ODS Digest

September 2, 2026

CONTENTS

ODS Activities

As Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, I’m reminded of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s quote that “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” September also brings Healthy Aging Month—a good time to think about steps we can take to support our health now and in the future. One important step is getting enough essential nutrients, including vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 helps keep our red blood cells and nerve cells healthy, as well as support our DNA synthesis, energy levels, and metabolism. Importantly, as people age, their bodies may not absorb enough vitamin B12 from food. For many adults aged 50 and older, fortified foods or dietary supplements can help them get enough vitamin B12.

In this issue, we highlight a recent ODS publication on dietary supplements for menopausal symptoms and health. We also share ODS staff contributions at ASN’s NUTRITION 2026 conference, where they presented research on national nutrition data, botanicals, iron, magnesium, and other topics. In addition, we announce our September Seminar Series speaker.

Together, these activities show ODS’s commitment to advancing dietary supplement science and sharing reliable information with the public. 

Have a wonderful month!

Drew Bremer
Acting Director, ODS

Recently Published ODS Research

Science Spotlight

The Scoop on Supplement Science

ODS Events

Funding

The Vitamin Verdict

Supplements In the News

Supplement Corner

Supplements, Facts First Challenge—Built for Real Lives

Eight teams are rebuilding trusted supplement facts into tools their communities test, shape, and use.

Phase II of the Supplements, Facts First Challenge began in late summer 2026. Phase I winners are now building working prototypes that demonstrate real-world value. 

Teams are required to build at least two operational modalities and ground all health information in ODS fact sheets. They will work closely with a community partner from their target audience, which may include older adults, new mothers, Spanish-speaking families,rural and safety-net patients, and young people. Feedback from users will guide the design process, with teams documenting audience understanding, task completion, and the resulting improvements to the prototype. The emphasis is on creating solutions that are practical, trusted, and responsive to audience needs.

Winners will be announced in summer 2027 and up to five teams will each receive $50,000 and advance to Phase III. In Phase III, winners will implement and pilot-test their solutions through winter 2028.

Learn more at Supplements, Facts First Challenge | HeroX

To learn more, visit Supplements, Facts First Challenge | HeroX.

NIH Workshop on Designing for Replication Trial Design and Methodologies
ODS health scientist administrator, Adam Kuszak, Ph.D., presented a talk titled Lipidomics of Fish Oil and Implications for Product Formulation and Integrity at a workshop organized by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Designing for Replication: Methodological Frameworks and the Omega-3 Hemodialysis Case Study, August 3–4, 2026.

FDA Public Meeting on Listeria monocytogenes Prevention
ODS nutritional epidemiologist, Edwina Wambogo, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S., R.D., presented at the FDA Public Meeting on Listeria monocytogenes Prevention, August 18–19, 2026. Dr. Wambogo presented research using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to identify dietary patterns among U.S. adults aged 60 and older and examine their consumption of foods that are historically associated with listeriosis outbreaks.

AOAC Annual Meeting
Adam Kuszak, Ph.D., served as an invited panelist in the Botanical Ingredients and Dietary Supplement Integrity program session of the AOAC Annual Meeting & Exposition, August 28–September 2, 2026.

Botanical Data Central
An updated version of Botanical Data Central (BDC) was released in August 2026. This research platform helps scientists study plant-based chemicals that are found in botanical dietary supplement ingredients and traditional foods. The BDC data and resources support mass spectrometry analysis, a method that helps identify and measure chemicals in a botanical sample, helping researchers better understand the complex natural compounds found in plants. The tool is supported in part through an agreement between ODS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service.

In Case You Missed It: ODS at NUTRITION 2026

ODS staff moderated and participated in scientific sessions and presented on a variety of dietary supplement research topics at the American Society for Nutrition annual flagship meeting, NUTRITION 2026, held in Washington, D.C., July 25–28.

Highlights Include:

Jaime J. Gahche, Ph.D., M.P.H. (pictured) gave a presentation titled Leveraging NHANES to Advance Nutrition and Health Research at a session showcasing 25 years of data from NHANES.

Dr. Gahche’s presentation highlighted the pivotal role that NHANES has played in advancing dietary assessment, including the evaluation of dietary supplement use, and demonstrated how NHANES data enable researchers to explore the relationships between nutritional status and health outcomes.

Edwina Wambogo, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S., R.D., moderated the session Leveraging Momentum in Nutrition and Diet Research: Aligning Research Questions with Current Priorities in Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Health to Maximize Relevance and Opportunity (Without Compromising Integrity and Rigor). This interactive roundtable explored how maternal and child health nutrition professionals can navigate evolving research, funding, food-system, and career landscapes. Dr. Wambogo highlighted strategies for aligning research with emerging priorities while maintaining scientific rigor, and she shared an ODS framework for connecting strategic priorities with evidence gaps, rigorous study designs, and meaningful public health outcomes. 

Maria C. Canino, Ph.D., Jasmine M. Hayes, Ph.D. (pictured), and Arden McMath, Ph.D., R.D., C.S.C.S., each presented a poster highlighting their research, with topics focused on dietary and botanical supplement research for menopausal health; the use of botanicals for sleep support; and iron homeostasis, screening, and supplementation in pregnant women and young children. Co-authors included Kara Beckman, Ph.D., Coretté Byrd, M.S., R.N., Barbara E. Cohen, Ph.D., Jaime J. Gahche, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Edwina Wambogo, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S., R.D. 

Carol Haggans, M.S., R.D., an ICF contractor who supports ODS, received the Sylvia Rowe Award for Excellence in Nutrition Science Communications.

To learn more, see the Full NUTRITION 2026 Schedule.

Fazili Z, Pfeiffer CM, Sternberg MR, Ngac P, Zhang M, Crider KS, Leachman J, Williams A, Gahche JJ, Paladugula N, Hong K, Fischer C. Associations between Red Blood Cell Folate Forms and Demographic, Physiologic, and Lifestyle Factors in the United States Population: Cross-Sectional Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey August 2021–August 2023. Curr Dev Nutr. 2026 Jul 22;10(8):109444.

Using data from NHANES, researchers investigated patterns of red blood cell folate forms among U.S. adults and children and assessed factors associated with folate status. They found that folic acid supplement use was the strongest predictor of folate biomarker concentrations and that differences in folate composition by race and Hispanic origin warrant further study.

Canino MC, Cohen B, Byrd C, Gahche JJ. Dietary supplements for menopausal symptoms and health: a bibliometric analysis of US research (2000-2024). Menopause. 2026 Jul 28. 

In this paper, researchers examined the scientific literature on dietary supplements during the menopause transition and identified significant gaps, particularly for perimenopause. They found that research efforts are often fragmented, with many ingredients being studied but few replication studies, underscoring the need for greater collaboration and coordination to strengthen the evidence base.

Wu X, Heydorn KC, Pandey D, Pehrsson PR, Hays FA, Weng Y, Wambogo E, Dwyer JT. Letter to the Editor: Nitrate and nitrite food composition database: an update and extensive deep dive. Am J Clin Nutr. 2026 Jul;124(1):101357.

The authors of this letter to the editor commended efforts by a group of scientists to develop a comprehensive database of the nitrate and nitrite composition of foods and to account for factors such as cooking methods, seasonal variation, and geographic differences. They also raised concerns about aspects of the dataset and encouraged researchers to evaluate these issues carefully before using the database.

Visit the ODS website to view more publications by ODS staff.

The menopause transition is an inevitable stage of life, usually occurring between 45 and 56 years of age. Shifting hormones can cause vasomotor (i.e., hot flashes), genitourinary, and other symptoms that vary significantly from person to person. Although hormone replacement therapy can alleviate some symptoms [1,2], financial barriers, its controversial history, personal preference, or contraindications based on medical history [3] may lead women to use non-pharmacological approaches, such as dietary supplements, either alone or alongside medications [4]. 

Scientists at ODS recently published a study characterizing research on the use of dietary supplements for menopausal symptom management and associated health outcomes. The authors discovered 253 unique articles after using a predefined search designed to capture all articles on this topic from 2000 to 2024 that were conducted in the Unted States or in collaboration with the United States. Of the studies, 93% focused on post menopause, the period of time that starts 12 months after a woman’s last menstrual cycle, leaving earlier stages of the menopause transition comparatively understudied. Studies were also more likely to examine dietary supplements in relation to cardiovascular or skeletal health than to menopausal symptoms themselves.

Calcium, vitamin D, and isoflavones were the most frequently studied dietary supplement ingredients. Most of the other ingredients appeared in only a small number of studies, indicating limited replication across the field. Collaboration among researchers was also relatively uncommon.

Taken together, these findings highlight important gaps in our understanding of dietary supplement use throughout the menopause transition, including which ingredients have been adequately studied, how they may affect symptoms during different menopause stages, and where findings need to be replicated. By mapping the existing evidence, ODS scientists helped identify opportunities for future research. Building a stronger and more coordinated evidence base will ultimately be essential for understanding if and how dietary supplements can support women’s health throughout the menopause transition. 

References

      1. Crandall CJ, Mehta JM, Manson JE. Management of Menopausal Symptoms: A Review. JAMA. 2023 Feb 7;329(5):405-420. 
2. “The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society” Advisory Panel. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2022 Jul 1;29(7):767-794. 
3. Cho L, Kaunitz AM, Faubion SS, Hayes SN, Lau ES, Pristera N, Scott N, Shifren JL, Shufelt CL, Stuenkel CA, Lindley KJ; ACC CVD in Women Committee. Rethinking Menopausal Hormone Therapy: For Whom, What, When, and How Long? Circulation. 2023 Feb 14;147(7):597-610. 
4. Kingsberg S, Banks V, Caetano C, Janssenswillen C, Moeller C, Schoof N, Harvey M, Scott M, Nappi RE. Real-World Evaluation of Treatment Utilization by Women Experiencing Vasomotor Symptoms Associated with Menopause in the United States and Europe: Findings from the REALISE Study. Maturitas. 2024 Nov;189:108096. 

The Scoop on Supplement Science

What is the Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD)?

The DSLD was launched in 2013 by ODS. It serves health care providers, consumers, and researchers by providing access to information from the labels of more than 200,000 dietary supplement products. Not only are labels searchable in the database, but ingredient lists are interactive; clicking on them routes users to in-depth information on each ingredient. Researchers have used the DLSD to analyze lithium-containing dietary supplements, compare the mineral content of prenatal supplements to optimal levels, test commercially available cognitive enhancement supplements for unapproved drugs, and more. The DSLD is a valuable tool that advances dietary supplement research and enhances public access to comprehensive information about supplement products.

ODS Events

ODS Seminar Series
The ODS 2026–2027 Seminar Series kicks off in September! Featuring virtual presentations on dietary supplement research and related topics, the seminars are open to anyone who is interested in dietary supplement research.

Contact ODS to be added to the ODS Seminar Series email list.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 11 a.m. ET — Dietary Supplements for Cognitive Function
Richard Kreider, Ph.D. — Texas A&M University 
Register now. Additional details will be available soon.
 

Coming Soon! Menopause Webinar Series
ODS is launching a limited series of webinars beginning in October 2026 that will explore the role of dietary supplements during menopause. Featuring leading experts, the series will examine the current state of the science and opportunities to strengthen the evidence base. 

Researchers, clinicians, policymakers, industry, public health professionals, and others interested in this topic are invited to attend.

More information, including registration details, will be shared soon.  

Funding

CARBON Program Announces 2026 Award

NIH Highlighted Topic: New Approach Methodologies for Dietary Supplement and Nutrition Research 
ODS led the development of a recently published NIH Highlighted Topic. This topic encourages research on human-relevant new approach methodologies, such as organoids, tissue chips, multi-omics platforms, and computational models, to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and biological effects of foods, food components, and dietary supplements across the lifespan. Priority areas include identifying and validating biomarkers of exposure and health outcomes, characterizing nutrient and bioactive compound absorption and metabolism, assessing complex food and supplement matrices, and elucidating mechanisms and system-level responses that can better predict chronic disease risk and health outcomes while reducing reliance on animal models.

ODS Co-Funding Opportunities
ODS provides funding support to the NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs) through the ODS 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.

Program officials at NIH Institutes and Centers submit requests to ODS for co-funding support and administrative supplements. The fall co-funding cycle is expected to open in November 2026.

Busting Common Misconceptions About Supplements

Misconception: A dietary supplement label tells us everything we need to know about the product’s contents.

Fact: Although dietary supplement manufacturers are required by law to follow Good Manufacturing Practices, a product’s label does not always provide a complete picture of its contents. Laboratory testing can identify differences between labeled and measured amounts and, in some cases, detect substances that are not declared on the label. The Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database provides researchers with estimated amounts of ingredients in commonly used dietary supplement products. Soon, the database will also provide information on how dietary supplement form (i.e., tablet, capsule, powder, gummy) impacts absorption by the body. 

To learn more, visit the ODS and USDA Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database.

A daily multivitamin may help older adults maintain functional health | EurekAlert!

American College of Physicians says underregulated dietary supplements endanger public health | ACP Online

Federal Trade Commission Approves Final Order Against TruHeight for Deceptive and Unsubstantiated Advertising of Supplements for Kids and Teens | FTC

Relay Peak Research LLC Recalls Zen Principle® Moringa Capsules Because of Possible Health Risk | FDA

FDA Issues Warning About Certain Products Containing Toxic Yellow Oleander | FDA

As you age, your nutrient needs change. If you are older than 50, it is important to get vitamin B12 from fortified foods and/or dietary supplements because your body might not absorb vitamin B12 from foods as efficiently as it used to. 

Depending on your diet, other supplements such as calcium, vitamin D, and zinc, may also help you meet your nutrient needs. In addition, research suggests that a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement can help improve memory and other aspects of cognitive health.

However, aging does not increase the need for every nutrient. For example, after menopause, women need less iron than they did during their younger years. 

Talk with your health care provider about your individual nutrient needs and whether dietary supplements are right for you.  

To learn more about these and other essential nutrients, explore the ODS vitamin and mineral supplement fact sheets. Consumer fact sheets are available in both English and Spanish, along with more detailed versions designed for researchers and health professionals.

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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.

Office of Dietary Supplements
National Institutes of Health
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