Nutritional supplements and herbal products are becoming increasingly popular for therapeutic and preventative purposes. Americans now spend over $5.7 billion on dietary supplements. The incredible growth of this industry has attracted a large number of new companies, from small distributors to large food and pharmaceutical companies. Unfortunately, many companies have been found to produce poor quality products. Now that so many people are consuming dietary supplements, it is important to recognize the differences in quality and the ultimate impact on our health.

In a quality comparison study conducted last August, ten different brands of St. John's Wort were analyzed. The researchers randomly purchased ten different brands of the herb from six Los Angeles area health food stores. The products were tested for levels of hypericin, the standardized ingredient in St. John's Wort. The study revealed some shocking results. Three of the brands contained less than half of the label's claim for potency. The other seven products contained anywhere from 75% to 135% of the label's claim. In another study published by the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, researchers analyzed eleven different products claiming to contain Lactobacillus acidophilus. They analyzed the products for number and type of bacteria. Only two of the eleven products contained any L. acidophilus, but did contain a variety of other microorganisms with unknown therapeutic benefit.

The variation in the quality of these products often occurs because accurate laboratory analysis of natural ingredients is difficult. It is due mainly to the complexity of the natural ingredients compared with single chemical entity drugs. Also, regulatory control is less stringent with dietary supplements than with pharmaceuticals. The FDA has regulations consistent with their regulations for foods and include requirements for good manufacturing practices and labeling. Some manufacturers actually exceed the FDA's standards and comply with the regulations for over-the-counter drugs. Since dietary supplements are regarded as relatively safe, though, and are more closely related to foods than drugs, the FDA does not regulate certain aspects of quality control as it does for drugs. So, what does all of this mean? The quality of products is dependent on the integrity of the company that manufactures them.

All herbs are not created equal. With the explosive growth of herbal usage, concerns have grown regarding shortages of herbal supply. Diminishing supply has created an environment for unscrupulous and uninformed suppliers of herbs to flourish. Low quality and misbranded products now appear on many retail shelves. Some of these products are mislabeled because they contain different plants than those contained on the label. This may be the result of misidentification of the herb at the grower level. A common unethical practice is diluting expensive herbs with substitutes that can be blended in the bulk material. The result is a low quality herbal preparation sitting on the retail shelf. A knowledgeable manufacturer is careful to ask the right questions, require the proper documentation from suppliers and conduct their own analysis to verify the presence of the herb and its additives. A quality manufacturer will hold the supplier to strict standards concerning the herb's origin, authenticity and safety. Certificates of Origin are often requested and a series of tests for identity and purity are run on the herbs.

There are three major areas that should be considered when determining a quality company, and ultimately a quality product. First, find out about the quality of the raw ingredients that the company is putting into their supplements. Secondly, determine their quality in formulation. Lastly, consider the company's manufacturing, packaging and handling procedures. Raw material selection is important, and some manufacturers use inferior, inexpensive ingredients, whether it be due to their lack of expertise or their pricing philosophy. Whatever the reason, high quality raw ingredients will make the difference between an effective product and an ineffective one. Quality in product formulation is another important factor that influences quality, safety and effectiveness. Formulations must be based on reliable safety and efficacy data. A good company will take their time to bring a quality product to the market, regardless of the economic opportunity. How a product is manufactured, packaged, handled and stored also has a significant influence on quality. Even if a company begins with superior raw ingredients, but does not handle them properly, many of the potential benefits will be lost. For instance, products containing phytonutrients or enzymes need to be handled at the right temperature with minimal exposure to moisture, light and air. These environmental factors can adversely affect the potency of a product.

Another important factor is disintegration time. The time it takes for a tablet or capsule to dissolve in digestive juices has an impact on the absorption and bioavailability of the supplement. Disintegration of single ingredient tablets are not a concern, however, the disintegration of multiple ingredient supplements, often present the manufacturer with difficulties. Some x-ray technicians have reported the presence of intact tablets in the colons of some patients. To be sure that you get maximum benefit from a supplement it should dissolve within thirty minutes of consumption. Knowing the disintegration times of supplements you take can be helpful in measuring their quality and effectiveness. Tradition had it that putting a tablet in a glass of water or vinegar was a quick way to test for disintegration. However, this method does not even come close to simulating the biochemical and motion conditions present in the stomach. Using this simple method is unreliable. Appropriate disintegration testing is necessary to determine whether the ingredients in a tablet or capsule are available to be absorbed. Quality manufacturers have this data readily available.

Product pricing is another important issue. While it is tempting to choose inexpensive or bargain products, exercise caution. There are different grades of ingredient quality and purity. These factors influence absorption, availability, stability and safety. There is a difference between high and low quality ingredients. The most important difference in these products is effectiveness.

There is a saying in the natural products industry, "They duplicated the label but they did not duplicate the product." Unfortunately, in this industry, the adage "you get what you pay for," could not be truer. As you become more educated and informed about dietary supplements, there needs to be more focus on the quality of the products. These are the differences between an effective product and an ineffective one. There is so much to consider, however, the right information is available if you choose the right companies. A high quality manufacturer is able to answer questions and educate the consumer. Remember, the most expensive product is the one that does not work.

Louis S. Pastis, D.C. is in private practice in South Pasadena, California. He earned his Bachelor's of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Arizona and his Chiropractic degree from the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic. He can be reached at www.drpastis.com.