A quality dietary supplement: before you start and after it’s marketed—a conference report

Abstract

Consumers worldwide are turning to dietary supplements as one part of their personal goal to lead healthier and more active lives. In truth, the quality of life now supersedes the length of life as no one would trade living to one hundred (the last forty with compromised physical abilities and decreased mental acuity) for 80 years of travel, time with family, and intellectual pursuits. If there is the possibility of preventing a disease or debilitating condition through efficient lifestyle changes (additions, subtractions, modifications) and to also avoid the costly and escalating medical and pharmaceutical treatments that accompany having the disease/condition, then a sensible individual would focus on their overall health and wellness…proactively, instead of reactively. However, an important caveat is that over-regulation or inappropriate application of current regulations can increase the price of dietary supplements and nutritional products and thus cause underutilization of the potentially beneficial physiological attributes of these products. Conversely, strict adherence to regulatory guidelines could result in safer dietary supplements and fewer adverse reactions requiring medical attention. If new regulations or stricter interpretation/application of existing regulations result in certain dietary supplements being taken off the market, will continued demand create a completely unregulated, underground economy that will create unforeseen problems? More research should be supported by government agencies to determine the effectiveness of dietary supplements, nutritional products and complementary medicine in reducing personal and societal medical costs and further contribution to the overall health of the population.

Interlaboratory Trial for Measurement of Vitamin D and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in Foods and a Dietary Supplement Using Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

“…Manufacturers may add ingredient overages to provide the minimum content stated on the label at the end of the product shelf life. 39 …”

Analytical ingredient content and variability of adult multivitamin/mineral products: national estimates for the Dietary Supplement Ingredient Database ,

“…However, the nutrient values on MVM labels may differ significantly from these products' actual analytic contents (11). The concept of overages (i.e., analytically determined content of the nutrient exceeding the amounts claimed on the label) is consistent with Current Good Manufacturing Practices, which recognize their use in the food and DS industry as a means to ensure that claimed ingredient amounts are valid at the end of the product shelf life (12). However, the ingredient amounts added above those claimed by the labels are unknown or publicly unavailable.…”

Situation analysis of procurement and production of multiple micronutrient supplements in 12 lower and upper middle‐income countries

“…Finally, monitoring and surveillance systems need to be strengthened, with local food and drug authorities having better oversight on the MMS quality and potency. In some countries, this may require investments, either from private firms or governments, on technical capacity and laboratory equipment to test finished products for label claims (LeDoux et al, ). A guiding dossier and a resource plan to build capacity with food supplement or drug monitoring agencies for QC and QA throughout the supply chain would be required to ensure a safe transition from IFA supplementation to MMS.…”