Get the Lead Out! Could There Be Lead in Your Calcium Supplement?

People who take high doses of natural source calcium2. Find a company that manufactures its supplements
could be placing themselves at high risk foraccording to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice).
cumulative lead toxicity according to researchThese standards require that manufacturers take
conducted by the University of Arizona. While calciumproactive steps to ensure that products are safe,
itself has virtually no toxicity, there is evidence thatpure and effective.
natural source calcium supplements - those made3. Find one of the few companies that manufacturer
from bone meal, oyster shell and dolomite maytheir supplements using Pharmaceutical Grade
contain heavy metals, including lead. A studystandards.
conducted by Trent University in Canada whereThe secret to Pharmaceutical Grade supplements is
some 70 brands of calcium supplements were tested,that they are formulated to exact measurements -
found that 25% of the brands exceeded the FDAjust like a prescription that you get from the
limit for lead toxicity.pharmacy. They yield a higher degree of bio
While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasavailability which means that your body can absorb
set an upper limit for the amount of lead in a calciumthem easily. This also guarantees that what is on the
supplement (7.5 micrograms per 1000 milligrams oflabel is in the bottle. This in turn can make a huge
calcium), calcium supplements are not tested by anydifference in how supplements improve your health
regulatory agency for lead content. This is a concernand your quality of life and overall well being.
given recent increases in doctor recommendationsOh, and be on the lookout for the term "Medical
for calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis andGrade supplements" - this is a new term being touted
for those, particularly children, who rely on calciumby some in the industry. This is a "made up" category
supplementation as their main source of calcium.which serves to further confuse the already
Since it is not feasible for consumers to testoverwhelmed consumer into thinking that they are
supplements for lead contamination, there is generallypurchasing a supplement that is approved by the
rampant disregard for the standardization ofmedical community. Don't fall for the hype! There are
manufacturing practices and quality control measures.only three categories of supplements:o Animal
The result is that inferior and unsafe products makeGradeo Food Gradeo Pharmaceutical Grade
their way into the market. As stated in theThere are no other grades and 99% of the
Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements by Lylesupplements on the market today are made to Food
Mac William MSC, FP, "there are no current USGrade standards. Without getting too technical, pizza,
regulations that enforce minimum standards offor example is made to Food Grade standards. One
practice, no requirements for pre-market approval, nopizza may have 20 slices of pepperoni and another
post-market surveillance, and no site licensing ormay have 10 slices, yet they are both acceptable as
product licensing required for the manufacturing ofpizzas. This standard is ok for a pizza, but not for a
dietary supplement is the United States."supplement that you are trusting to improve your
So what guidelines should we use when choosing aoverall well being or to ward off chronic disease.
calcium supplement or any supplement for thatSo before you plunk down your money for a calcium
matter?or any supplement, do some research, wade through
1. Find a company that owns their own manufacturingthe masses of information and misinformation and
facility. Many don't. Outsourcing often meanschoose a supplement that is safe, pure and effective.
sacrificing on quality control.Knowledge after all is power.