Vital Vitamins: Don’t Let the Label Fool You

Nutritional supplements, known the world over as vitamins, are essential for maintaining proper health of the body. The lack of adequate vitamin intake will result in various deficiencies. For example, Vitamin A deficiency can lead to night blindness, dry scaly itchy skin, susceptibility to infections and even loss of taste and smell. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) deficiency can lead to anemia, kidney stones, and depression.⁽¹⁾

The role of the vitamin has increased in importance over the years as the food we eat is decreasing in nutritional content. Studies show conventional produce is not making the mark in providing the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamins. Organic foods still reign as number one for the highest nutrition content.

According to a report published in Organic Gardening Magazine, data from 41 studies taken between 1946 and 1997 stated, “Vegetables grown organically contained on an average 27 percent more vitamin C, 21 percent more magnesium, 14 percent more phosphorus, and 15 percent fewer nitrates than conventional produce.⁽²⁾ Consumers also risk consuming bio-engineered foods that sneak their way into the food chain, and contain little, if any, nutritional value.”

This is where the role of the nutritional supplement comes in. Nutritional supplements alleviate the shortfalls in food. Consumers are encouraged to take vitamins on a regular basis. The benefits include disease prevention, increase in energy and even longevity. Choosing a vitamin sounds easy, but not all vitamins on the market are what they claim to be.

Choosing a Vitamin

How often does someone look at the ingredient label on a bottle of vitamins? Fact is, most believe that the label says it all. Vitamin C should be just that, Vitamin C, but depending on the manufacturer you could be consuming a pill that contains molds, yeast, dyes or wax. Some ingredient labels even list hidden sugars under the names of glycerin and lecithin. (Please take a moment today to look at the labels on your vitamins. You will find this information under “inactive ingredients” or “other ingredients.”)

But, what about the ingredients you can’t see and aren’t labeled, nor are they required to be labeled on your vitamins? Vitamins can also contain more harmful contaminants, like salmonella, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or Staphylococcus aureus. Fish oil supplements may contain PCB’s, (a known hazardous chemical), mercury, and dioxins. Herbal supplements may contain herbicide and pesticide residue. Chinese herbs may contain heavy metals. The same vitamin that is promoted to help you, may be causing you further damage.

Vitamin Manufacturers

The way the process works, is that a manufacturer will receive raw materials from a distributor that contain a certificate of authenticity. Manufacturers have the option of testing the validity of this certificate. By doing so they would also ensure that the material does not contain any of the harmful ingredients listed above. Unfortunately, most companies don’t do any sort of testing at all and leave consumers to suffer the consequences.

“Current nutritional supplement manufacturing practices are inadequate to assure consistent quality products,” says Rick Liva, R. Ph., ND, and President of Vital Nutrients, a leading vitamin manufacturer in the United States, committed to promoting quality assured vitamins. “Many nutritional supplement companies ask you to trust in blind faith. They believe that raw materials purchased from their suppliers are authentic. However, most manufacturing companies do no testing whatsoever and rely solely on the certificate of analysis provided to them by their raw materials suppliers.”

Testing

There are also different types of testing that can be done. The first type of testing is performed on the premises of the manufacturer. This type of testing, although better than no testing, can be compromised for financial reasons, time constraints and numerous other factors. Independent testing, or testing that is conducted by a non-biased party, off the premises, is the most assured way to ensure the “identity, authenticity and potency” of the materials. Because of the high costs in doing so, independent testing companies shy away from it. Consumers are none the wiser and continue to be deceived.

It is also important to know whether the manufacturer you are purchasing from has products produced by an outside contractor. Furthermore, with regard to the potency of the vitamin, companies should also be re-testing their finished products. “Our independent labs test our finished goods after manufacturing and then repeat the test on the same lot at twelve months and twenty-four months to verify purity, potency and label claim,” explains Dr. Liva.

Is There Any Hope?

Fortunately, there are a few conscientious vitamin companies that do independent testing.

Such companies manufacture their products through the United States Pharmacopoeia standards and proposed FDA Current Good Manufacturing Practice Guidelines (cGMP) for nutritional supplements.

Dr. Liva explains, “The cGMP’s cover employee training, cleanliness of the facility, documentation, quarantine and release procedures, identity and authenticity of raw materials and many other areas.” All of which ensures a quality product.

Vitamin manufacturers that promote quality standards are harder to find, but not impossible. One way to connect with a responsible vitamin manufacturer is through a naturopathic doctor or medical physician.

Cost

Many people may be wondering what the cost of a quality vitamin is. On the average, a good vitamin may cost 30-50 percent more than most generic brands, but the value is worth it. According to one consumer, Jane Snyder, “the more I read the ingredient labels on vitamins the more appalled I was to think of what I was really putting in my body! Now I pay a little more, but I can feel the difference.”

The best thing to do is to be informed. Look for hidden ingredients and fillers. Look for labels that say “manufactured for” or “distributed by.” Make phone calls and inquiries. Check expiration labels. Talk to doctors and health practitioners about where you can find vitamins without the fillers. In a world where nutrition in food is decreasing, taking the right vitamin is more important now more than ever.

Sources:

• Kloss, Jethro- “Back to Eden” original copyright 1939, revised and expanded second edition. Lotus Press, WI.
• Worthington, Virginia Sc.D., Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine- 2001
• “Organic Produce is Better For You”- Organic Gardening Magazine September/October 2003
• Liva, Rick, R.Ph, N.D., President Vital Nutrients, Middletown, CT 06457 USA
• Goldberg, Donald P. R.Ph., Gitomer, Arnold, R.Ph., and Abel, Robert, Jr., M.D.- “The Best Supplements For Your Health.” Twin Streams 2002
• The American Heritage Dictionary- 4^th edition- Dell Publishing 2001

Barbara Hunter is a seasoned writer, specializing in nutrition and religion. Having traveled for a great portion of her life she has witnessed first hand the unique voice people have and has incorporated these messages in her writing. Her writing includes a completed novel, as well as several optioned screenplays, and various media articles. She may be contacted at WalkingOnWind@cs.com. 

(1) Back to Eden- by Kloss, Jethro 1939, Vitamins page 519-520.

(2) Original study printed in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine- 2001