Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD)

The Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD)

from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) contains information taken from the labels of approximately 76,000 dietary supplement products available in the U.S. marketplace. Launched in June 2013, this free resource will grow to include most of the different dietary supplement products sold. The DSLD is available at https://dsld.nlm.nih.gov/dsld/

The DSLD offers these features:

Quick Search: Search for any ingredient or specific text on a label.
Search for Dietary Ingredients: An alphabetical list of ingredients is provided.
Search for Specific Products: An alphabetical list of products is provided.
Browse Contact Information: Search by supplement manufacturer or distributor.
Advanced Search: Search by using a combination of search options including dietary ingredient, product/brand name, health-related claims, and label statements.

The DSLD provides product information that can be organized and searched by users. Research scientists, for example, will use the DSLD to determine total nutrient intakes from food and supplements in populations they study. Health care providers can learn the content of products their patients are taking.

Dietary supplements, used regularly by about half of U.S. adults, can add significant amounts of nutrients and other ingredients to the diet. Today’s dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbals and botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and more. They come in many different forms, including tablets, capsules, powders, liquids, and energy bars. Any product labeled as a dietary supplement must carry a Supplement Facts panel that lists its contents and other added ingredients (such as fillers, binders, and flavorings). The DSLD includes this information and more—such as directions for use, health-related claims, and any cautions—from the label.

Hundreds of new dietary supplements are added to the marketplace each year, while some are removed. Product formulations are frequently adjusted, as is information on labels. The DSLD will be updated regularly to incorporate these changes.

The DSLD is a collaborative project of the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at NIH, with input from many federal stakeholders including most NIH institutes and centers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.