WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) has added three new and updated chapters to its Vitamin & Mineral Safety, Fourth Edition (VMS4) series, reinforcing its role as the supplement industry’s most comprehensive science-based reference on nutrient safety.
The updates include:
- A new chapter on choline and citicoline, essential for brain and liver health;
- A new chapter on lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, carotenoids linked to vision and eye function; and
- An updated folate chapter, retaining the existing Upper Intake Level (UL) for folate while adding new safety data for methylfolate, the biologically active form.
“These chapters underscore CRN’s commitment to scientific rigor and transparency,” said Andrea Wong, Ph.D., senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at CRN. “They confirm that these nutrients, when used at appropriate levels, are safe and essential for brain, vision, and metabolic health.”
The review of choline and citicoline establishes a supplemental UL of 2,000 mg daily for citicoline and confirms the Institute of Medicine’s UL of 3,500 mg for choline, based on over 20 human clinical trials. The assessment found no clear link between dietary choline intake and cardiovascular disease outcomes.
The lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin chapter summarizes findings from about 75 clinical trials, showing no serious adverse effects—even at high intakes. CRN kept the highest observed intake (HOI) at 22 mg per day for lutein and established new HOIs of 26 mg for zeaxanthin and 17 mg for meso-zeaxanthin.
For folate, CRN maintained the 1 mg UL for folic acid but introduced a 1.5 mg UL for methylfolate, reflecting its increased use in supplements and fortified foods.
“By distinguishing between folic acid and methylfolate, we’re aligning safety standards with evolving product innovation,” Wong said.
CRN president and CEO Steve Mister added, “Our Vitamin & Mineral Safety series remains the gold standard for nutrient risk assessment. These updates strengthen the scientific foundation supporting responsible product development and consumer confidence.”
The new and updated chapters—Choline and Citicoline, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Meso-Zeaxanthin, and Folic Acid and Methylfolate—are available for download at www.crnusa.org/resources/vitamin-mineral-safety. Additional nutrient reviews are planned through 2026.
