Posted: November 11, 2007

Summary:
With hundreds of supplement options available, five factors help break the fact from fiction and help you find the best supplement for optimal health.

The world of dietary supplements can be confusing for consumers. With so many options on the shelf and online, many opt not to take a supplement, or instead buy the first one they see or the least expensive.

The education and decision-making process is the most important and coincidently, the most time consuming. But when consumers educate themselves about the importance of choosing the best supplement, they tend to make decisions that assist with augmenting their lifestyle complete with healthy diet and Exercise. Similar to making a major purchase, maybe a television or a car, purchases and decisions should never be made spontaneously. It’s important to take the same care when selecting the right supplement or combination of supplements.

As part of the research process, it is critical to know the ingredients, quality of the product and other key statistics. When questions come to mind, the best experts to ask include pharmacists, physicians, health care specialist or dietitians. The following factors will also assist when selecting the right supplement.

Five Factors for Selecting the Right Supplement

Determine what your supplement needs are by consulting with a health care professional and do your own research based on proven scientific data – If you are thinking about taking supplements, it’s important to talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian to answer questions. Don’t let a friend, co-worker or commercial be your main referral. In addition to consulting with your physician, the next step is to research the types and quality of supplements that are backed by scientific research. It’s also important to note that even the American Medical Association encourages people to take supplements. After determining your need, follow-up accordingly by researching the supplements that directly relate to your need.

FACT: T here are more than 4,500 studies over the last 25 years that have shown how vital Omega-3 Fatty Acids are to both preventing and treating cardiovascular-related diseases. Taking them in supplement form reduces both heart disease and sudden cardiac death (Dietary Supplement Information Bureau). Make sure the way you take the supplements maximizes absorption – In some studies, researchers have shown that some supplements take 4 – 6 hours to dissolve. Since most food passes through the stomach in 3 hours, some people don’t receive the benefits at all. Gelatin capsules, powder and liquid have a greater potential for dissolution. Very often, poorly manufactured pills cause low bio-availability.

FACT: Despite a fairly rich diet, French people have fewer heart attacks, perhaps because they drink red wine every day. But the secret of red wine is probably not the alcohol. More likely it’s the antioxidant powers of the seed and skin of the grape. Grape Seed Extract is used to prevent and treat circulatory disorders (Dietary Supplement Information Bureau).

Obtain high-quality pharmaceutical grade supplements – In June 2007, the FDA announced a final rule establishing regulations to require good manufacturing practices for supplements. The rule ensures that dietary supplements are produced in a quality manner, and do not contain contaminants or impurities. This ruling helps consumers, but it is important to go a step further and make sure that the supplement you are thinking about is pharmaceutical grade. It means that the same high quality standards that apply to manufacturers of drugs as far as purity and contents apply to supplements as well. Make note of those supplements that are pharmaceutical grade.

FACT: Government regulations restrict manufacturers from making specific health claims—even those based on results of scientific studies (Supplement Safety Myths & Facts, Jenefer Angell).

Choose supplements that are chemical and toxin-free – supplements in the form of soft-gel, capsule, powder or liquid form are less likely to be sprayed with toxic fixatives like isopropanol as tablets often are. It can be difficult to weed out which companies use non-toxic extractants and coatings, but it’s worth the time in research as it may affect your health. Also, it’s important to look for well-formulated supplements that have ingredients that have not been exposed to pesticides or harmful chemicals. One particular chemical is hexane. Many soft-gels are made with this chemical and after years of ingesting it, the chemical is typically stored in the body resulting in serious health risks down the road.

TIP: Make sure your soft-gels are all listed as hexane-free.

FACT: New law requires that dietary supplements provide nutritional labeling. The labeling, called a “Supplement Facts” information panel, lists the amount of calories, calories from fat, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, sugars, protein, vitamins, and minerals (Dietary Supplement Information Bureau).

Ensure that your supplements are made in the USA – With the recent worries and concerns about food products and other items from countries outside of the United States, as another degree of awareness, it’s good to look for supplements made in the USA. Along with long distance shipping and substandard warehousing, some supplements may sit in warehouses for months if not years before they are shipped out for consumer consumption. The longer they sit, the more toxins they may be exposed to. Ensuring that your supplements are made in the USA is yet another determinant in selecting the right supplement for you.

MORE: For more information on dietary supplements, visit http://dietary- supplements.info.nih.gov/. By utilizing the five factors above, the process is simplified, thus, making the world of dietary supplements easier to navigate and understand. In the process, valuable relationships with your physician, pharmacist and other health care workers are made. In addition to selecting the best supplement, Exercise and healthy food options continue to be the biggest items of focus. From controlling portion size to parking further away from your office building or obtaining a gym membership, each item is a piece of the puzzle in the overall big picture of your quality of life. Choose wisely!

ABOUT DR SURKIN Lee A. Surkin M.D. completed a fellowship in cardiology at Yale University and holds a medical degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pa. He also has a master's degree in Nutrition from Columbia University School of Medicine and is board certified in cardiology and nuclear cardiology. Dr. Surkin has additional training in the evaluation and management of sleep disorders from the Atlanta School of Medicine and Technology.

Date of Article Publication: November, 2007


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