Dietary Supplements: Regulatory Challenges and Research Resources

Abstract

Many of the scientific and regulatory challenges that exist in research on the safety, quality and efficacy of dietary supplements are common to all countries as the marketplace for them becomes increasingly global. This article summarizes some of the challenges in supplement science and provides a case study of research at the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health, USA, along with some resources it has developed that are available to all scientists. It includes examples of some of the regulatory challenges faced and some resources for those who wish to learn more about them.

Keywords

• dietary supplements
• food supplements
• supplement science
• scientific challenges
• regulatory challenges
• natural health product
• complementary medicine
• traditional medicines
• National Institutes of Health
• Office of Dietary Supplements