Foreign Territory: Dietary Supplement Clinical Trials Conducted Abroad

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), in the last couple of years, has made clear that it expects advertisers making strong cause-and-effect claims (e.g., ​“Lose weight,” ​“Helps prevent irregularity”) to possess, at a minimum, at least one well-designed and reliable clinical study. Yet, at the same time, FTC staff—those who conduct FTC investigations—have made statements that suggest a growing skepticism of clinical trials conducted abroad.

A recent article by John E. Villafranco, published by Nutritional Outlook, ​“Foreign Territory: Dietary Supplement Clinical Trials Conducted Abroad,” discusses this dilemma and provides practical pointers on minimizing risk, whether a company seeks to commission a trial abroad or rely on an existing study for claims.