Confused About Supplements? Here’s How to Find a Good One

As someone who had never taken a supplement before, I know what it feels like. You get a recommendation to buy something you’ve sometimes never heard of, and you’re expected to swallow it daily for a set amount of time. You’re right to question everything about what you’re putting in your body. Diving into your health journey is a pivotal moment filled with new guidance, lifestyle modifications, and endless choices. So here you are, armed with a better understanding of your health and a set of personalized goals, but faced with what feels like an endless sea of supplement options.

It’s a common misconception that dietary supplements are in an unregulated market. While they aren’t regulated to the same standards as other food and drug industries, the FDA does have requirements that manufacturers must meet for safety, consumer protection, etc.

What the FDA DOES Regulate:

1. Manufacturing Standards (cGMP)

·      The FDA requires supplement manufacturers to comply with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) under 21 CFR Part 111. These regulations cover:

o   Quality control procedures

o   Sanitation requirements

o   Equipment maintenance

o   Ingredient identity testing

o   Packaging and labeling controls

o   Manufacturers must establish specifications for identity, purity, strength, and composition and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance. [ecfr.gov], [fda.gov]

2. Labeling Requirements

·      The FDA regulates supplement labeling to ensure products are not misbranded and that labels accurately disclose:

o   Ingredients

o   Serving Sizes

o   Manufacturer information

o   Appropriate disclaimer statements for structure/function claims.

o   Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring labels comply with federal regulations before products reach consumers. [fda.gov], [fda.gov]

3. Post-Market Enforcement

The FDA can:

·      Inspect manufacturing facilities

·      Issue warning letters to non-compliant manufacturers

·      Remove adulterated or misbranded products from the marketplace

·      Take enforcement action against unsafe products

·      The agency has authority to act when products violate regulations or present safety concerns.

Contrary to popular belief, there are established laws, quality standards, and enforcement mechanisms designed to protect consumers and promote accurate labeling throughout the supplement industry.

What the FDA DOES NOT Regulate

1.        No Pre-Market FDA Approval (Perhaps the biggest misconception in the supplement industry) Dietary supplements do not require FDA approval before being sold.

o   Unlike prescription medications, dietary supplements generally do not undergo FDA review or approval before being sold to consumers. Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their products are safe and compliant before bringing them to market.

2.        No Requirement to Prove Product Efficacy

o   Manufacturers are not required to prove that a supplement delivers a specific health outcome before it reaches store shelves. This makes it important for consumers to evaluate the scientific support behind a product's ingredients and formulation.

3.        No Requirement for Clinical Trials

o   While some supplement ingredients and formulations have been studied in human clinical trials, most dietary supplements are not required to undergo the extensive clinical testing required of pharmaceutical drugs.

While FDA regulations establish important baseline standards for quality and safety, not all manufacturers operate at the same level. Consider this next time you’re looking at which supplement to buy.

How to find a trusted supplement brand

There are professional-grade supplement manufacturers that go above and beyond to meet these standards voluntarily. These brands are practitioner-grade, often only obtainable through your licensed healthcare provider. Their product formulations feature a multitude of research publications, including human clinical trials, supporting their supplements. These brands set a standard of intensive third-party testing, certificates of analysis (COAs), ingredient verification, and much more. Some manufacturers go even further, inviting regular FDA audits of their facilities to maintain accountability and reinforce their commitment to quality. As a consumer, you now have the confidence to take products with data supporting efficacy, and a proven track record of product quality to help you reach your healthcare goals.

Call or reach out to us!

If you’re wondering which supplement brand is right for you, please let us know and we will be happy to offer our trusted brands. We only sell what we use ourselves- brands that have rigorous testing and quality standards we feel good about and that you can, too.