CRN spotlights need for supplement recommendations in US dietary guidelines

The US Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) urges the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to include more supplement recommendations. The supplement and functional food industry association notes that supplements are “a critical component in addressing nutrient inadequacies.”

The 2020–2025 version of these guidelines includes food and beverage recommendations as it suggests that “nutritional needs should be met primarily through foods.” For some population groups, such as infants or pregnant women, the guidelines suggest adding fortified foods or supplements to the diets to meet nutrient needs. 

Last week, the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) released a Scientific Report, which serves as input for the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will develop. 

CRN says the report did not consider scientific evidence related to dietary supplements in its data review on current nutrient intakes across the US population. 

The report highlighted that the diets of US citizens consistently fall short of aligning with Dietary Guidelines recommendations, leading to increased risk of nutrient inadequacies. 

CRN underscores that the shortfalls, such as vitamin D, calcium, potassium and dietary fiber, pose significant public health concerns due to their link to adverse health outcomes. 

“It’s concerning that despite decades of dietary guidance, US citizens continue to fall short on essential nutrients critical for their health,” comments Steve Mister, president and CEO of CRN. 

“With food sources alone proving insufficient for certain nutrients like vitamin D, the inclusion of dietary supplements in the guidelines is not only practical but necessary to promote public health.” 

Focus on nutrients for prenatal health

Certain population groups, such as pregnant individuals, face additional risks due to insufficient intake of nutrients like choline, iron, folate and iodine, which are crucial for fetal development. 

Haiuyen Nguyen, CRN’s VP of Regulatory and Nutrition Policy, comments: “A prenatal multivitamin or multimineral is a critical tool for addressing insufficiencies in pregnant individuals and is often recommended by health care providers.”

CRN urges HHS and USDA to add practical recommendations on supplements in the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Research released in November reported that most pregnant people lack nutrients, while another study cautioned that many prenatal vitamins on the market lack essential nutrients such as choline and iodine. 

Meanwhile, the DGAC’s report cautions that some pregnant women who use dietary supplements exceed the tolerable upper intake level of folic acid (21% of pregnant women) and iron (29%). The committee cautions that there is no available clinical health outcome data for both nutrients related to these high dietary intakes. 

However, beyond the use of these supplements, the report provides limited insights into supplement use and its impact on nutrient intake. 

“Actionable guidance”

CRN highlights the importance of comprehensive recommendations to address nutrient shortfalls. The organization states that these recommendations should include the role of dietary supplements to help fill persistent nutrient gaps for specific life stages. 

Nguyen calls for actionable guidance: “These federal agencies have an opportunity to deliver practical recommendations that leverage all available options — including dietary supplements — to support healthier outcomes for all US citizens.” 

The HHS and USDA have opened a 60-day public comment period to develop the upcoming Dietary Guidelines for Americans, expected by late 2025.