The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) acknowledged efforts of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee in reviewing extensive data on nutrient intake in the United States, but expressed “disappointment” that the guidelines do not consider scientific evidence pertaining to dietary supplements.
According to CRN, the report revealed troubling trends, particularly how Americans’ diets consistently fall short of aligning with Dietary Guidelines recommendations, leading to increased risk of nutrient deficiencies.
Some of these shortfalls—such as vitamin D, calcium, potassium and dietary fiber—pose significant public health concerns due to potential adverse health effects. Certain population groups, such as pregnant individuals, face additional risks due to inadequate fetal development nutrients such as choline, iron, folate and iodine, CRN said.
“It’s concerning that despite decades of dietary guidance, Americans continue to fall short on essential nutrients critical for their health,” said 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.”
The committee highlighted the need for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address nutrients of public health concern and provide targeted recommendations based on stage of life. CRN encourages dietary supplements be added to fill the persistent nutrient gaps.
“A prenatal multivitamin/multimineral is a critical tool for addressing insufficiencies in pregnant individuals and is often recommended by health care providers. These federal agencies have an opportunity to deliver practical recommendations that leverage all available options—including dietary supplements—to support healthier outcomes for all Americans,” said Haiuyen Nguyen, vice president of regulatory and nutrition policy at CRN.
For more information, visit www.crnusa.org.
