IoM reports on supps use by US military

The development of an information-sharing and educational forum comprised of military and non-military government and non-governmental organizations and industry is one of 12 recommendations the Institute of Medicine has made to the Department of Defense in a report on the use of dietary supplements by military personnel.

"The American Herbal Products Association is pleased to see IOM place importance on information sharing among diverse stakeholders, including industry," commented American Herbal Products Association president Michael McGuffin.

The IOM's 12 recommendations are intended to aid the DoD in the development of a policy to "guide commanders in the management practices for safe use of dietary supplements" by military personnel. In "Use of Dietary Supplements by Military Personnel," released in June, the committee identifies three overarching and "crucial components" to this policy: "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."