INTRODUCTION:

The dietary supplements have several proven benefits. However, the mistaken belief that they are risk-free, and the legal obligations required for their market entrance, have warned for the need of more investigation.

OBJECTIVES:

Analyse, on legal and scientific aspects, the label of herbal dietary supplements for problems related to Central Nervous System marketed in Portugal.

METHODOLOGY:

Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study with the collection of 44 supplement labels marketed in Community Pharmacies and Herbal Food Stores from the city of Vila Nova de Famalicão, between July and August 2019, in a specific form. RESULTS: On a legal point of view, the majority of dietary supplements complied with the mandatory labelling mentions. From the scientific point of view, the plants’ scientific name was the most reported information in products, with 97.7%. Extracts standardization (29.5%), interactions (11.4%) and adverse effects (11.4%) were the least reported information.

CONCLUSIONS:

Results highlight the need for higher concern regarding information’s present in dietary supplements labelling, in order to allow an informed and safe use by consumers.

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