National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center sets new policy on use of herbal and other alternative supplements by patients enrolled in clinical trials.

The nationwide concern over the escalating use of herbal and other alternative dietary supplements is prompting a call for action in health care organizations. Not only is there mounting evidence to support a strong concern for patient safety, but the use of these products by people participating in biomedical research protocols has an added impact on the integrity of the research design and data gathering. These issues are of increasing concern to the National Institutes of Health's hospital for biomedical research, the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center.