Dietary Supplements: Policy and Research Implications for Nurses

Millions of Americans use dietary supplements without full knowledge of their effects. Given the serious safety issues surrounding dietary supplements and the potential for nurses to play pivotal roles as patient educators and policy advocates, this article describes laws and regulations pertaining to dietary supplements, relevant research, the role of organized interests in policy making for dietary supplements, and how other countries regulate dietary supplements. We offer recommendations for policy change and identify implications of this issue for nursing practice.