Third-Party Evaluation Programs for the Quality of Dietary Supplements

摘要

When consumers, healthcare practitioners, and researchers select dietary supplements, they have the challenge of trying to determine which products are most likely to meet their needs. For any given supplement, there is often a variety of brands, different doses and formulations, pills, extracts, and some that are sold as mixtures with other ingredients, and so forth. Choosing the right product requires skill in determining what is needed and which product is most likely to fit the need. This is often based on clinical need and personal preferences. Just as challenging as picking a form and dose is selecting a product that instills confidence in the quality of the product. In the past few years, the media has been filled with headlines regarding the safety of dietary supplements and the reports that products are not always what they claim to be. Entire Web pages are dedicated to providing information about recalls of dietary supplements and the challenges of finding a trustworthy product.