ConsumerLabs.com just published a detailed report where they analyzed 29 different calcium supplements. What they tested for was:
- Did the supplement contain the labeled amount of the ingredients.
- Purity – Did it contain any contaminants
- Ability to break apart in a timely manner so it could be absorbed. The standard is 30 minutes. if it takes longer than this, then it won’t be absorbed into your intestines.
Most of the products passed these tests, but several failed.
Trader Joe’s Calcium Citrate
- Didn’t contain the labeled amount of Vitamin D
- Didn’t dissolve in 30 minutes and even after 60 minutes it still hand’t dissolved.
Melaleuca Vitality Calcium
- Didn’t dissolve in 30 minutes (took over 55 minutes)
Viactive Calcium Plus D
- Didn’t contain the labeled amount of Vitamin D
Pure Essence Labs
- Found excessive lead contamination.
Supplement manufactures are only required to manufacture to food grade Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Food grade GMP are designed to insure basic food safety, so free from eColi, salmonella, metal fragments, not to exceed set limits for insect parts, rodent fur, etc. So think of a frozen pizza. It shouldn’t make you sick, but if there is a little extra or less cheese, or an extra pepperoni, nobody cares.
Quality supplement manufactures will voluntarily manufacture to pharmaceutical grade GMP. These FDA requirements go far beyond what is legally required. Pharmaceutical GMP insure that the amount of each ingredient is exactly what it should be for every single tablet, no more and not less. It also insures that there are no contaminants, so through biological and chemical tests are performed frequently throughout production.
NSF is an independent non profit certification organization which tests certifies that companies products do actually meet the labeled amounts. Of literally thousands of supplement manufactures (including protein drinks, bars, etc) only 53 companies can meet their tests and have been certified. What they don’t test or certify is that the ingredients used are the best form nor that there are optimal amounts of the ingredients, only that what is on the label is in the bottle.