U.S. Military Reviewing Supplement Use

The use of dietary supplements has become increasingly popular among members of the U.S. military, compelling government agencies to develop a monitoring system for potential adverse effects. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the Samueli Institute, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with support from FDA, requested that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) convene an ad hoc committee to review supplement use among military personnel, the potential need for supplements, and an approach to report ad­verse health events. Key elements to the strategy include information sharing as well as education and outreach efforts for service members, officers and healthcare personnel. The report concludes: “Until such a system or approach is in place, our service members will continue to make decisions about their own health without knowing the risks and benefits associated with supplements under military contexts, potentially compromising their performance and the resulting success of military operations.”