Abstract
The United States was the first country in the world to permit legally the sale of dietary supplements. The law that permits the use of dietary supplements for promoting the health of people is known as the "Dietary Supplement, Health and Education Act of 1994", abbreviated as DSHEA. DSHEA is characterized by its claim, "Statements of Nutrition Support", and permit to state the efficacy on the structure and function of human. Due to the effectuation of the DSHEA, research on the efficacy of dietary supplements including various vitamins on the health Promotion and prevention of diseases has been greatly stimulated in the United States. Also, vitamins have become more widely used by people for protecting themselves from diseases to maintain good health. The new division responsible for the encouragement of research on dietary supplements is the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), situated at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Under these circumstances, dietary suDDlements have become a timely topic for discussion internationally as to whether dietary suDolements are really reauired for the health and eeneral welfare of human beings. A oossible conclusion seems hopeful.
