Unfortunately, potency issues and lead contamination are becoming frequent travelling companions, evidenced by recent findings from ConsumerLab.com about St. John's wort and its latest report on ginseng, one of the more popular herbal supplements used by Americans.

Out of 11 supplements tested by ConsumerLab.com, five failed to make the grade. Two brands exceeded safe exposure limits for lead in California (0.5 micrograms per day), ranging from three to six times. In one product, researchers also found traces of quintozene, a pesticide used, among other things, to treat seeds used in growing field crops and vegetables.

Three more supplements contained lesser amounts of ginsenosides, the active compounds in ginseng, ranging from 60-75 percent, including two products containing only American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.).

All the more reason, you should be scrutinizing the supplements you take, not only for the impact they have on your bank account, but their quality, safety and purity. Before you consider another supplement, please take a moment to review CNCA's Nutritional Supplement Quality -- The Facts, then talk to your doctor before selecting one.

ConsumerLab.com August 16, 2010 Subscription Required

The most recent cover story in the September 2010 issue of Consumer Reports, entitled The 12 Most Dangerous Supplements, generated a firestorm of comments and controversy all over the MSM and the Internets, albeit at the tail end of what's usually a very slow news month in the middle of the summer.

If you're one of the growing number of folks who have subscribed to our daily health blog over the past few months, however, I wouldn't be surprised if you thought you'd already heard about some of these very same problems before. Fact is, you probably have…

A few months ago in this space, we discussed Reader's Digest's "crash-course" on vitamin safety, 5 Vitamin Truths and Lies. Unlike the aforementioned piece that clocked in at just under 1,500 words, Consumers Digest devoted eight full pages to supplements, providing guidance on a variety of topics.

Even though the Consumers Digest article was very thorough and detailed, I'm not sure how much more you'd learn about supplements that you already have, if you've been following our blog, even for a little while. Arguably, if you've been doing your homework, you may already have a pretty good understanding about what it takes to choose the right supplement for your health.

But this may be your first time reading our 14-month old health blog, or, perhaps, you're just getting around to looking. No matter… We've done the work for you. What follows are six detailed questions you should be asking every time you consider taking a supplement:

1. Has the supplement you're considering ever failed a quality test by an independent source, like ConsumerLab.com?

2. Has the company producing the supplement ever been the target of a regulatory agency like the FDA or FTC?

3. Does the product label of the supplement you're considering include testing data that guarantees its authenticity, purity and potency?

More...

Getting the right amount of vitamin D every day is so important for everyone, from kids to the elderly, folks will turn to a supplement when they can't get enough of the right mix of foods in their diets and safe sunshine exposure.

Unfortunately, taking a supplement offers no guarantee that a patient will receive enough vitamin D to make a real difference in his or her health, according to an analysis of over-the-counter (OTC) supplements presented at last month's meeting of the America's Committee on Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis in San Antonio.

While comparing 10 brands of OTC supplements (from online and brick-mortar stores) with stated dosages ranging from 400-10,000 IU, scientists discovered actual amounts of vitamin D varied wildly from a low of 0.24 percent to 81.7 percent, averaging 33.5 percent across the board. With one ridiculous exception, the higher the labeled dosage, the greater the disparity in the actual amount of vitamin D. (One OTC supplement contained 0.24 percent of the 400 IU it was supposed to have.)

Just another reminder that you can't always count on a label to give you the straight scoop about the quality of a supplement, which is why we recommend that you do your homework, starting with CNCA’s Nutritional Supplement Quality -- The Facts.

MedPage Today June 7, 2010

According to a recent report in Herbalgram (published by the American Botanical Council), domestic sales of herbal and botanical dietary supplements rose by a very healthy 4.8 percent in 2009, exceeding an estimated $5 billion for the very first time, dispelling concerns about any linkage between the "imaginary value" of supplements and the Tooth Fairy described in a recent Reader's Digest article.

The biggest increase in herbal supplement sales was seen in the mass market sector (grocery stores, drug stores, warehouse clubs and c-stores) with a jump of nearly 15 percent, nearly tripling that of natural and health food chains like Whole Foods and specialty retail outlets like GNC.

What follows are the top 10 selling herbal dietary supplements among U.S. food, drug and mass market outlets. (For expanded, more complete lists, hit the free report link below.)

1. Cranberry

2. Soy

3. Saw palmetto

4. Garlic

5. Echinacea

6. Gingko

7. Milk thistle

8. St. John's wort

9. Ginseng

10. Black cohosh

No doubt, you have many options about where to buy a healthy, good-for-you supplement. But, do you really know what you're getting -- namely quality and safety -- for the amount you're spending each month? Review CNCA’s Nutritional Supplement Quality -- The Facts, just to be sure.

HerbalGram, No. 86, pp. 62-65, Summer 2010 Free Full Text Report

Nutraceuticals World May 7, 2010

Traces of lead and cadmium may not only be contaminating cosmetics and jewelry marketed for kids, but St. John’s wort, one of the most popular supplements taken by Americans, according to a recent battery of tests conducted by ConsumerLab.com.

The concern is certainly a reasonable one, since the plant responsible for producing St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) can accumulate heavy metals from our environment.

Out of the 13 supplements listed by ConsumerLabs.com, just seven met their minimum standards. Four contained excessive amounts of either cadmium (greater than 0.3 mcg per gram of whole herb) or lead (0.1 mcg per gram of extract), and three had less than the expected amount of the compounds hypericin (a key ingredient in St. John’s wort) or hyperforin, ranging from 22-36 percent.

You’ll have a better understanding of what you’re really paying for in a supplement -- quality and safety -- and harmful substances you’ll want to avoid -- namely, cadmium and lead -- after reviewing CNCA’s Nutritional Supplement Quality -- The Facts.

ConsumerLab.com April 8, 2010 Subscription Required

Considering recent studies I've posted in this space about the potential health problems facing Baby Boomers down the road, I felt the need to hedge a little bit on the question posed above today's post.

Why?

First, a bit more about a survey from the Texas-based consulting research firm Decision Analyst that polled more than 16,000 American grocery shoppers about the reasons in which they choose healthy foods. When it comes to antioxidants, iron and omega-3 fatty acids, using the adjective rich to describe foods (rich in fill in the blank) in comparison to the word added (fill in the blank added) makes a huge difference in the minds of American consumers.

The problem: The "marketing-speak" used by food marketers on occasion to sell you on "magic" ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids or antioxidants may badly blur or inflate the actual health value of the products they sell. So, when 40 percent of consumers say they're more likely to buy a product rich in anything, now I better understand why Baby Boomers (me included) should pay more attention to the entire label, not just the marketing buzzwords.

Yes, there's nothing inherently wrong in making a mental note about nutrient-rich products you've considered buying at the grocery store, just so long as you spend a minute or two doing your homework and comparing labels. This same deliberate approach should also apply to the supplements you take for your health.

NutraIngredients-USA.com March 30, 2010

Decision Analyst March 22, 2010

Evidently, Americans are using supplements rather smartly to help them get the right amount of calcium and vitamin D they need, according to a Journal of Nutrition study that examined how people get these vital minerals in the supplements and foods they eat every day. This study is an important one, in that scientists considered all sources of vitamin D and calcium when reviewing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Babies and toddlers had the highest intakes of vitamin D and calcium overall through the foods they eat. Once those babies grew up to teenagers and adults, however, adequate daily levels of either nutrient among Americans plummeted.

That said, supplement use made a real difference. In one age group -- young adult women ages 19-30 -- supplementation nearly doubled the number of patients who got the right amount of vitamin D every day (41 percent) as compared to those who received it from their diets alone (21 percent). And, supplementation improved the healthy intake of calcium among men in the 51-70 age range by 10 percent, compared to guys who did it on diet alone.

When in doubt, it's a smarter choice to rely on the experts like Harvard University Medical School, not Reader's Digest, for the sake of your health.

Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 140, No. 4, pp. 817-822, April 2010

NutraIngredients-USA.com April 1, 2010

When you've considered taking a supplement in the past, have visions of the Tooth Fairy ever danced in your head? Even remotely?

I bet that analogy sounds pretty silly to you too, but that's the confusing and maddening approach taken by writer Christie Aschwanden in her feature, 5 Vitamin Truths and Lies, appearing in the latest Reader's Digest. This crash-course in vitamin "research" -- in less than 1,500 words -- argues that the need for average people like you and me to take a supplement is, for the most part, an imaginary and unnecessary one.

Rather than use a thorough approach that shows the pros and cons of taking a supplement as just one of many steps you can take to improve your health, the article shoots holes through a number of ridiculously deceptive and easy targets to prove its faulty points.

For example, "A multivitamin can make up for a bad diet" and "Taking vitamins can protect against cancer" are the shoddy caliber of the low-hanging "myths" this article attempts to "debunk," as if many of you actually believe taking a supplement is the only thing you'll ever need to live a long and healthy life, forgoing exercise, a balanced diet and the right amount of sleep. We're not alone in this assessment either, as that overly-generalized, paint-by-numbers approach, says Douglas MacKay of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), does far more to confuse the issue than inform.

I suspect the 65 percent of Americans who refer to themselves as users of supplements, according to a CRN survey, make up a large segment of Reader's Digest's target audience. No doubt, they will be shaking their heads in disbelief, as we were, after being told that any effect supplementation has on the collective good health of Americans is mythical.

Separate fact from fiction by spending a few minutes to do some homework of your own, by reviewing CNCA's Nutritional Supplement Quality -- The Facts.

Image source: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

Reader's Digest April 2010

NutraIngredients-USA.com March 15, 2010

Just as steroids have been found in a growing number of supplements, so has the presence of hexavalent chromium, the same toxic substance used in various industrial processes that captured our collective attention after the Oscar-winning film based on the life of Erin Brockovich.

In fact, three out of the eight weight-loss supplements tested by ConsumerLab.com for chromium -- a substance the human body needs for normal growth and development -- contained trace amounts of hexavalent chromium. The worst of the bunch contained more than 6 percent.

So, why are these small amounts such a big deal? No safe legal limit for hexavalent chromium currently exists, which is why California -- where Brockovich uncovered the contamination of drinking water -- has considered enacting stringent guidelines severely limiting the amount of hexavalent chromium contained in drinking water to 0.06 ppb (parts-per-billion).

And, one product tested by ConsumerLab.com contained 220 times the proposed limit of hexavalent chronimum under consideration by the Golden State.

Another, in a growing list of reasons, you must always consider the quality and purity of the supplements you take in addition to price.

Image source: Wikipedia

ConsumerLab.com March 1, 2010 Subscription Required

Los Angeles Times March 2, 2010

The unfortunate downside of using herbal medicines is the subject of a cautionary paper reminding us of the many quality problems still plaguing supplements that we've discussed far too often in this space.

Among other things, the paper, written by an Australian forensic pathologist, warns patients about the risks connected with taking herbal products made in foreign countries, yet sold in America, that can be laced with harmful substances such as lead, arsenic, mercury and, on occasion, standard prescription drugs. Sounds all too familiar to us, considering recent reports of steroid-tainted supplements.

Fact is, consulting your family physician before taking any herbal medicine or supplement often prevents unforeseen and, sometimes, dangerous interactions with a prescription drug, like the effect St. John's Wort has on the anticoagulant warfarin.

Just another reason to do your due diligence FIRST before buying any herbal product or supplement. And, reviewing CNCA's Nutritional Supplement Quality -- The Facts is as good a place as any to start.

Journal of Forensic Sciences, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 89-92, January 4, 2010

ScienceDaily February 12, 2010

You know the value of fish oil is finally hitting home with the mainstream when the U.S. Department of Defense is considering using its components -- DHA omega-3 fatty acids and EPA -- to fortify the meals of all active military personnel.

To accomplish this, however, would require U.S. military officials to rescind a standing directive prohibiting the military from providing a supplement or a drug through its food supply chain.

"Increasing omega-3 consumption amongst U.S. troops has incredible potential to improve health and reduce health care costs for U.S. troops," says Douglas MacKay of the Council for Responsible Nutrition. "There is evidence that higher levels of omega-3 fats have multiple health benefits, some of which are important to soldiers."

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NutraIngredients-USA.com February 2, 2010

With a greater number of nurses and doctors taking supplements and recommending them to their patients, it's no surprise to learn the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements is among four federal agencies sponsoring an Economic Analysis of Nutritional Interventions workshop later this month in Bethesda, Md.

Considering recent stats have determined the average American family earning $60,000 may spend more than 40 percent of their annual income on medical expenses in the decade to come, experts are desperately looking for better, safer and less expensive solutions to the healthcare crisis.

Perhaps, the NIH finally paid some attention to a 2007 report by The Lewin Group (commissioned by the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance) that found the use of selected dietary supplements could "improve the health of key populations and save the nation more than $24 BILLION in healthcare costs."

The only surprise to us: Why did it take so long for experts to figure this elegantly simple solution out?

If you want to make a dent of your own in the healthcare crisis, start with learning more about Nutritional Supplement Quality -- The Facts.

National Institutes of Health/Office of Dietary Supplements

The Integrator Blog February 3, 2010

Despite all the rhetoric passed off as fact by our media brethren about all the problems with Big Herba, recent numbers we've seen from a Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) survey suggest otherwise. In fact, far from it...

Even in the throws of the weakest economy since the Great Depression, 74 percent of American adults haven't changed their spending on supplements. Slightly more Americans surveyed by the CRN also referred to themselves as supplement users last year (65 percent) than in 2008.

What's more, consumers polled for the CRN survey believe supplementation and good health habits go hand-in-hand, the very popular and seemingly recurring theme of a lecture presented to the Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus last summer by Dr. William Cooper. By margins as high as 15 percent, Americans who take supplements generally eat healthier diets, exercise regularly, schedule timely visits with their doctors and get a good night's sleep, compared to those who stay away from them.

Just as finding the best exercise program and the right foods for your body takes time and effort, so does choosing the safest and most beneficial supplements for your health. Unfortunately, you could make a very reasonable argument that it's much easier to find bad supplements -- for example, ones laced with steroids and titanium dioxide -- than good, safe and potent ones.

When you're ready to make a positive impact on your health for the long term, spend a few minutes learning more about what to look for in a supplement by reviewing CNCA's Nutritional Supplement Quality -- The Facts.

Natural Products Insider January 11, 2009

The Harvard Heart Letter, published by Harvard University Medical School, recently joined the growing ranks of expert publications touting the benefits of vitamin D supplementation, particularly higher amounts of this fat-soluable substance.

Although a daily dose of sunshine can boost your vitamin D levels naturally, a daily supplement of 800-1,000 IU (International Unit) is the simplest means to get it, the Letter says, not to mention the safest and easiest.

What makes taking a vitamin D supplement so vitally important to your health? At least a third of all Americans are deficient in vitamin D. The percentages grow to an alarming 75 percent among adults suffering from the various classes of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, two of the top three leading causes of death for men and women, not to mention, among the most preventable.

All the more reason to consider being screened for vitamin D.

Harvard Heart Letter December 2009

NutraIngredients-USA.com December 10, 2009

A consortium of American sports entities, including the NFL, NBA, NHL and the U.S. Olympic Committee, have joined forces with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to create Supplement Safety Now, a program created to put an end to "the dangerous and unscrupulous practices of rogue manufacturers within the nutritional supplement industry."

The timing of this rollout isn't surprising, in the wake of recent media reports about a second FDA recall connected to traces of steroids found in supplements produced by Florida-based IDS Sports.

Reactions to the Supplement Safety Now initiative among various industry groups have been mixed. Michigan-based NSF International applauded the program, calling products that contain steroids "illegal drugs masquerading as dietary supplements," says NSF's senior VP Dr. Lori Bestervelt. "These dangerous and illegal products pose a significant public health risk and more stringent enforcement and independent surveillance is needed to better safeguard consumers."

On the other hand, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and Natural Products Association (NPA) have expressed concerns about the initiative being more heavy-handed than useful or effective. For one, the CRN believes an FDA registry of products proposed in the Supplement Safety Now initiative wouldn't be effective. "We do not believe that companies that are illegally contaminating products would bother to register," says Steve Mister, CRN president and CEO.

And, CRN and NPA also agree with beefing up enforcement of existing laws on the books. "Boosting enforcement also proves a quicker way to get rogue companies out of the marketplace versus the much longer process of trying to pass new legislation and write new regulations that still may not be enforced," says John Gay, NPA's CEO and executive director.

NPI Center December 2, 2009