The on-line promotion and sale of nutrigenomic services.
The on-line promotion and sale of nutrigenomic services.
复制标题
营养基因组服务的在线推广和销售。
DOI：
10.1097/gim.0b013e31818c0441
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发表时间：
2008
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Sterling,Rene
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Sterling,Rene
Purpose: Nutrigenomic researchers hope to improve health through personalized nutrition, but many consider the sale of nutrigenomic services to be premature. Few studies have evaluated the promotion and sales practices of organizations hosting nutrigenomic websites.Methods: Systematic search and analysis of websites promoting nutrigenomic services in October 2006.Results: Of the 64 organizations hosting websites, 29 organizations offered (24 of 29) or promoted (5 of 29) at-home testing and 26 organizations sold services on-line (17 of 26) or provided a direct link to on-line sales (9 of 26). A lack of transparency made it difficult to identify unique tests; however, three organizations were linked to 56% of all test mentions. Most organizations were healthcare/wellness service providers (50%) or laboratories/biotech companies (27%). Few organizations provided on-line information about laboratory certifications (20%), nutrigenomic test or research limitations (13%), test validity or utility (11%), or genetic counseling (9%). Affiliation opportunities were offered by 15 organizations.Conclusions: Organizations did not provide adequate information about nutrigenomic services and at-home genetic testing. Affiliation opportunities and distribution agreements suggest the promotion and sale of nutrigenomic services will continue, increasing the importance of consumer and provider education. In absence of federal regulation, organizations promoting nutrigenomic services should equate websites to product labels and include information to facilitate informed decision-making.
