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What does your multivitamin really contain?
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More than half of all adults in Florida take multivitamins. That's no different from adult Americans elsewhere. Multivitamins are the most popular supplement in the US with sales of $4.5 billion in 2007, according to Nutrition Business Journal. However, there is almost no real oversight of whether claims made by multivitamin manufacturers as to actual ingredients are accurate.
According to the latest report by independent health product tester ConsumerLab.com, defects were found in over 30 percent of the multivitamins selected for review. Many of the products exceeded tolerable upper limits for certain vitamins or minerals, others contained less of an ingredient claimed on the label, while others were contaminated with lead.
ConsumerLab.com, based in White Plains, New York, is privately held and provides consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. A paid subscription is required to obtain specific information. According to the company website, it is neither owned by nor has a financial interest in any companies that make, distribute or sell consumer products. Since 1999, over 2000 products have been tested.
Specific problems found in the multivitamin reviews include:
-Three of four popular children's multivitamins reviewed contained higher levels of vitamin A than the 1300 to a maximum of 3000 international units (IU) for children age 4 to 8 years established by the Institute of Medicine. One multivitamin tested contained 5,000 IU of vitamin A. In the short term, too much vitamin A can cause nausea and blurred vision, and, in the long-term, can lead to bone softening and liver problems.
-Upper tolerable limits for niacin and zinc were also exceeded by some of the multivitamins for young children tested. Too much niacin can cause flushing and tingling of the skin while very high levels of zinc can produce immune deficiency and anemia.
-One men's multivitamin was found to be contaminated with lead. Another had too much folic acid, which is associated with more than doubling the risk of prostate cancer.
-Four women's multivitamins were tested and one was shown to provide only 66 percent of its claimed vitamin A. One of the three prenatal vitamins was found to be short on vitamin A.
-One out of the five seniors' multivitamins tested contained only 44 percent of its vitamin A.
-One of the five general multivitamins tested contained had only half of the folic acid on the label. Another was missing 30 percent of its calcium.
-A vitamin water had 15 times its stated amount of folic acid, so drinking one bottle would exceed the tolerable limit for adults; less than half a bottle would put children over the limit.
-A pet multivitamin was contaminated with lead and another had only 46 percent of its vitamin A and 54.7 percent of its calcium.
The AARP Bulletin quoted the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s Bruce Silvergrade. “The new federal laws were supposed to ensure the potency and quality of the product, but apparently the rules are not having their intended effect.”
To learn which specific drugs were tested, go to ConsumerLab.com
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