Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

        Dietary Supplements

Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements

                        
                Supplement Your Knowledge
          Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements Home
          Food
          Dietary Supplements
          Information for Consumers on Using Dietary SupplementsDietary Supplements Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements
  	
        Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintThe Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, which amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, transformed FDA’s authority to regulate dietary supplements. Under DSHEA, **FDA is not authorized to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed**. In fact, in many cases, firms can lawfully introduce dietary supplements to the market without even notifying FDA. Since DSHEA was enacted, the dietary supplement market has grown significantly. For example, the number of products has expanded nearly twenty times since 1994.

Dietary supplements play a role in the comprehensive care plan for many Americans. For example, some dietary supplements can help improve or maintain overall health and help provide adequate amounts of essential nutrients that the body needs to function. Because taking supplements can also involve health risks, FDA advises consumers to be informed and talk to their doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional before deciding to purchase or use a dietary supplement. FDA is committed to protecting the public by identifying and removing unsafe and illegal products from the market and ensuring that products marketed as dietary supplements are safe, well-manufactured, and accurately labeled.

The following are resources and important information for you and your family about dietary supplements.

Dietary Supplement Educational Resources and Materials

Supplement Your Knowledge: Dietary Supplements Education Initiative
**Supplement Your Knowledge: Dietary Supplement Education Initiative**
Downloadable educational resources


​​​​​​​Questions and Answers
**Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements**
Answers to popular questions


Consumer Updates

Timely and easy-to-read articles on product approvals, safety warnings, and other health information.

Some Imported Dietary Supplements and Nonprescription Drug Products May Harm You
	Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health​​​​​​​
	More Consumer Updates related to Dietary Supplements...Alerts for Consumers

Public Health Alert Concerning Dietary Supplements Containing Cesium Salts
	Public Health Alert Concerning Nopalina Flax Seed Powder and Nopalina Flax Seed Capsules and *Salmonella* Contamination
	FDA Advises Consumers to Stop Using Certain Life Rising Dietary SupplementsRecalls, Warnings, and Health Fraud

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts
	ORA District and Headquarters Recall Coordinators
	Warning Letters
	Medication Health Fraud
	Health Fraud Product Database
	Health Fraud ScamsFDA Resources for You

How to Report a Problem with Dietary Supplements
	Dietary Supplement Products & Ingredients
	What's New in Dietary Supplements
	Label Claims for Conventional Foods and Dietary Supplements
	Let's Talk Dietary Supplements (Video)Additional Dietary Supplement Information from Other Agencies

**National Institutes of Health**

Dietary Supplement Health Information (NIH-ODS)
	Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets(NIH-ODS)
	Botanical Dietary Supplements (NIH-ODS)
	Using Dietary Supplements Wisely (NIH-NCCIH)
	How To Evaluate Health Information on the Internet (NIH-ODS)
	Video on Thinking About Taking a Dietary Supplement (NIH-ODS)
	Dietary and Herbal Supplements(NIH-NCCIH)
	Herbs at a Glance(NIH-NCCIH)
	Dietary Supplements (MedlinePlus)**U.S. Department of Agriculture**

​​​​​​​Nutrition.gov (online federal government information on nutrition, including dietary supplements)**Federal Trade Commission**

FDA and FTC work together to regulate dietary supplement claims. FTC regulates the advertising of dietary supplements and specifically reviews the truth and accuracy of claims made in dietary supplement advertising and marketing.

Dietary Supplements: An Advertising Guide for Industry**National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine**

The Food and Nutrition Board establishes principles and guidelines of adequate dietary intake; issues publications such as "Dietary Reference Intakes: Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline.**U.S. Department of Defense**

Operation Supplement Safety provides dietary supplement information for the military community, leaders, healthcare providers, and DoD civilians.Contact FDA

Office of Dietary Supplement Programs, HFS-810
Food and Drug Administration
5001 Campus Dr
College Park, MD 20740

To contact the Office of Dietary Supplement Programs, email: ODSP@fda.hhs.gov

To reach FDA’s Food and Cosmetics Information Center, call: 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366)

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      10/21/2022
                  
                   
Regulated Product(s)
		 Dietary SupplementsInformation for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements                
                          

                        Supplement Your Knowledge
          Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements
 
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop