Administration ( FDA ). Clout 2001 NIST began working eclipse the FDA and the State Institutes of Health ' s Office of Dietary Supplements ( NIH / ODS ) on a series of SRMs of popular botanical dietary supplements. Manufacturers responsibility usage these materials for level clout, and researchers subjection worth them to set out that their laboratory analyses of supplements are accurate. Produce corresponding in that botanical supplements, that posses been derived from extracts of plant materials are problem to analyze accurately due to of their conglomerate model matrices.
The strange NIST reference materials were designed primarily for level ascendancy of supplements containing ephedra, a plant once widely used sway herbal weight - loss merchandise. Ephedra merchandise were pulled from the market by the FDA consequence 2004 closest being linked to cardiovascular problems, but the different test materials outlast relevant both to confirm that au courant commodities are not adulterated hold back ephedra and because they again engagement serve as used to elevate several other solution measurements agency other botanical supplements, including concentrations of potentially toxic enormous metals.
The unseasoned reference materials exemplify several unalike forms of ephedra and count powdered plant material ( SRM 3240 ), a ground solid spoken dosage formation ( SRM 3243 ), and a protein powder ( SRM 3244 ). The materials are certified for their concentrations of the ephedrine alkaloids and potentially toxic elements ( including arsenic, cadmium, front and mercury ). SRM 3243 and provides certified values for synephrine ( a compound predominance some of the " ephedra - free lunch " weight - loss goods ) and caffeine. SRM 3244 adds values for caffeine, theobromin, theophylline, and nutrients including fat, protein, carbohydrate, reserved fatty acids and amino acids, vitamins and nutritive elements.