How to research vitamin/supplement companies? - Vitamins & Supplements Message Board

agitate · 11-10-2005, 11:09 AM

Hello,

Can anyone tell me where I can look to research the companies that make vitamins and supplements, not just the supplements themselves.

It is my understanding that some companies use better ingredients than others and the industry is not regulated by any standard. I have heard that some companies make better quality vitamins and supplements but would like to verify this myself.

If anyone can point me to a resource I would greatly appreciate it!

† Μauґeeŋ †

2Westies · 11-10-2005, 04:59 PM

The FDA website (www.fda.gov) usually posts reports about recalls or investigations of supplement manufacturers. You will probably have to do some digging, but if you already know the names of some of the companies, you could try doing a search of the site with those names or brand names of the products. Some useful things to know is that you should try to find products with ingredients listed as USP, this means they are pharmaceutical grade. Also, when looking for products with oils (flax seed oil, borage oil, fish oil, etc.) try to find cold-pressed as these have not been denatured by heat processing.

Administrator · 11-10-2005, 09:40 PM

There are more or less easily assimilated components of minerals and vitamins. You can do word searches to find out what type, not just what brand, is most easily digested. Some components will not digest but will go right though the body like they were when swallowed.

Example of a possible word group to search:

calcium easily assimilated

Found info:
calcium citrate is the most easily assimilated form of calcium

Once you understand what forms of the supplements are easiest for your body to use, then you can do searches to find out what companies manufacture them.