Supplement Quality and Concerns
Multivitamins are the most popular dietary supplements in the United States, accounting for $4.8 billion in sales in 2009. However, there is no standard formula for multivitamins, and no U.S. agency that routinely tests multivitamins, so formulations and quality can vary widely. Additionally, vitamin and mineral needs and tolerances differ based on factors such as age, gender, health conditions and pregnancy, so there is no one formula that is appropriate for everyone.
Considerations for multivitamin quality include verifying that the supplement contains the amounts of specific vitamin ingredients claimed on the label, tablet disintegration (which can affect absorption) and the potential for lead contamination. ConsumerLab.com has reported the quality of multivitamin supplements to vary widely, and that price is not predictive of quality.
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