Does our body really absorb all the nutrients from our generic multivitamin?
Question:
Answers:
First, you need to know that the Nutritional Supplement Industry is regulated based on the Food Standard which is far less stringent that the prescription drugs. Most follows the GMP Food standard. To ensure quality and bioavailability (ie. get digested) it is important to meet the following criteria when choose the supplement to ensure high quality:
1) What GMP standard does the manufacturing adopt? Food or Pharmaceutical standard.
2) Does the company own its own research and manufacturing plant or does it buy from other and do the marketing only?
3) Does it meet the US Pharmacopoeia, BP Pharmacopoeia specification for quality, potency and disintegration.
4) It is included in the Singapore Master Index of Medical Specialities (MIMS) which is used by Doctor for over the counter non-drug prescription.
5) Does it meet Consumer Lab testing of quality?
By the way, to similify the job, you may go to the Singapore Library to borrow the book "Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements" by Lyle MacWilliam which compares and ranks over 1000 multivitamins in USA and Canada.
Several of the products listed are also available in Singapore eg, GNC, Centrum.
I managed to borrow it from the library and is currently reading it. It is informative and educational.
How to select fish-oil supplement then?
Recently popular cod liver oil supplement maker Seven Seas took two of its products off the shelves in Singapore.
This prompted The Straits Times (Mind Your Body) to publish a front page article "Fish Oil: A user's guide" on 26 April 2006.
It stated "when choosing fish oil, it is important to note the levels of fatty acids, which offer the healthy benefits.
So 1000mg of fish oil with 180mg og EPA and 120mg of DHA provide 300mg - not 1000mg - of omega-3 fats."
Base on "Environment Defence" a leading US non-profits organisation, has been studying fish and fish oil supplements since 1967. It has compiled a report on 75 brands of fish oil supplements and rated them according to purity. Only 3 brands available in Singapore are listed as "Best Choice" - ceritfy to be free from heavy metals, dioxins and PCBs. These brands are Nordic Naturals, Shaklee and Usana.
Which offers the best value?
I have done a price comparsion on EPA/DHA level and found that USANA to be 50% cheaper than the other 2 products.
Hope this helps.
from: Victor Phua (phuact@gmail.com)
Other Answers:
The best way to take mulivitamins are in gel or liquid caps. It takes more time and energy for body to break down caplets,tablets etc. Also best way to get mulivitamins is to get them from food. EAT TOTAL CEREAL DRINK V-8s etc.
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