Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Dietary Supplements: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians

In the United States, dietary supplements are regulated as a subcategory of food and therefore are not required to undergo review and approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This inadequate regulatory framework has allowed adulterated and mislabeled products to repeatedly enter the market and poses a health threat to the public. In this position paper, the American College of Physicians offers policy recommendations to bolster the FDA's pre- and postmarket regulatory authority for dietary supplements, standardize dietary supplement terminology and data sharing, and implement changes within the health care system to improve care for patients using dietary supplements.