ANDREA T. LINDSEY1,2*, CINDY CRAWFORD1,2, PATRICIA A. DEUSTER1
*Corresponding author
1. Consortium for Health and Military Performance, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, United States
2. Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States

Abstract

Dietary supplement use is high with consumers turning to dietary supplements for various reasons, such as health and wellness and improved performance. The global market is booming and regulations for oversight of products cannot keep up with the market. Predatory marketing and adulterated products have been reported; yet consumers seem to trust industry. Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS), a US Department of Defense program, provides evidence-based information and training on dietary supplements, and tools to help users make informed decisions. Service Members and the public at large should not have to worry about harmful and potentially dangerous ingredients in supplements: they should be confident that the products they choose will not negatively affect their health, performance or readiness to serve.

The global market size for dietary supplements has reached over $150 billion as of 2022 and is expected to grow exponentially in the years to come (1). Consumers turn to dietary supplements to supplement their diet with nutrients they might not be getting from conventional food, but also for other reasons, such as enhancing their general overall health and wellness and improving their mental and/or physical performance. According to a recent survey, consumers seem to have strong confidence and trust in dietary supplements and the dietary supplement industry (2). However, claims made on product labels and through advertisements may not always match the science with regard to efficacy, effectiveness and/or safety. In addition, the ingredients listed on the Supplement Facts label may not actually match the ingredients contained in the product.

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) (3) was enacted in 1994, when the market for dietary supplements was worth approximately $4 billion with less than 4,000 products available. This Statute of United States (US) Federal legislation defined dietary supplements and the regulatory framework for dietary ...