Dietary supplements: The good and the bad

In response to a recent opinion piece on dietary supplements published in The Hill, it’s important to note that the vast majority of dietary supplements are produced by credible, accountable companies who follow good manufacturing practices and adhere to the regulatory requirements mandated by the Dietary and Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. We share the concerns expressed over illegal products spiked with pharmaceutical ingredients or new chemical ingredients with an unknown safety profile, and we call on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use its existing authority to crack down on rogue manufacturers that pollute their products with illegal or undeclared substances.

{mosads}But let’s parse out the good actors from the bad, when it comes to dietary supplement manufacturers, and the value their products provide to consumers each and every day. Supplements fill a need for many consumers who either do not get all of the essential vitamins and minerals they need in their daily diet or who have specific deficiencies or health conditions – from joint pain to pregnancy. What’s more, supplements can help reduce health care costs. For example, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) notes that osteoporosis-related fractures create a heavy economic burden, causing more than 432,000 hospital admissions, almost 2.5 million medical office visits and about 180,000 nursing home admissions annually in the US. Furthermore, the NOF advises that providing adequate daily calcium and vitamin D is a safe and inexpensive way to help reduce fracture risk, which could in turn impact our health care costs.

With extensive regulatory checks currently in place, the dietary supplement industry is a far cry from what the author calls ‘self-monitoring’ –  in fact, the FDA regulates both finished dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients. In addition to ingredient and manufacturing oversight, the FDA has enforcement authority against any adulterated or misbranded dietary supplements once marketed. What’s more, extensive regulations ensure manufacturers and distributors evaluate the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to consumers.

This issue is far more complex than a news headline or political talking point. Dietary supplements provide enormous value to consumers and the American healthcare system, so let’s target criticism of the industry to the subset of manufacturers who knowingly skirt the requirements mandated under federal law. That’s an approach we can all support, and one which will provide consumers with more confidence in the integrity of their dietary supplements.  

Melville is president and CEO of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.