Understanding Supplement Options
The Struggle to Eat Right
Dietary imbalances are directly linked to many health and performance challenges facing us all.
Process and refined foods are among the chief offenders as these foods burden our body with excess calories, carbohydrates voids of nutrition and toxic fats. But even for those who avoid these foods, we are all challenged by foods that contain chemicals, preservatives, and genetically modified ingredients. In addition, many foods that we consume are grown in depleted soil, picked before ripened and shipped thousands of miles before they are eaten. For context on how processing and storage alter nutrient density, see overviews on nutrient loss from storage and heat exposure (open-access review) and USDA discussions of food system impacts on quality (USDA ERS).
So it goes without reason, that we all need nutritional supplements to fill in the gaps.
But which one??
Choosing a supplement can be a challenging task given the many choices available today. There are numerous lines, both over-the-counter and professional, that makes the choice confusing. The FDA regulates dietary supplement manufacturing under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements (21 CFR Part 111), but product quality still varies substantially between brands and lots, as documented in independent quality evaluations and peer-reviewed summaries (NIH ODS—What You Need to Know).
How do you know which product is right for you?
Potency, purity and effectiveness are hallmarks of most professional lines. Professional lines rely on the latest scientific research for their formulations. They use the highest quality ingredients available in therapeutic dosages. In addition, they undergo extensive testing of both raw materials and finished product and are subjected to rigorous FDA standards. This ensures the formulas contain nutrients in meaningful quantities and ratios, which can make the difference between seeing the desired result of supplementation or none at all. Independent, standards-based programs can add further assurance, for example the USP Verified mark and NSF/ANSI standards for supplements, which assess identity, potency, contaminants, and GMPs.
If you take a look at a label of over-the-counter supplements, you will often find a long list of “other ingredients” in addition to ingredients you cannot spell or even pronounce. Most professional lines guarantee their products are free of fillers, coatings, binders, allergens, artificial colors, preservatives, sugar, synthetics, hydrogenated oils and other undesirable ingredients. For labeling basics, FDA requires a Supplement Facts panel with active ingredients and a separate “Other Ingredients” list for excipients (FDA labeling guide).
Why price comparisons fall apart
Pricing comparisons are difficult to make between a professional and over-the-counter brands since they are usually distinctly different. A look at both labels will illustrate that point. Consider this—do you think the nutrient value of a boxed, frozen or canned product you pick off a grocery store shelf is as nutritious as one you make at home using organic, whole foods? So is the difference in nutritional quality between professional and over-the-counter brands. When evaluating value, compare verified potency of actives, evidence-based forms (e.g., glycinate vs. oxide; methylcobalamin vs. cyanocobalamin), and published testing methods such as HPLC/ICP-MS noted in a brand’s quality documentation (AOAC methods for supplements).
Where we fit
The PureClean Performance formulas are professional line products that are derived from whole foods and have been subject to the most important scrutiny—science via lab assessments and our client’s responses from using them. Our quality workflows align with cGMP (21 CFR 111), prioritize validated analytical methods (e.g., HPLC for actives; ICP-MS for heavy metals), and emphasize transparent labeling so dosing is predictable from lot to lot (FDA DS overview; USP on herbal & dietary supplements).