Dietary Supplements

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which provides for dietary supplements. A product (other than tobacco) intended to supplement the diet may contain one or more of the following dietary ingredients: A vitamin, a mineral, an herb (herbal) or other plant, an amino acid, a food component used to increase the total daily intake to supplement the diet, or a concentrate, metabolite, component, extract or combination of the above ingredients, etc. It also includes approved new drugs, vitamins or biologics that have been marketed as dietary supplements or food products before they are approved, issued or licensed. The DSHEA defines dietary supplements as their composition and labeling requirements: the product form may be pill, capsule, tablet or liquid; The product shall not be used as a substitute for ordinary foods or as an exclusive dietary item. The product shall be labeled as a "dietary supplement".