Peer-reviewed research published this month disclosed a substance prescribed in Russia as a drug was being marketed in dietary supplements in the U.S. even after FDA issued an advisory in 2019 clarifying phenibut was not a legal supplement ingredient.

Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor of medicine with Harvard Medical School, highlights researchers’ findings, while the president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Dr. Peter Lurie, weighs in on his advocacy group’s investigation that separately found several retailers marketing phenibut in supplements, foods or other products.

Drs. Cohen and Lurie also offer reasons for their support of reform of DSHEA, including an FDA proposal that would require dietary supplement products be listed with the agency.

Discussing the notion of DSHEA reform, Cohen concluded: “There’s a lot of opportunity to collaborate on this, and it remains an exciting time for us to come to some great solutions that can enhance the safety of supplements for all consumers.”