Safety of Supplements
We often get questions from patients about where to get supplements or if the ones they are currently using are of good quality. The safety of supplements is a reoccurring theme in our office and we want to give you the tools understand the industry, the quality and the safety of supplements.
Dietary supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA as drugs, but as food, therefore it is the obligation of the supplement manufacturers to acquire third party testing of a product’s label. For this reason, there is poor quality control of many over-the-counter supplements and other products that leads to discrepancy between what is stated to be in the product versus what is actually in the product. This means that oftentimes the supplements that are sold at CVS, Costco, Target, Walgreens, etc. do not actually contain the constituents that are stated on the back of the bottle.
Beware of Buying Amazon Supplements
Additionally, purchasing supplements on Amazon can be quite tricky, as the supplements sold on Amazon are most often sold by a third party vendor and there is no guarantee that the product you think you are buying is the actual product you are buying.
There have been anecdotes of individuals who have had life-threatening reactions to supplements bought on Amazon because the seller tampered with the product. This is not to scare you, but rather to be aware of your consumption so that the supplements you are taking are effective, potent and safe.
There have been anecdotes of individuals who have had life-threatening reactions to supplements bought on Amazon because the seller tampered with the product.
Beware of Supplement Mis-labeling
On two different accounts there has been evidence of mislabeled nutritional products pulled from the shelves of major retailers like GNC, Walgreens and Target which have a huge affect on the safety of the supplement. More specifically, an investigation in 2015 by the New York State Attorney General’s office revealed that four out of five products tested for efficacy did not contain any of the herbs listed on the labels and rather only contained cheap fillers like powdered rice and house plants. Additionally, no one really knows how old a product is or the sourcing of the product. Therefore, the large bottles of fish oil that you can buy at Costco could have sat on trucks in the heat, which when ingested can cause DNA damage to the body; or the oil may come from contaminated fish or not from fish at all, which is why they are so inexpensive.
Furthermore, a 2017 article in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine analyzed the content of 31 melatonin supplements from grocery stores and pharmacies in one Canadian city.
Findings demonstrate that there was a 465% difference across supplements of the claimed melatonin content versus what was actually in the bottles. These findings are likely also true in the United States showing that there is no guarantee of strength or purity of over-the-counter supplements.
Unknown Supplement Dosing
The other concern with purchasing supplements over-the-counter is unknown dosing. The dosing listed on the back of a particular product is very vague and is not the right dose for everyone.
As you can see, it is beneficial to purchase safe supplements that are trustworthy and clean! Yes they may be more expensive, but it is worth it for your health to buy and consume professional grade supplements. Professional grade supplements are those that have been vetted by a third party lab to demonstrate unbiased assurance of quality control, labeled ingredient accuracy and that listed dosages match analyzed dosages. These supplements are then eligible to have a certified seal of approval and are only available through a board certified provider. It is also important to work with a trained professional that can prescribe an accurate, safe and therapeutic dose specific to your personal health and needs.
At Regenerate Health Medical Center we only use the most researched and trusted professional supplement brands in order to deliver you the best quality for your money! If you have more questions about supplement quality and branding or are ready to get started in curating your personalized treatment plan, call us today!
