Dietary Supplements : Current Controversies in the United States

Dietary supplements are generally defined as concentrated sources of nutrients prescribed in addition to the daily diet to increase nutrient intake. These supplements are usually in the form of tablets, capsules, pills, powders, or liquids. Sales of dietary supplements are roughly $4 billion per year in the United States. Nearly 4 out of every 10 adults use dietary supplements regularly. This article is to report the pros and cons in the use of dietary supplements and a brief overview of current law, proposed regulations, and related activities in the United States. It provides what information should be known to the public before federal regulations governing health claims are made . These regulations may decide whether health food industries or pharmaceutical companies can make claims about the function of nutrients.