There are many avenues out there for getting the insight and information that you need to make solid decisions about your health.
While you can certainly read blogs, website pots, news stories to get the information that you need, one of the most useful and reliable tools is one written by the National Institute of Health (NIH).
For those of you who are interested in dietary supplements in particular, this review would like to recommend the institute’s Strengthening Knowledge and Understanding of Dietary Supplements. Here is everything you need to know about this material so that you can make use of it when it comes to your own health:
What is the NIH’s Health Strategic Plan?
The NIH’s Health Strategic Plan for the next four years is identified in its published PDF guide Strengthening Knowledge and Understanding of Dietary Supplements.
The document is compiled by the NIH’s Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) and it identifies the institute’s goals, strategies, and activities for the next five years. With this insight, you’ll be able to learn and understand about the research tools that go into the investigation of dietary.
The purpose of the institute and its plan is to not regulate the dietary supplement industry supplements, but to provide consumers with some direction into the supplement industry.
Dietary Supplement Oversight
As the PDF file explains, dietary supplements are not regulated like “conventional” foods and drug products manufactured and sold in the United States.
Instead of receiving strict oversight by the federal government, dietary supplements are actually regulated by the manufacturer, according to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act.
The Act explains that the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the supplement is safe for consumer use and that the label is truthful and not misleading. The only quality that the manufacturer does not need to prove is effectiveness.
While dietary supplements are not regulated by the government, the ODS still takes a close look at the science behind supplements, the gaps in consumer knowledge regarding supplements, and the research that needs to be done in order to fill in those gaps.
With these types of methods, consumers are able to enjoy from a greater level of rigor, transparency, and reproducibility in how the science behind supplements is performed.
The Components Of Strengthening Knowledge And Understanding Of Dietary Supplements
The report is about 29 pages long and it contains a plethora of information related to the ODS and its goals for the future. Below are the main components of this program so that you know what to expect if you do decide to go through it. Alternatively, you can rely on the summaries of the information as well:
- Mission, Values, and Goals
First, the document identifies the ODS’s mission, value, and goals for the next few years. With this information, you can get a sense of what the department’s mission is regarding research on dietary supplements, their impact on your health, and more.
To give you more insight, a few of their goals include providing you with scientific knowledge about dietary supplements, enhancing the research of dietary supplements through training and career development, fostering development and dissemination or research tools and research, translating the research for better understanding, and turning the research into useful information for those interested.
- Developing Evidence Based Review Programs
Next, the ODS is working to develop evidence based review programs. This move is in response to congressional encouragement, which is pushing for more efficacy and safety reviews related to the research needs of dietary supplements.
Evidence based review programs on dietary supplements conduct regular reviews on the benefits of B-vitamins, multivitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, probiotics, and soy.
The department also regularly updates their findings so that you have the latest information available.
- Dietary Supplement Database
Third, the department is also working on developing two databases: Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database (DSID) and the Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD).
Each of these databases provides information about the composition of dietary supplements that are sold in the United States.
Further, the databases identify food composition, the bioactive substances, and literature about the supplements. The databases are designed to help consumers like you make better decisions.
- Workforce Development
The workforce development is a mechanism to develop a team of researchers who are knowledgeable in and fully understand about dietary supplements.
The team ensures that there is legitimate, accurate, and correct information out there about dietary supplements. This way, the consumer receives information that can be trusted.
- Conduct Research on Patterns of US Population Dietary Supplement Use
Fifth, the department also focuses on conducting research on the patterns of use among the US population regarding dietary supplements.
In conducting research regarding this matter, the department is able to identify the most pressing supplements that need attention so that it can better service consumers and their needs.
Further, by pointing out the most relevant supplements, the department is also able to perform an assessment of its use among the population and how the ingredients impact health.
- ODS Responsibilities
Finally, you’ll find a list of ODS responsibilities and goals. The list provides you with information into what you can expect from the department and how it works influences your use of dietary supplements in the future.
For example, one of the overarching goals is to compile and collect the results of scientific research of dietary supplements. With this information, you’ll be able to make better decisions for your health and long-term goals.
Where To Read The Strategic Plan
If you are interested in reading Strengthening Knowledge and Understanding of Dietary Supplements, then you can do a quick search of the document on the search engine. In doing so, you’ll be redirected to the webpage that features the document so that you can read about how the department is making sure that you are making the right decisions regarding supplement use.
National Institutes Of Health Strategic Plan 2017-2021 Summary
Overall, if you are interested in reading about the ODS and its goals regarding supplement use for the next few years, then visit the NIH website today.
The guide available makes it easy for you to understand how the department is influencing the supplement industry and ensuring that you’re making better and smarter decisions.
