The Lawful Hemp Protection Act, introduced by Reps. Andy Barr and Angie Craig, would direct the FDA to set standards for hemp-derived cannabinoid products, raise the legal hemp THC threshold, and impose new labeling and manufacturing rules. A fallback provision permitting up to 5 mg of THC per serving in dietary supplements if the FDA misses a one-year deadline drew sharp criticism from NPA’s Daniel Fabricant, who argued THC should be treated as an adulterant in supplements. The debate underscores how cannabinoid policy is increasingly colliding with DSHEA’s boundaries for what belongs in the supplement category.

India’s food regulator declared nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) an unapproved supplement ingredient, ordering e-commerce platforms to de-list a product and requiring companies to seek clearance through its non-specified food route. The action stands in stark contrast to the United States, where the FDA reversed course in 2025 to confirm NMN’s lawful status under the drug-exclusion analysis tied to DSHEA. The divergence highlights how the same longevity ingredient can face opposite regulatory fates depending on each country’s supplement framework.

The popular blood-sugar and weight-management ingredient berberine faces intensifying scrutiny after European regulators flagged concerns over genotoxicity, liver effects, and drug interactions, even as some newer human studies find no significant safety signals. The conflicting evidence leaves the ingredient’s regulatory future uncertain on both sides of the Atlantic. For US marketers operating under DSHEA, the episode is a reminder that robust safety substantiation is central to defending an ingredient’s place on the shelf.

A French nutrivigilance report linked a case of liver failure and a subsequent transplant to a consumer who took mass-gainer and whey products far above recommended doses for several weeks. Experts said the incident illustrates the risks of “scoop culture” and called on the industry to reinforce serving limits and clearer warnings. Responsible labeling and dosing guidance remain central to the consumer trust that underpins DSHEA’s self-regulatory model.

Women’s health brand Ritual is bringing its clinically studied Essential Prenatal multivitamin to Costco nationwide, building on top-selling positions at Target, Whole Foods Market, and Amazon. The move signals continued mainstream retail appetite for supplements backed by human clinical trials. It reflects a broader industry shift toward transparency and evidence as competitive differentiators in the DSHEA marketplace.

NutraIngredients’ weekly roundup covers China’s draft probiotic-food rules, new intellectual-property protection for Akkermansia, and a $1 billion growth-financing deal for David Beckham-backed brand IM8. Together the stories underscore accelerating investment and IP competition in the global gut-health and next-generation biotics space. Capital and patent activity at this scale ultimately shapes which ingredients and brands reach US supplement shelves.

The US Patent and Trademark Office granted The Akkermansia Company exclusive rights to market the next-generation probiotic for weight management, covering both live and pasteurized forms. CEO Michael Oredsson said the patent prevents other US companies from marketing Akkermansia for weight management as the firm launches through practitioner and direct-to-consumer channels. The grant illustrates how intellectual-property strategy increasingly governs competition in the US supplement market.

A Western University of Health Sciences review consolidated evidence that lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene support visual and cognitive development in early childhood, while cautioning that long-term data remain limited. Lutein accounts for roughly 60% of the carotenoids in pediatric brain tissue, pointing to a preferential role in neural development. Findings like these help shape the structure/function claims that supplement brands can substantiate under DSHEA.

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial found adults taking the hop-derived ingredient Calocurb lost more body fat while preserving lean muscle, the first study to show its appetite effects translate into measurable body-composition gains. The results add clinical weight to the growing category of natural weight-management ingredients positioned as companions to GLP-1 therapies. Substantiation of this kind strengthens compliant marketing of weight-management supplements under DSHEA.

A crossover trial in physically active young men found that nitrate-rich beetroot juice significantly improved peak torque and power output versus placebo, adding detail to how dietary nitrate enhances neuromuscular performance. The research reinforces beetroot’s standing as an evidence-backed sports-nutrition ingredient. Continued clinical support underpins the performance claims that sports supplement brands make within DSHEA’s framework.

Congress is actively weighing legislation that would reshape how hemp-derived and other ingredients fit within DSHEA. Now is the moment for the supplement community to speak up. Tell your representatives to protect lawful supplements and preserve scientific integrity.

DSHEA Preservation Alliance  •  Protecting Lawful Supplements. Preserving Scientific Integrity.

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