As part of a 4-month investigation of vitamin and mineral supplements sold at 186 health-food stores and 310 other stores, 31 consumers were dispatched to 31 cities across the country. Some highlights of that study along with follow-up consumer tips are presented below.
Highlights
- Of the products sold at health stores, 90% were of questionable medical value.
- Many products contain extra ingredients, such as exotic herbal substances, that have no health value and may be harmful.
- Health stores sold the 31 correspondents products costing $4,859.46. A full $4,590.42 worth of the products did not measure up to the health claims or had no expiration date.
- Supplements of calcium, multivitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin E cost the correspondents $0.77 a day at health stores. Comparison shopping would provide the same supplements at a cost of $0.12 to $0.21 cents a day.
- Products that cost the most were herbal remedies.
For instance, an 11-ounce jar of jelly produced by worker bees cost $22.95. The craze for herbal supplements is not supported by scientific evidence. Fewer than a dozen of the 600-plus herbal remedies have been subjected to double-blind studies.
Consumer Tips
- Shop for supplements that comply with strict scientific standards set by the US pharmacopoeia. These products carry the letters USP on the label.
- If you take a multivitamin/mineral supplement, shop for the bargain price. Select one that provides 100% of the RDA with the exception of calcium, which is too bulky to be included in a multiple vitamin pill.
- Calcium, which can be dissolved only in the stomach, is most effective when taken with food. Split intake of calcium by consuming one half of the supplement with breakfast and the other half with dinner.
- If you take antioxidants for their possible health benefits, shop by price.
- Look for an expiration date that shows how long the supplement should retain its potency.
- Avoid supplements that advertise “sustained release” of nutrients. The delayed release may prevent the nutrients from being absorbed.
- Don’t pay extra for herbal ingredients. They have not been proven to enhance the body’s use of supplements. About the only thing enhanced are store profits. The more money you spend on supplements, the more you tend to waste.
- Don’t waste money following most health store recommendations. If you need a supplement, its most likely to be calcium, a multivitamin, and/or antioxidants.
Tags:antioxidants, calcium, health claims, Health Food Plan, health value, herbal remedies, herbal substances, multiple vitamin, multivitamin mineral, supplements, vitamin e vitamin pill