JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Operation Supplement Safety is a joint initiative between the Human Performance Resource Center and DoD to educate service members, retirees, family members, healthcare providers and DoD civilians about dietary supplements and how to choose supplements wisely. It’s important to note that supplements may be altered with prescription and or illegal drugs, and the Food and Drug Administration does not oversee their safety.
For example, the consumption of Espinar and Trenavar supplements, commonly used by weight lifters to gain muscle mass and strength, present a serious health risk.
“The reality is that there are current service members who are being treated at MTF’s for liver transplants secondary to taking these supplements,” said Col. Artemio Chapa, 779th Medical Group chief of medical operations.
The new OPSS website, http://opss.org/, provides information about dietary supplement ingredients, including those banned by the FDA and DoD, a high risk supplement list, resources for training/education, and important alerts and announcements. The website also provides a link to report adverse events, such as a serious reaction or illness associated with a dietary supplement. The HPRC website is still operational during the transition to the OPSS website.
As a reminder, Aircrew are required to gain approval for dietary supplement use by the flight surgeon IAW AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards. Missile Operational Duty (MOD) personnel must consult with a flight surgeon whenever a member is within 12 hours of reporting for MOD and will be using a supplement for the first time or has experienced an adverse reaction.