The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act
The DSHEA was signed by President Clinton on October 15, 1994. For the first time dietary supplements were given their own set of rules by which to abide. The DSHEA included definitions of dietary supplementand new dietary ingredientand provided for the creation of a commission to advise on the regulation of these substances.
Early Regulation of Dietary Supplements
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, concerns about the safety and purity of the American food supply were mounting. Farmers, millers, trade associations, and drug producers agreed that a government intervention was warranted, but each group was unwilling to compromise its own agenda in the interest of an agreement. In addition to concern about [...]
The Regulation of Dietary Supplements
One hundred years ago, the dietary supplement industry was very different from today. Production and processing were not standardized, sanitation was questionable (manufacturers had little understanding of bacterial/microbial control and refrigeration was primitive), and distribution was unregulated. The twentieth century brought many changes in how dietary supplements were handled and transported, and several laws sought [...]
Do Dietary Supplements Provide a Benefit?
While characteristics such as age and geographic location are related to dietary supplement use, the most striking characteristic about dietary supplement users is that they make health and nutrition a top priority. Therefore, it is important to consider whether people who take dietary supplements benefit from them and whether those people who might benefit from [...]
Dietary Supplement Use for Treatment
The other group of dietary supplement users takes them to treat or manage a current disease. For instance, chondroitin sulfate is used to treat osteoarthritis; saw palmetto is used to treat an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy); and fish oil is used to treat high blood pressure. Despite extensive medical research, many conditions and diseases [...]
Dietary Supplement Use for Prevention
Many people who take dietary supplements are in good health. Sometimes characterized as “the worried well,” this population tends to consume healthful diets and dietary supplements and to lead healthy, active lives. While there is no evidence that people in this group rely on dietary supplements as a substitute for good dietary habits, they do [...]
Health-Related Behaviors
People who take dietary supplements are likely to be concerned with health-related issues. They eat more fruits and vegetables, exercise more regularly, and smoke and drink alcohol less often than their counterparts who do not take dietary supplements. The 1992 “National Health Interview Survey” found that the diets of dietary supplement users are lower in [...]