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.
Read more about this topic: Multivitamin
Famous quotes containing the words supplement, quality and/or concerns:
“To the old saying that man built the house but woman made of it a “home” might be added the modern supplement that woman accepted cooking as a chore but man has made of it a recreation.”
—Emily Post (1873–1960)
“Although good early childhood programs can benefit all children, they are not a quick fix for all of society’s ills—from crime in the streets to adolescent pregnancy, from school failure to unemployment. We must emphasize that good quality early childhood programs can help change the social and educational outcomes for many children, but they are not a panacea; they cannot ameliorate the effects of all harmful social and psychological environments.”
—Barbara Bowman (20th century)
“The country is fed up with children and their problems. For the first time in history, the differences in outlook between people raising children and those who are not are beginning to assume some political significance. This difference is already a part of the conflicts in local school politics. It may spread to other levels of government. Society has less time for the concerns of those who raise the young or try to teach them.”
—Joseph Featherstone (20th century)