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:

                Information for Consumers on Using 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 Supplements
          Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements - Social Media ToolkitInformation for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements - Social Media Toolkit
  
  	
    Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    Print*<< Supplement Your Knowledge* Education Initiative

Help the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spread the word about the Supplement Your Knowledge initiative and educate your partners, followers, subscribers, students, and other audiences about dietary supplements with the newsletter text, social media posts, images, videos, and educational resources below.


Dietary Supplements Education Initiative


*Note: To use the images shown below, copy and paste or right-click on the image and save to your computer.*

**Consumers | Healthcare Professionals | Teachers**

For Consumers

Announcement for Newsletters, Blogs, or Websites

Dietary supplements can be beneficial to your health, but they can also involve health risks. When you take too much of a dietary supplement or take supplements with prescription or over-the-counter medicines, you can have a bad reaction—also called an adverse event. And, if you take dietary supplements instead of prescribed medicines, the results potentially could be life-threatening.

So, it’s important to talk to your doctor, nurse, dietitian, or pharmacist before taking a dietary supplement. Ask if the supplement is right for you, if you are taking the right amount, and if it’s okay to combine supplements or take a supplement along with any medications you’re currently taking.

For more information about dietary supplements, including how they are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and how to report adverse events, visit www.fda.gov/dietarysupplements.

Facebook and X Posts

Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements
How are dietary supplements regulated? What are the benefits? Risks? If you want to know more, FDA has the answers. https://go.usa.gov/xuAGK


Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements
Always talk with your doctor or other healthcare professional about any supplements you are taking or considering...and do your research. You can find important facts about dietary supplements on FDA’s website. https://go.usa.gov/xuAGK
  

Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements can be beneficial to your health. But some can also come with risks, especially if you take high doses, multiple supplements, or with some medications. Learn more at FDA’s website. https://go.usa.gov/xuAGK


Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements
Did you know there are currently tens of thousands of dietary supplements available in the United States and about three-quarters of Americans report taking them?  Learn how FDA helps keeps you safe at https://go.usa.gov/xuAGK


Downloadable Factsheets and Infographic

Understanding Dietary Supplements Comprender los suplementos dietéticos
	Talking to Healthcare Professionals About Dietary SupplementsHablar con los profesionales de la salud sobre los suplementos dietéticos
	Dietary Supplements: Report Adverse Events to FDA Suplementos dietéticos: Informe los eventos adversos a la FDA
	Dietary Supplements: How FDA Helps Keep You Safe Suplementos dietéticos: Cómo la FDA le protegeVideos

**Dietary Supplements Overview**



**Dietary Supplements and Medications**



**Dietary Supplements and Adverse Events**



For Healthcare Professionals


Announcement for Newsletters, Blogs, or Websites

Your patients may take dietary supplements, whether recommended by you or on their own, for a variety of reasons. Some supplements can help your patients meet the daily requirements of essential nutrients or can help improve or maintain their overall health. But dietary supplements may also come with health risks that your patients should know about.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in collaboration with the American Medical Association (AMA) has developed a continuing medical education (CME) program to help you understand how dietary supplements are regulated and give you strategies to counsel patients about their benefits and risks. The CME program includes three videos and companion education materials available free of charge on FDA’s Healthcare Professionals website. Interested physicians can also access these materials at no cost on the AMA Ed HubTM and earn 0.50 *AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)*TM*.*

Facebook and X Posts

Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements
Physicians: FDA and AMA have developed a CME program to help you learn more about dietary supplements. Topics include how dietary supplements are regulated, potential interactions, adverse events, and how to report them to FDA. Learn more at https://go.usa.gov/xuAGp


Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements
Physicians and other healthcare professionals can learn more about dietary supplements and get strategies for counseling patients about their benefits and risks. Watch FDA’s videos and earn CME credit. https://go.usa.gov/xuAGp
  

Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements
Physicians: talk to your patients about dietary supplements during your review of their medical health history. These videos from FDA will give you the facts you need to answer your patients’ questions. Watch and earn CME credit. https://go.usa.gov/xuAGp


Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements
Pharmacists: FDA encourages you to talk to consumers about the benefits and risks of taking dietary supplements. Review FDA’s educational materials for more information about how dietary supplements are regulated, interactions with medications, adverse events, and how to report them to FDA. https://go.usa.gov/xuAGp


Downloadable Factsheets

Dietary Supplements: What Physicians Should KnowSuplementos dietéticos: Lo que los médicos deben saber
	Dietary Supplements: What Pharmacists Should KnowSuplementos dietéticos: Lo que los farmacéuticos deben saber
	Dietary Supplements and Adverse Events Suplementos dietéticos y eventos adversosContinuing Medical Education Videos

**Module 1: What Physicians Should Know – Part 1**



**Module 2: What Physicians Should Know – Part 2**



**Module 3: What You Need to Know About Dietary Supplements**



For Teachers


Announcement for Newsletters, Blogs, or Websites

Dietary supplement labeling can be confusing or misleading. Teens are particularly vulnerable targets for misunderstanding what dietary supplements are, and they are often unaware of the potential benefits and adverse effects they can have on their bodies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Science and Our Food Supply: Examining Dietary Supplements (2021 Edition) is designed to empower students to evaluate the accuracy and credibility of information they see and hear about dietary supplements.

This curriculum is designed for use by high school teachers and can be customized to science, health, and related classes. The curriculum aligns with current education standards and supports educators seeking Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) activities for their classrooms.

Facebook and X Posts

Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements
High school teachers: Now you can add dietary supplements to your curriculum. FDA’s Science and our Food Supply: Examining Dietary Supplements Teacher’s Guide can be customized for your science or health-related classes. Download it now. https://go.usa.gov/xuAGG


Spread the Word about Dietary Supplements
High school teachers: FDA’s Science and Our Food Supply: Examining Dietary Supplements Teacher’s Guide is designed to empower students to evaluate the accuracy and credibility of information they see and hear about dietary supplements. Learn more: https://go.usa.gov/xuAGG


Downloadable Curriculum

Science and Our Food Supply: Examining Dietary Supplements

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      05/25/2022
              
              
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