New Dietary Supplement Rules Urged

With nearly one-fifth of Americans taking dietary supplements, the Institute of Medicine called Wednesday for tougher regulations to make sure the products were safe and did what they claimed.

The institute, which convenes expert panels to advise Congress on healthcare issues, expressed concern about the quality of dietary supplements, saying there was “little product reliability.”

This makes it difficult for health professionals to guide patients in the use of supplements, the institute said. It urged Congress to take steps to require improved quality control of supplements and to provide incentives to study the efficacy of the products.

“Reliable and standardized products are needed,” said Dr. Stuart Bondurant, chairman of the institute panel that prepared a report on the issue.