{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,20]],"date-time":"2026-05-20T05:37:54Z","timestamp":1779255474893,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"24","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,18]],"date-time":"2024-12-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1734480000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Consortium for Health and Military Performance and Operation Supplement Safety","award":["HU0001-23-2-0048"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["HU0001-23-2-0048"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Sixty-eight percent of service members are living with overweight or obesity, some who may not consult a healthcare provider when they decide to lose weight. Instead, they often turn to weight-loss dietary supplements for self-care solutions. The purpose of this case series study was to examine the label accuracy and quality of select weight-loss dietary supplements sold on or near US military bases across the country. Methods: Weight-loss dietary supplements (n = 44) were selected and purchased in GNCs, Exchanges, and Shoppettes across 12 military installations from March 2023 to January 2024. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to verify the label accuracy according to the Supplement Facts listed ingredients and whether they contained any ingredients prohibited for use in the military. Product label claims were analyzed using the Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS) Risk Assessment Scorecard. Results: Thirty-six products (82%) had inaccurate labels. Twenty-seven (61%) had ingredients listed on the label not detected through analysis. Sixteen products (36%) contained hidden ingredients. The four products purchased within one mile from the base listed multiple prohibited ingredients on the labels, with all detected. Forty (91%) products scored a \u201cno-go\u201d according to the OPSS Scorecard and none contained a third-party certification seal on the label. Multiple stimulants were included in products such that the product safety was unknown. Conclusions: The majority of weight-loss dietary supplements analyzed in this case series study had inaccurate labels and were considered a \u201cno-go\u201d according to the Scorecard. Service members should only have access to safe, high-quality dietary supplement products. OPSS is collaborating with the Department of Defense stakeholders to determine the most effective ways for service members to have access to third-party certified products on all military establishments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16244369","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,18]],"date-time":"2024-12-18T11:17:22Z","timestamp":1734520642000},"page":"4369","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Label Accuracy and Quality of Select Weight-Loss Dietary Supplements Sold on or near US Military Bases"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0256-8014","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cindy","family":"Crawford","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Consortium for Health and Military Performance, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, F. Edward H\u00e9bert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA"},{"name":"Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD 20817, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Andrea T.","family":"Lindsey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Consortium for Health and Military Performance, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, F. Edward H\u00e9bert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8656-9526","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bharathi","family":"Avula","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8787-4602","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kumar","family":"Katragunta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5464-4643","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ikhlas A.","family":"Khan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7895-0888","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Patricia A.","family":"Deuster","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Consortium for Health and Military Performance, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, F. Edward H\u00e9bert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2024, October 18). Fact Sheet: Obesity and Overweight. Available online: https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/obesity-and-overweight."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2024, October 18). Unfit to Serve: Obesity and Physical Inactivity are Impacting National Security, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/physicalactivity\/downloads\/unfit-to-serve-062322-508.pdf."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"American Security Project (2024, October 18). Combating Military Obesity: Stigma\u2019s Persistent Impact on Operational Readiness. 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