Can I Buy Supplements Online or at the Grocery Store?

Are those “super cheap” supplements safe? Learn from Brenda Johnson about the shocking lack of quality control in the supplement industry. Research shows many discount products contain inaccurate dosages, undeclared ingredients, and even toxic metals. For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 8233 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78229.

I can buy supplements super cheap online and at the grocery store. But should I?

Thank you for the questions. I advocate for the daily use of quality supplements. However, supplements are not regulated or routinely tested, so quality and safety can be problematic. The responsibility to find quality brands and products rests with the individual. It should be part of the patient-provider relationship.
 
Let’s look at the literature regarding supplements.
 
LeBlance (2013) analyzed Vitamin D, available for purchase over the counter, and found that the same bottle potency variation ranged from 52% to 135% in label dosing. Analysis of samples from 5 different bottles from the same lot found potency ranging from 57% to 138% of the label amount. Finally, analysis of samples from 5 bottles from different lots found potency ranging from 9% to 140% of the label amount.
 
Saper (2008) identified 230 randomly selected medicinal products for purchase online. 193 (84%) produced by 37 different manufacturers were received and analyzed. Saper (2008) found that nearly 21% contained detectable lead, mercury, and/or arsenic levels. The prevalence of these potentially toxic metals did not differ by country of manufacture, i.e., United States vs India.
 
Bagdoyan and Persons (2018) found that two of the three memory supplements analyzed did not contain the stated ingredients or the ingredient quantity stated on the label.
 
Cohen (2020) analyzed 17 different brands of sports and weight loss supplements. Eight brands contained nine prohibited stimulants. In at least one case, there were as many as four experimental stimulants per product. The safety profile of the stimulant combination is unknown.
 
Cohen (2023) analyzed 63 dietary supplements and found that six did not list all ingredients. Of the 57 that did, 23 did not contain a detectable amount of the labeled ingredient. Of the 34 that contained a detectable amount of the labeled ingredient, the quantity ranged from 0.02% to 334% of the label amount. Only 6 of 57 contained a quantity of the ingredient within 10% of the label amount. Seven of the 57 contained at least 1 FDA prohibited ingredient. 
 
Cohen & Avula (2023) selected 30 brands of melatonin gummy for analysis; 4 were unavailable for purchase, and one did not contain “melatonin” as stated on the actual label. Cohen & Avuls analyzed the remaining 25 products, finding that one product did not contain detectable melatonin levels but contained 31.3 mg of CBD. In the remaining 24 products, the quantity of melatonin ranged from 1.3 mg to 13.1 mg. In products containing melatonin, actual melatonin quantity ranged from 74% to 347% of the labeled amount. Twenty-two of 25 products (88%) were inaccurately labeled, and only 3 products (12%) contained melatonin within ±10% of the declared quantity. Five products declared CBD as an ingredient, ranging from 10.6mg to 31.3mg per serving. The actual amount of CBD ranged from 104% to 118% of the labeled quantity.
 
Finding a quality supplement can be difficult. The Lone Star Center for Health & Wellness only uses companies with a clear commitment to quality and the use of pharmaceutical-grade products. The three brands that we offer are Zymogen, Nutrascriptives, and Ortho Molecular. These three brands commit to quality products, focusing on evidence-based formulation, quality across production, good manufacturing practices, and customer service. For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 8233 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78229. We serve patients from San Antonio TX, Alamo Heights TX, Balcones Heights TX, Leon Valley TA, Terrell Hills TX, Windcrest TX, and surrounding areas.