Supplement Savvy

I have been in Women’s Healthcare for many years. Back when I first started, a cutting-edge supplement might be something like a multivitamin specifically formulated for women over fifty or a combination calcium with vitamin D.  But a lot of things have changed over the years, and the supplement market is one of those things.  Today there is an absolutely mind-boggling array of all kinds of supplements promising all kinds of benefits. I think that there are many reasons why the supplement market has grown so prolifically. One reason, I think, is that after Covid, people were more interested in boosting their immune systems. I also feel that the fact that the population is aging as a whole is causing an increased interest in supplements, people are looking for ways to preserve cognitive wellbeing, joint health, longevity and youthful appearance.  Social media has a role too, it makes people more aware of what is out there and also of trends, but at the same time it doesn’t always differentiate between what is good and safe and what is bad, ineffective or dangerous. Here’s where some of the issues come in. The supplement market just isn’t regulated the same way as the pharmaceutical market is. Dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA as a category of food, not medicine or drugs. This makes it very important to know what’s what when you are purchasing supplements. 

When you are looking to purchase vitamins or supplements:

Look for companies that participate in third party testing:

Third party testing is when a supplement is evaluated by a qualified lab that is not affiliated with the manufacturer. This process is intended to ensure that the ingredients on the label are the ingredients you get in the product. It also helps confirm that the supplement contains the right amount of each active ingredient, it tests for harmful ingredients or contamination and verifies that the product has no unlisted allergens. Some benefits of this third-party testing are that it ensures consumer safety, protects professional athletes from the risk of consuming banned substances, and demonstrates that the production company is concerned with reliability, quality and compliance.  Some well-known agencies that do third party testing on supplements include USP, NSF International, ConsumerLab.com, Informed Choice, and NSF Certified for Sport. Look for the seal of a third-party testing agency in the products label or website.

Discuss supplement use with your own healthcare provider.  I think that people sometimes have a preconceived notion that if they are taking something herbal or “natural” that it is always safe.  That is not necessarily true though, there are a lot of drug interactions and safety precautions with many of these substances. You should always make sure to discuss any supplement that you wish to take with your personal healthcare provider to ensure it is safe and appropriate for you.

not necessarily true though, there are a lot of drug interactions and safety precautions with many of these substances. You should always make sure to discuss any supplement that you wish to take with your personal healthcare provider to ensure it is safe and appropriate for you.

Know your stuff: Do adequate research:

Read reviews and look for information on trusted websites, scientific articles or from nutrition professionals.  Learn how to read the ingredient labels. Avoid products with unknown fillers, vague labels or those that say “proprietary ingredients or blends” that hide ingredient amounts. If you are vegan, look out for animal products such as fish oil, collagen or gelatin. Some companies will also show a QR code to lab results or Certificate of Analysis (CoA).  In addition, be wary of any supplements that claim to cure an illness or specifically treat a medical condition. Be wary of companies that make exaggerated claims or quick fixes like “you can lose 30 lbs. in a week”. If it sounds too good to be true, it more than likely is too good to be true.

There are many good supplements on the market right now, and many good companies that produce them. There are also some that make false claims or that are deceptive.  It is often confusing but can also be very rewarding when you find the right ones. Just pay attention to the companies’ quality control policies, do your research and discuss all vitamins and supplements with your own healthcare provider. I also like to look for companies that are known to be earth friendly with their production and shipping policies and socially responsible.

In this series of blog posts, I am going to explore some of the supplements that are popular right now, and some of the companies that produce and market them, so watch for upcoming posts!