Keeping up with the increasing popularity of nonvitamin, nonmineral supplements
Hankin, J.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association 100(4): 419-420
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-8223
PMID: 10767896
DOI: 10.1016/s0002-8223(00)00129-2
Accession: 009893234
The regulation of nonvitamin, nonmineral (NVNM) supplements is discussed. Since the passage of the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, the utilization of NVNM supplements has increased considerably. Furthermore, the report by Radimer et al. in this issue and other resources demonstrate the array of supplements that have been developed since this act. Although the FDA regulates drugs and additives, it has limited control over dietary supplements, which means that they are not evaluated for safety or efficacy and their contents are not monitored carefully to determine if the product actually contains what is stated on the label. The Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels has, therefore, suggested that the dietary supplement industry and the government support research on products offered to the public and that the FDA should be provided with sufficient resources to validate labels on these products and to monitor the safety of dietary products.