LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Due to multiple incidents concerning the use of supplements, the Department of Defense is taking significant steps to keep Service members safe.
One of those steps includes going digital.
Operation Supplement Safety is a joint program through the Human Performance Resource Center and the DOD. The OPSS has teamed up with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database to provide the DOD community with access to up-to-date information on dietary supplements.
"This website can tell you if a supplement will work or not, so you don't waste your money," said U.S. Air Force Col. James Mullins, Air Combat Command Public Health officer. "It can answer any question a [Service member] might have about supplements."
The OPSS National Medicine Computer Database gives ratings on each product and includes a "certified safe" label to ensure there are no consequences in drug tests or official competitions. The database is updated every day and continually reviews every supplement.
A new, readily available edition to the OPSS website, the Operation Supplement Safety & Natural Data app, can be found at www.hprc-online.org/opss and is available for both Android and Apple products.
The most recent supplement incidents involve the products OxyElite Pro and Versa-1 being linked to 29 cases of Hepatitis A. Currently, they are the only two linked to the disease but Airmen should do research on all supplements before consuming them.
Supplements in the U.S. are regulated by the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994 and fall under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. However, the FDA will only investigate supplements if an adverse reaction occurs.
"They may interact with medications and cause severe symptoms," said Tracy Conder, Langley Air Force Base Health and Wellness Center board-certified sports dietetics specialist. "Even if they are listed as all natural, they can still have undeclared or tainted ingredients."
When trying to improve your overall performance, experts say it's best to go back to the basics.
"Look at your food first," Conder said. "You can't 'out-supplement' a poor diet."
She said the proper amount of carbs, protein and fat seem to cure a lot of health problems Service members face.
Service members who take supplements are ultimately responsible for what they consume and should be aware of how safe and effective they are, especially if those supplements could be harmful to their health and career.
For more information on how to access the OPSS app visit goo.gl/kRuYS0.