The Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) has launched a business network breakfast series aimed at addressing contemporary issues in Africa’s most populous nation’s quality infrastructure as it concerns the practice of laboratory analysis.
The maiden edition of the IPAN Business Network Breakfast Series (IBNBS), focused on the benefits and harmful effects nutritional supplements and food additives, in order to provide analytical guide for manufacturers and consumers.
“It is common among professional groups to hold such breakfast meetings. Today we are discussing the issues around nutritional supplements. As public analysts, we want to understand the dynamics; what are food supplements, benefits, and implications,” said William Onwuka, principal consultant, Fine Spectra Consult Limited, a quality management system consulting company, he is also a fellow of IPAN. “The outcome of this breakfast meeting will help us advise the public, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, regarding food supplements; since we are a sub-unit of the Ministry of Health.”
Food or nutritional and herbal supplements have been quite popular in the country for some years. They are often packaged in tablets, pills, capsules or liquid forms, and they can be vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanical plants.
Nutritional supplements in the form of vitamins have recorded considerable growth because of the easy availability and affordable nature of such products in Nigeria. Consumers continue to demand such products because of their effectiveness in maintaining a healthy body.
Some of these nutritional supplements are also considered an important complement with other drugs to aid recovery from ailments, such as being used with anti-malarial drugs, and are recommended by medical professionals. Thus, with growth in terms of population, health awareness, and incomes among the population, their affordability means those vitamins are expected to see strong growth over the forecast period.
“Nutritional supplements are not substitutes for healthy, balanced diets. A diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, adequate-protein, and healthy fats should normally provide all nutrients needed for good health” Kukoyi Ebunoluwa, a registered dietician said at IBNBS in Lagos.
These supplements have become a habitual intake for many seeking good health and wellbeing; however, experts have expressed caution in their use especially in excess dosage or without prescription from a medical doctor. Some, they believe, might be unsafe especially for people with certain medical conditions or taking some medications. Food additives also constitute another set of dangers.
IPAN is a Chartered Regulatory body (IPAN Act CAP. 1 16 LFN 2004) for all testing laboratory analysts in Nigeria who are supervised by the Federal Ministry of Health. The Institute is statutorily charged with the responsibility of regulating the practice of laboratory analysis as well as registering and regulating analytical laboratories in Nigeria.
“I wish to make a clarion call to all of us to keep faith with the IBNBS and endeavour to jointly nurture it” Aliyu Angara, registrar, CEO of the Institute said at the launch.
