Introduction to Dietary Supplements and Their Regulation by the FDA

Welcome to our blog series on dietary supplements and FDA regulations! In this first post, we'll provide an overview of dietary supplements and their purpose, as well as how they are regulated by the FDA.

Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet and provide nutrients that may be missing or insufficient in one's regular diet. They can come in various forms, such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, amino acids, and enzymes.

The regulation of dietary supplements in the United States is governed by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), passed in 1994. DSHEA defines dietary supplements and outlines the responsibilities of manufacturers, distributors, and the FDA in ensuring their safety.

The FDA plays a crucial role in overseeing dietary supplements to protect public health. While DSHEA allows supplements to be marketed without FDA pre-approval, the agency still enforces specific regulations to ensure product safety, proper labeling, and appropriate marketing claims.

In the next blogs, we'll dive deeper into key FDA regulations for dietary supplements, understanding claims and marketing practices, and more. Stay tuned!