The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the lead federal government entity addressing the scientific exploration of dietary supplements. ODS is located in the NIH Office of the Director in the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives in Bethesda, MD.
ODS was established by Congress as part of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-417, DSHEA). Its mission is to strengthen knowledge and understanding of dietary supplements by evaluating scientific information, stimulating and supporting research, disseminating research results, and educating the public to foster an enhanced quality of life and health for the U.S. population.
ODS scientific staff have international reputations for their work in the fields of analytical chemistry, pharmacognosy, biochemistry, epidemiology, clinical nutrition, dietetics, and health communications, allowing ODS to address the complex and sometimes challenging issues pertaining to dietary supplements. Learn more about our staff.
Read about ODS programs and initiatives and learn about the vitamin, mineral, botanical, and other supplement ingredients by reading ODS fact sheets, written for health professionals and in English and Spanish for consumers.