29-Sep-2025 — DALLAS -- Labels on dietary supplements have many Americans believing they offer health benefits they may not actually provide, according to new research from UT Southwestern Medical Center.
In a survey of more than 4,400 U.S. adults, participants were more likely to say supplements could prevent conditions such as dementia or heart disease if the product labels included phrases such as “heart health” or “brain health.” The study tested responses to fish oil products as well as to a hypothetical, non-existent supplement.
“Many people take dietary supplements under the false impression they are doing something for their health that has never been shown in clinical trials. Our research suggests some of that misperception may be from the label itself,” says Dr. Ann Marie Navar, a cardiologist at UT Southwestern who led the study.
“Technically, label statements like ‘heart health’ or ‘brain function’ are not supposed to imply that the supplement treats or prevents any disease. It’s not surprising, though, that many people think otherwise.”
The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.
Add comment
Comments