Supplements are meant to fill any nutritional gaps between what you eat and your specific nutrient requirements. Pregnant women can use supplements during gestation to ensure adequate levels of folate, iron and calcium; those suffering from deficiencies of B12 or magnesium may use supplements as well.
As supplements often promise to accelerate metabolism, moisturize skin or increase immunity, it’s wise to approach their world with an open mind and critical analysis.
Third-Party Tested
Many supplement companies conduct third party testing to ensure their products are safe and accurate (49). Unlike traditional food items, supplements do not need FDA clearance before entering the market – leaving room for labeling errors and nutritional facts mismatches as well as undeclared substances that could contain banned or undeclared materials (50).
Recent research indicates that 57% of student-athletes surveyed don’t believe all nutritional supplements have been third-party tested; this knowledge gap may lead to uninformed supplement choices which impact student-athlete health throughout their athletic careers and beyond.
When selecting supplements, look for third-party verified certification marks such as BSCG, NSF, ConsumerLab or USP to indicate independent laboratory testing of your product. ISO 17025 and GLP accreditation as well as experience within the supplement industry must also be met in addition to specific testing requirements specific to each supplement type must also be fulfilled by this lab.
Reputable Manufacturer
Selecting a manufacturer is an essential decision and it is critical to verify its good standing by asking for references and conducting background checks. Furthermore, make sure the business has registered with relevant regulatory bodies such as FDA or UL.
Your product manufacturer of choice should also offer fully referenced invoices and receipts, to assist in keeping track of orders. Furthermore, look for one with excellent customer service offerings who can respond to any of your inquiries quickly.
Supplements are an effective way of meeting your vitamin and mineral requirements; however, for optimal health it is preferable to get them through diet. Foods like citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables contain many of the necessary vitamins and minerals required for good health; additionally, you can find vitamin supplements in various forms like tablets, capsules, gels or drinks.
Safe Ingredients
Since supplements are unregulated like medications, they don’t need to meet the same high safety and effectiveness standards. When purchasing supplements, look for third-party tested products with the USP Supplement Verification Program or Banned Substances Control Group seal to make sure that they contain only those ingredients listed on their label and don’t contain contaminants that could compromise them.
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 classifies dietary supplements as foods rather than drugs, changing how they are regulated by FDA. Instead of being required to adhere to a similar regulatory framework as drugs, manufacturers simply need to notify FDA before releasing a new ingredient into interstate commerce and submit evidence demonstrating its safety.
Due to cost pressures, some companies use less effective and cheaper ingredients, such as switching ginkgo leaf extract for ginkgo biloba extract – this practice known as adulteration can cause adverse side effects ranging from allergic reactions to liver damage.
