JULY 29, 2025 – Studies show that nearly three in four service members report using dietary supplements, more than the average population. Service members often turn to these products to improve performance, build muscle, lose weight, or improve overall health. Unfortunately, the use of some dietary supplements can compromise performance rather than improve it.
“With so many products and claims out there, it can be hard for service members to know what information to trust when it comes to dietary supplements,” said U.S. Army Maj. Jordan DeMay, a dietitian for the U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command. “Fortunately, Operation Supplement Safety offers trusted, evidence-based tools and resources to help guide informed decisions.”
Operation Supplement Safety, the program of record under the Consortium for Health and Military Performance at the Uniformed Services University, provides evidence-based educational information about dietary supplements, health and wellness products and ingredients. The website has resource and tools to assist service members in making informed decisions about dietary supplements and their ingredients.
Department of Defense Instruction 6130.06, “Use of Dietary Supplements in the DoD,” formalizes OPSS as the Department of Defense program for dietary supplements. It also stipulates that the DoD Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients List is housed on the OPSS website. Service members may not take supplements with any ingredient from the prohibited list.
“The OPSS team works closely with all the services to increase education and awareness to promote safer supplement use across the force,” said DeMay. “Tools like the OPSS Scorecard help service members evaluate products right at the point of purchase, and understanding third-party certification can make a big difference in avoiding harmful or banned substances.”
Supplement Safety Tips for Awareness
Before considering taking supplements, service members should know what to avoid when reviewing the label of a dietary supplement, including controlled substances, prescriptions, over the counter drugs, and unapproved drugs.
OPSS provides the following tips if you’re considering the use of a dietary supplement:
- Talk with your healthcare provider before taking a dietary supplement. Understand that, by definition, a dietary supplement cannot be used to treat, cure, or prevent any diseases and should not be used in replacement of recommended medications.
- Consider the consequences of mixing a dietary supplement with other supplements and medications.
- Dietary supplements may change the effectiveness of prescription or over-the-counter medications.
- Dietary supplements may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications and may cause negative side effects.
- Dietary supplements may interact with prescription meds needed before, during, and after surgery.
- You may consume too much of an ingredient if it is found in multiple dietary supplements you are consuming.
- Take only as described on the label.
- Do not use dietary supplements as a replacement for consuming a balanced eating pattern. Dietary supplements rarely have the same beneficial effects as eating whole foods.
- Do not assume the term “natural” means a product is “safe” or has added benefits.
- Learn to spot false claims. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Dietary supplements are not reviewed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration prior to being marketed.
- Look for dietary supplements that display the label of a well-vetted, third party certification program. This will help you avoid adverse events and experiencing a positive drug test.
- Always check the DoD Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients List before using any dietary supplement.
Additional Resources
For more about optimizing mission performance and health through nutrition, visit the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Consortium for Health and Military Performance. Here you can explore dozens of nutritional fitness tips, articles, and other references for better nutrition to enhance readiness. To take your nutrition goals to the next level, contact your local military hospital or clinic and request a consultation with a nutritionist or a dietitian.
Story by Robert Hammer
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs/Military Health System