The weight loss category is notorious for ridiculous claims and outright fraud. But don’t let that problem category define the entire supplement field. Many quality supplements have strong published science for supporting heart health, eye health, immune health and bone health, among others.”

There is FDA oversight of suppleements, administered under the FDA’s Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements (ONPLDSO), “responsible for developing policy and regulations for dietary supplements, nutrition labeling and food standards, infant formula and medical foods as well as for scientific evaluation to support such regulations and related policy development. ONPLDS staff also support compliance/ enforcement actions and is responsible for the clinical review, data summaries, and, as appropriate, follow-up and research related to adverse events associated with dietary supplements and infant formula.”

It’s true FDA doesn’t require 3-phase testing of supplements like they do pharmaceuticals, but they do work to ensure accurate labeling and safety.