| Choosing Nutritional Supplements Wisely Recently, | | | | USP manufacturer, supplements must contain the |
| Consumer Labs, an independent testing agency, did a | | | | ingredients declared on their label, must contain the |
| random test of 32 over-the-counter (OTC) | | | | amount or strength of each ingredient listed on the |
| supplements. Of these 32, only ten met the claims on | | | | label, must meet requirements for limits on potential |
| their labels for what they contained and the amounts | | | | contaminants, and must adhere to good |
| that they claimed were in their supplements. In its | | | | manufacturing practices. Companies in the USP have |
| study, Consumer Labs also found: one female | | | | "USP" clearly written on the label. These supplements |
| multi-vitamin contaminated with 15.3 micrograms of | | | | can be found over-the-counter. |
| lead per serving; a children's multi-vitamin that | | | | Physician Grade Supplements |
| contained 216% of the amount of Vitamin A it | | | | The best option for consumers is to purchase |
| claimed to have; 3 multi-vitamins that did not break | | | | "Physician Grade" supplements. These are |
| down in the body; and one multi-vitamin that | | | | supplements available only to and marketed |
| contained none of the Vitamin A it claimed to have. | | | | exclusively to health care providers. They hold |
| With results like these, it is no wonder consumers are | | | | themselves to higher standards, and therefore have |
| lost on how to choose their supplements. | | | | better results. This is important, because when |
| History of Supplement RegulationFirst, let's start with | | | | companies provide products to a health care |
| the definition of a "dietary supplement." In 1994, | | | | provider, they know the results will be monitored. If |
| Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and | | | | the supplement doesn't do what it should, the |
| Education Act (DSHEA), which defined supplements | | | | provider will stop recommending it to his patients. |
| as "any product taken by mouth that contains a | | | | These companies also have better educational tools |
| dietary ingredient intended to supplement the diet, | | | | for the doctor, including trained and qualified |
| which may include vitamins, minerals, herbs or other | | | | employees to answer any questions. They have Ph.D. |
| botanicals, amino acids...enzymes, organ tissues, | | | | scientists and pharmacologists researching and |
| glandulars, and metabolites." All supplement | | | | developing their products. These companies also do |
| manufacturers are under the loose oversight of the | | | | individual assays on every lot, instead of just spot |
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA.) It is "loose" | | | | checks to make sure their products meet label-claims. |
| oversight, because each company is individually | | | | Health care providers often insist on seeing the test |
| responsible for determining that what it manufactures | | | | results before deciding to recommend the product to |
| or distributes is safe and that any claims their labels | | | | their patients. Their products are formulated with a |
| make are substantiated by adequate evidence. The | | | | specific result in mind, and are designed to be part of |
| FDA only requires governmental approval for "new" | | | | a health care protocol. Over-the-counter supplements, |
| ingredients that haven't been on the market yet. | | | | on the other hand, are designed for maximum sales |
| After the DSHEA was passed in 1994, the FDA was | | | | and profit. |
| supposed to publish a "Good Manufacturing Practices" | | | | Summary |
| document, which would have made it easier for the | | | | Consumers need to understand that when purchasing |
| agency to inspect manufacturing plants and individual | | | | supplements, what they think they are buying may |
| batches of supplements. Thirteen years later, though, | | | | not be what they are getting. You may pay slightly |
| this document still hasn't been published. | | | | more for supplements from your health care |
| USP Grade Supplements | | | | provider, but you will know you are getting the top |
| The next best regulatory agency in lieu of the FDA is | | | | of the line, and when it comes to your health, that is |
| the United States Pharmacopoeia. This is a | | | | what is most important. |
| self-policing group that supplement manufacturers | | | | References: Stechschulte, Pattie. "Standards for |
| voluntarily join. It is meant to bridge the gap until the | | | | Nutritional Supplements." Today's Chiropractic, Jan/Feb |
| FDA publishes the GMP. The group is | | | | 2003. Wood, John V. "Physician Grade vs. OTC: Why |
| non-governmental, and non-public, which is meant to | | | | Your Recommendations Make the Grade." |
| build consumer confidence in the companies that | | | | Chiropractic Economics, March 13, 2007. |
| adhere to their manufacturing standards. To be a | | | | |