By Jacquie Eubanks BSN, RN
With so many supplements from which to choose and a wide variety of quality and price, how can you ensure that the products you need are the best available and are manufactured according to the highest standards? These three requirements should not be overlooked:
- Ingredient quality
- Manufacturing excellence
- Quality control
The FDA does not require supplement manufacturers to obtain approval before marketing and distributing its products. It is left in the hands of manufacturers to ensure that it produces products that are safe, that no false or misleading claims are made and that products comply with the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act regulations.
A recent study published by the Journal of American Medical Association concluded that the potency of certain vitamin D supplements varied and did not match the listed label amounts. The researchers tested 55 bottles of vitamin D from 12 different manufacturers purchased at 5 mainstream grocery stores in the Seattle area. Actual amounts contained in the pills ranged from 52 – 135% of the listed ingredients. When levels were averaged, the results were closer to 66%. However, in a third of the cases, results were still inconsistent with U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention standards which state that contents should be within 90- 120% of the stated dose.
Top manufacturers aim to improve your health. Their goal is to produce highly absorbable nutrients that the body has the greatest chance of using to promote health. Manufacturers that are producing high end, near pharmaceutical grade products adhere to strict quality controls, source premium raw materials and require their suppliers to meet rigorous testing by independent labs.
The quality of dietary supplements can be measured by:
- Authenticity: The ingredients listed on the label must match the ingredients in the product.
- Potency: The product will contain the labeled level of every key active ingredient throughout its shelf-life.
- Purity: The product does not contain unlisted additives, contaminants or fillers.
Quality supplement manufacturers adhere to strict labeling practices and list all ingredients including the composition of raw materials and the elemental weight of minerals. They use standardized herbal extracts that guarantee precise concentration of the active ingredient of the herbs to provide consistent, maximum nutritional value. High end supplement manufacturers strive to provide the highest quality nutrients and botanicals in their purest form in order to obtain the greatest benefit from the use of the product. Raw materials may be purchased in a truly pure form or with substances added to facilitate manufacturing which is less costly. The best companies develop their own manufacturing methods that allow the use of pure unadulterated ingredients.
Many of our suppliers manufacture products based on unbiased scientific research and clinical support. They work closely with healthcare professionals to provide effective nutritional solutions and are leaders in nutritional research, product development and innovation. They are dedicated to producing supplements of superior quality and integrity.
By supplementing our diets with great quality vitamins and supplements, we can provide our bodies with complex nutrients missing from our modern diets. These nutrients should be delivered in an easily absorbed and complete form that our bodies can recognize and utilize efficiently.
Professional Supplement Center offers product lines such as:
- Pure Encapsulations which utilizes an extensive product testing program that involves verifications of label claims, potency and purity.
- Metagenics which verifies ingredient safety, identity, purity and quality at multiple steps for reliable and effective use.
- Integrative Therapeutics tests all their ingredients and products in an on-site state of the art analytical laboratory to ensure the highest quality standards such as identity, safety, potency and bioavailability.
The most important link between professional strength supplements and consumers is the presence and guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. At Professional Supplement Center, you can speak with our registered nurse or licensed pharmacist who will answer all your questions and assist you in selecting products to optimize your health.
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