The reports included in this 2-part publication are based on presentations from the Special Conference on Functional Foods for Health Promotion, cosponsored by the North American Branch of the International Life Sciences Institute North America (ILSI NA) Technical Committee on Food Components for Health Promotion and the American Society for Nutritional Sciences (ASNS) at Experimental Biology (EB) meetings in 2004. Conferences in this series have been held since 1998.

ILSI NA is a public, not-for-profit scientific foundation that advances the understanding and application of scientific issues related to the nutritional quality and safety of the food supply, as well as health issues related to consumer self-care products. The organization carries out its mission by sponsoring relevant research programs, professional education programs and workshops, seminars, and publications, as well as providing a neutral forum for government, academic, and industry scientists to discuss and resolve scientific issues of common concern for the well-being of the general public. ILSI NA's programs are supported primarily by its industry membership. For more information about ILSI NA, visit the Web site at http://www.ilsina.org, or send an e-mail to [email protected].