Sean Moloughney06.27.08
The use of dietary supplements has become increasingly popular among members of the U.S. military, compelling government agencies to develop a monitoring system for potential adverse effects.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the Samueli Institute, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with support from FDA, requested that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) convene an ad hoc committee to review supplement use among military personnel, the potential need for supplements and an approach to report adverse health events.
While IOM recommends the continued evaluation of potential benefits of supplements, the report proposes three critical components to successfully manage their safe use: a system to monitor the use of dietary supplements by military personnel; a framework to determine the level of concern for dietary supplements in a military context; and a system to report adverse events associated with dietary supplements.
Key elements to the strategy include information sharing as well as education and outreach efforts. The committee recommends the establishment of a forum for the exchange of data and information related to dietary supplements, including the education of military service members, commanders and healthcare personnel about dietary supplements, their effects and the importance of adverse event reporting.
The group also recommends the DOD designate a committee responsible for oversight and coordination of supplement related activities, while providing guidance to the military leadership about research, outreach, education and adverse event reporting.
“Such an approach needs to be tailored to the needs and vulnerabilities of military subpopulations,” the report concludes. “Until such a system or approach is in place, our service members will continue to make decisions about their own health without knowing the risks and benefits associated with supplements under military contexts, potentially compromising their performance and the resulting success of military operations.”
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the Samueli Institute, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), along with support from FDA, requested that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) convene an ad hoc committee to review supplement use among military personnel, the potential need for supplements and an approach to report adverse health events.
While IOM recommends the continued evaluation of potential benefits of supplements, the report proposes three critical components to successfully manage their safe use: a system to monitor the use of dietary supplements by military personnel; a framework to determine the level of concern for dietary supplements in a military context; and a system to report adverse events associated with dietary supplements.
Key elements to the strategy include information sharing as well as education and outreach efforts. The committee recommends the establishment of a forum for the exchange of data and information related to dietary supplements, including the education of military service members, commanders and healthcare personnel about dietary supplements, their effects and the importance of adverse event reporting.
The group also recommends the DOD designate a committee responsible for oversight and coordination of supplement related activities, while providing guidance to the military leadership about research, outreach, education and adverse event reporting.
“Such an approach needs to be tailored to the needs and vulnerabilities of military subpopulations,” the report concludes. “Until such a system or approach is in place, our service members will continue to make decisions about their own health without knowing the risks and benefits associated with supplements under military contexts, potentially compromising their performance and the resulting success of military operations.”