Consumer Misinterpretation of Dietary Supplement Labels: Implications for Public Health and Regulation

Highlight

– Commonly used structure/function claims on dietary supplement labels often lead consumers to infer disease prevention or treatment benefits, contrary to regulatory intent.
– Survey data from over 4,000 US adults revealed significant misinterpretation of claims like “supports heart health” or “supports cognitive function” as implying direct protection against heart attacks or dementia.
– Misinterpretation occurred consistently with both a well-known fish oil supplement and a hypothetical supplement, suggesting a widespread issue.
– These findings highlight the need for improved regulatory policies and consumer education to minimize misunderstanding of supplement health claims.

Study Background and Disease Burden