What kind of supplement should I buy? When it comes to vitamins, herbs, supplements they are not created equal. The way they are extracted, the raw material used, the potency, the binders and fillers all varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Who ensures the quality control?
How are the products stored? And at what temperature the products are transported? Is the content standardized for active ingredients or just a buddle of dried herbs in capsule? What the quality of raw material? Are the ingredients non GMO? Is the nutraceutical company third party verified? Are the supplements produced in the USA under the compliance with FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)?
Tip: In the comprehensive evaluation that affect quality and efficacy here are the major criteria: Identity, Purity, Quality, Strength and Composition. In the support of product & ingredient disclosure here are things to look for:
National Sanitary Foundation (NSF): ensures the high standard of quality control that undergo Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspections. A NSF registered facility is audited twice per year.
Certificates of Analysis (C of As): In the interest of full disclosure of raw material vendor a Certificates of Analysis (C of As) is provided to confirm C of As independent testing. Every lot must be accompanied by comprehensive vendor-supplied documentation of the material’s identity, potency, and purity.
Independent Laboratory Analysis: monitors for potential contaminants and testes for the marker compound quantities the analytical testing including HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) among many others.