Dietary Supplements Information

Dietary supplements were defined in a law passed by Congress in 1994. A dietary supplement must meet all of the following conditions:

• It is a product (other than tobacco) intended to supplement the diet, which contains one or more of the following: vitamins; minerals; herbs or other botanicals; amino acids; or any combination of the above ingredients.
• It is intended to be taken in tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, or liquid form.
• It is not represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet.
• It is labeled as being a dietary supplement.

Dietary supplements are widely available through many commercial sources including health food stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, and by mail. Dietary supplements are provided in many forms including tablets, capsules, powders, geltabs, extracts, liquids, etc. Historically in the United States, the most prevalent type of dietary supplement was a multivitamin/mineral tablet or capsule that was available in pharmacies by prescription or "over the counter." Supplements containing strictly herbal preparations were less widely available. Currently in the United States, a wide array of supplement products are available and they include vitamin, mineral, other nutrients, and botanical supplements as well as ingredients and extracts of animal and plant origin.

Registered dietitians at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center (CC), the clinical research hospital at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, in conjunction with the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), have developed a series of fact sheets to help consumers make thoughtful decisions about eating a healthful diet and using vitamin and mineral supplements.

The mission of Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) is to strengthen knowledge and understanding of dietary supplements by evaluating scientific information, stimulating and supporting research, disseminating research results, and educating the public to foster an enhanced quality of life and health for the U.S. population.

The Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center (CC) is the clinical research hospital for NIH. Through clinical research, physicians and scientists translate laboratory discoveries into better treatments, therapies and interventions to improve the nation's health.