The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) was created by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 and established in 1995. ODS is located in the Office of the NIH Director in the Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives.  

Mission

The mission of ODS 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.

Origin and Mandate

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-417, DSHEA), authorized the establishment of the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the NIH. The ODS was created in 1995 within the Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), Office of the Director (OD), NIH.

DSHEA defined the purpose and responsibilities of ODS as follows:

• To explore more fully the potential role of dietary supplements as a significant part of the efforts of the United States to improve health care.
• To promote scientific study of the benefits of dietary supplements in maintaining health and preventing chronic disease and other health-related conditions.
• To conduct and coordinate scientific research within NIH relating to dietary supplements.
• To collect and compile the results of scientific research relating to dietary supplements, including scientific data from foreign sources.
• To serve as the principal advisor to the Secretary and to the Assistant Secretary for Health and provide advice to the Director of NIH, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration on issues relating to dietary supplements.