Choose the Best Vitamin Supplements
You Get What You Pay For
Have you read the recent headlines that proclaim vitamins are a waste of time? Recent headlines read; “vitamins don’t work!” and “new studies show vitamins do nothing to prevent heart disease and cancer.” Despite the fact that there have been many studies which link high quality supplements to positive outcomes on a variety of health conditions, a flawed study recently received international attention for its opposing view.
Another study which was the focus of media attention last year, showed many supplements to be contaminated with lead, and to have other quality issues. Negative media attention has created a lot of questions for those who take supplements. The good news is the confusion can be easily cleared up by reviewing the studies, and knowing the difference between quality supplements and ones which are a waste of money.
Flawed Studies
The most recent supplement research was essentially on women who weren’t necessarily healthy to start with, and only took low quality vitamins occasionally. This purely observational study was reported by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA. Another study last year by the FDA found popular supplements to have higher than acceptable amounts of lead. Other areas of concern were raised when manufacturers didn’t meet stated claims on supplement labels and fell short on other quality standards. Products were found to contain more or less of a particular vitamin than listed on the label, or they didn’t dissolve in the correct amount of time, which means they could pass through the body without being absorbed.
Making an Informed Decision
There are essentially two types of vitamins, those bought from a supermarket or drugstore, and supplements which are pharmaceutical grade, which are at least twice as expensive. Many people opt for the least expensive brands which seem to be a better value at first glance, however an educated decision can’t be made on price alone.
Supermarket brands of supplements are made from food grade materials based on food manufacturing standards. They are usually made from the least expensive ingredients, and are often not easily digested. They contain a lot of fillers and binding agents as well.
Pharmaceutical grade vitamins are made from pharmaceutical grade materials, based on pharmaceutical grade manufacturing requirements. They are produced in FDA approved facilities and comply with US Pharmocepia guidelines to ensure digestibility and absorbtion. This is referred to as USP and the designation will be on the label.
Tips for Choosing a High Quality Vitamin
- Look for a stamp from the NSF, USP or ConsumerLab.com. This stamp doesn’t ensure its effectiveness, but proves the manufacturer has submitted their product for testing
- Choose a well known manufacturer from a trusted source
- Do research to find out which products have been tested by independent testing companies for effectiveness, purity, and quality
- Minerals can’t be encapsulated small enough to fit into “one a day” type capsules and tablets, therefore a high quality vitamin will be four to six capsules each day
- Customized supplements based on a customer’s personal bio-markers of inflammation, detoxification and antioxidants are gaining in popularity
- Try to find out where the manufacturing plant is located. Many consumers are boycotting products made in China due melamine concerns
A Final Comparison
Pharmaceutical grade vitamins are required to undergo rigorous testing and obtain independent verification by outside reputable sources, while other supplements are not. Nutrients are metabolized on average at a rate of 85-95 mg for every 100 mg. Compare this to non-pharmaceutical grade vitamins which may be metabolized at a rate of 15 mg per 100 mg. Therefore, the next time you are comparing the cost of a high quality pharmaceutical grade supplement, multiply the cost of the cheaper brand by six or seven times to get a more accurate cost comparison. Then consider the differences between cost, and value.
Shop healthy
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Health & Wellness
Latest Articles