There are thousands of vitamin manufacturers in the United States. They offer tablets and capsules, liquids and powders. They come in boxes, bottles, pill packs and pouches. With so many options, it can seem impossible to know which brand to choose. What makes one brand better than another?
The Food and Drug Administration does not test dietary supplements before they come onto the market, which means their effectiveness and safety are rarely monitored. It is also unclear whether vitamins actually contain the ingredients they claim to contain – and many Views have found that there are significant discrepancies between the contents of the pill and the information on the packaging.
Therefore, there is no easy way to determine what is premium. “You can’t look at a bottle and the price and say, ‘OK, this is inferior because it’s cheap,'” said Mahtab JafariProfessor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California, IrvineFaculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
However, there are a few things you should consider when buying a good vitamin. Here are some things to consider:
What makes a vitamin expensive anyway?
In general, there is probably little difference between a cheap and an expensive vitamin, according to Ebne Rafia clinical pharmacist at University Hospitals of Ohio. Prices vary depending on the type of supplement, its ingredients, and the health condition it is intended to help. Factors such as attractive packaging can also play a role. (Who hasn’t been seduced by a beautiful glass bottle?)
“Similar to branded and generic prescription drugs, cheap and high-quality vitamins are advertised as the same supplements,” Rafi said.
There is still a lot that scientists don’t know about dietary supplements. For example, it is unclear how different compositions affect the body’s absorption of nutrients or how natural ingredients differ from synthetic ones. “We don’t really have any studies on this,” says Jafari.
However, there are some factors that make a better vitamin. For example, you want to choose products that are made with high-quality ingredients and do not contain many fillers, such as Soybean oilor pollutants such as pesticides or heavy metals (think: Mercury or lead).
Reliable manufacturers ― like Theralogixfor example, or Made by nature – Their websites provide details about where their ingredients come from and their manufacturing process.
It is also important that the vitamin contains the right doseA low dose may not produce the desired effect and too high a dose may lead to serious health complications.
“There are many cases of drug-induced liver damage caused by dietary supplements that contain excessive doses of vitamins or other ingredients that are dangerous to the liver,” said Rafi.
Ultimately, however, a higher price does not automatically mean that the product is better. “A more expensive supplement does not necessarily mean it is of higher quality,” Jafari said.
How do you recognize the quality of a vitamin?
It is important to consult a doctor, pharmacist or nutritionist before you start taking vitamins. There are a handful of deficiencies and health A dietary supplement is recommended for: pregnancyheart disease and diabetes. But people who are otherwise healthy and eat a balanced diet probably don’t need to take vitamins, Jafari said. A doctor can determine whether you might benefit from taking a supplement and give you a list of recommended brands.
The best way to determine if a vitamin is legitimate: Check if it is from a independent testing company“In my opinion, a high quality vitamin would be one that has been verified by an independent third party for quality assurance and contains minimal fillers,” Rafi said.
It is time-consuming and expensive for manufacturers to hire a third-party company – such as US Pharmacopoeia (USP), National Foundation for Sanitation (NSF) or ConsumerLab.com – Conduct tests and confirm that products contain the ingredients and dosages listed on the packaging.
“For a nutritional supplement manufacturer that makes millions of dollars in sales every year, this is really the least they can do. They want to show consumers that quality is important to them,” said Jafari.
So look for a USP or NSP certification badge on the packaging label. Jafari also recommends visiting the FDA website to see whether the manufacturer has ever received a seizure notice or an injunctionIf so, it is probably advisable to choose a different product.
And finally, do your own research. Browse through the scientific studies on the nutrients you’re interested in, check out the manufacturer’s website, and if in doubt, ask a doctor for advice. There’s a lot of excitement in the world of supplements, but if you do your due diligence, you can find products that are rigorously tested and widely accepted.
