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| September 11, 2025 |
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ODS Events |
ODS Sleep Workshop – September 15–16
ODS will host a virtual workshop on September 15–16, “Sleep in a Bottle? Research Needs and Gaps in Ingested, Non-Prescription Interventions for Better Sleep.” Co-organized by the NIH National Center on Sleep Disorders Research of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the workshop aims to better understand the most important gaps in knowledge of dietary supplements and other non-prescription products used to improve sleep. Discussions will also focus on prioritizing future research, identifying required tools and resources, and determining how future studies could help advance our knowledge of sleep and circadian rhythms.
Please note, you must register separately for each day of the workshop:
ODS 2025–2026 Seminar Series
The ODS Seminar Series presents virtual seminars on dietary supplement research and related topics. Intended for those interested in dietary supplement research, the series is open to everyone. Stay tuned for details about the ODS 2025–2026 Seminar Series full schedule which will soon be listed on the ODS Seminar Series webpage. In the meantime, you are invited to register to attend the September seminar:
September 17, 2025, 11 a.m. ET — Research Scholar’s Symposium
Luka Culig, Ph.D. — Postdoctoral Fellow, Epigenetics and Stem Cell Aging Unit, National Institute on Aging, NIH
Thierry Gauthier, Ph.D. — Research Fellow, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH
View the September seminar flyer to learn more.
SAVE-THE-DATE: ODS CARBON Symposium – September 26 & 29
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) and National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) will host a virtual symposium, “Collaboration Within and Beyond the NIH Consortium for Advancing Research on Botanicals and Other Natural Products (CARBON).” The symposium will include summaries of the major advances achieved by the CARBON Centers through both intra- and inter-Center collaborations during the 2020–2025 project periods as well as plans for the next phase of the program and other natural products research collaborative opportunities at the NIH.
Please note, you must register separately for each day of the workshop:
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ODS Research Activities |
CARBON Program announces 2025–2029 Award to Colorado State University
Examining Gut Microbiome as a Determinant of Blueberry Polyphenol Bioavailability to Optimize Dose and Phytochemical Standardization for Functional Effects in Humans
On September 1, the NIH Consortium for Advancing Research on Botanical and Other Natural Products (CARBON) Program announced an award to a new Botanical Dietary Supplements Translational Research Team at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. Led by Principal Investigator, Tiffany L. Weir, Ph.D., with co-Principal Investigators Sarah A. Johnson, Ph.D., Anandh Pon Velayutham, Ph.D., Jessica E. Prenni, Ph.D., and Kelly C. Wrighton, Ph.D., this new award will support a rigorous exploration in both humans and mouse models of how the gut microbiota modulate the cardiovascular effects of food polyphenols.
The data from this project will be used to expand and validate a publicly available database of polyphenol metabolites; the gut microbiota that produce these metabolites; and their effects on flow-mediated dilation, which is a valuable parameter in assessing cardiovascular risk. The database will be useful to other researchers interested in modulation of the biological effects of polyphenol consumption by the gut microbiota. In addition, the new data from the clinical and mouse studies could lead to the ability to design more informative clinical trials of polyphenol-rich foods or dietary supplements and to use information about a person’s gut microbiota to enhance cardiovascular benefits they may derive from these products.
ODS initiated the CARBON Program in partnership with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health in 1999 to promote collaborative, transdisciplinary research on the safety, effectiveness, and mechanisms of action of botanical dietary supplements that have a high potential to benefit human health and to support the development of methods and resources that will enhance the progress of this research.
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Co-Funding Opportunities |
ODS provides funding support to the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs) through a co-funding program. Co-funding allows ODS to promote dietary supplement-related science by supporting NIH extramural dietary supplement-related research project grants, training and career development grants, and scientific conferences with primary ICOs. See the list of active ODS co-funding opportunities and learn more on our Grants & Funding webpage.
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Science Shorts |
Assessing the use of infant formula and dietary supplements during the first two years of life is important for ensuring comprehensive assessment of nutrient exposure during this critical developmental window. In a recent publication in Nutrition Today, ODS colleagues Edwina Wambogo and Jaime Gahche and their co-authors used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the use of infant formula and dietary supplements among a sample of U.S. infants and toddlers. They found that about 46% of infants and toddlers age 0 to 23 months consumed infant formula during the past 14 days, with higher use by infants than toddlers. The use of dietary supplements was less common, with about 21% of infants and toddlers taking these products during the past 30 days. In addition, about 13% of infants and toddlers who consumed infant formula also consumed dietary supplements. The researchers also found that more than 90% of infants and toddlers who consumed infant formula used a product that contained the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Additionally, more than 25% consumed an infant formula with prebiotics, and more than 5% consumed a product with probiotics. According to Dr. Wambogo, the findings from this study underscore the significant contributions of infant formulas to the diets of infants in the United States and the importance of ongoing monitoring of both the intake and content of these products to enhance early childhood nutrition.
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Featured Fact Sheets |
 The omega-3 fact sheet for health professionals has been updated to include new information about how these fatty acids impact infant health and neurodevelopment. The updated material summarizes the effects of seafood, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) consumption on preterm birth and other pregnancy and infant health outcomes, and it outlines the latest intake recommendations during pregnancy.
Also new! The iron and vitamin C fact sheets for health professionals now feature concise summary sections that provide quick overviews of key points. Click on the expandable summaries to access all of the details and references to the peer-reviewed literature.
Looking for general information? ODS also offers iron and vitamin C fact sheets for consumers, in both English and Spanish.
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About ODS
The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the nation’s medical research agency—supporting scientific studies that turn discovery into health. |
Contact Us
Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health 6705 Rockledge Drive (Rockledge I) Room 730, MSC 7991 Bethesda, MD 20817
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://ods.od.nih.gov |