Perspectives in Pharmacology Can Claims, Misleading Information, and Manufacturing Issues Regarding Dietary Supplements Be Improved in the United States?

The safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are assessed through the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) OTC drug review. Prescription drugs are approved through the rigorous new drug application (NDA) process. In contrast, dietary supplements are regulated as foods, and the FDA must determine that a dietary supplement ingredient poses a “significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury” instead of requiring the manufacturer to provide safety data. According to the FDA, there are more than 29,000 different dietary supplements available to consumers today. This mo-mentum has its roots in consumer interest in health and self-care and suggests that Americans are searching for alternatives to conventional foods for physical and mental well being. The Committee on the Framework for Evaluating the Safety of Di