Rating of Multiple Vitamins

A rating of multiple vitamins for consideration is important, but even more important in Nutritional Supplement Bible's opinion is looking for certain specifics when selecting your multivitamin supplement. This web page's purpose is to give you an enhanced view of what to look for and what not to look for.

The public is by and large uneducated as to what makes a good multivitamin, and supplement manufacturers are aware of this. Supplement fraud is rampant with the dietary supplement industry largely unregulated.

Clearly, a comparison of daily multiple vitamins is important as you want to make the best choice possible. We suggest you consider first, though, the quality of the supplements. There is a new term for GMP certified facility supplements -- nutraceuticals. Nutraceuticals are a combination of nutrition and pharmaceutical, and that is what they are prescription quality, nutritional pharmaceuticals.

The importance of nutraceuticals is established only in part by the rigorous standards they must meet before they can be sold. Their contents is also part of the mix. When engaging in the rating of multiple vitamins, consider this: Optimum multivitamins need more than just basic vitamins and minerals. Look for other specialty nutrients that include:

• Potent herbal standardized extracts
• Antioxidant combinations
• Preventative ingredients
• Broad spectrum combinations of nutrients -- important for creating a synergistic effect in the body.

Rating of Multiple Vitamins

Did you know, for example, that the cholesterol lowering drug industry is a $20 billion dollar a year industry? If you came on their turf with herbal medicine interventions that not only lower your cholesterol but do it safely with no side effects at a literal fraction of the cost, that was/is most disconcerting to them. It's still egregious but progress has been made.

Herbs like ginger, olive leaf, and red clover have potent compounds that improve blood pressure, thin the blood, and strengthen the immune system. Antioxidants are another important classification to consider when engaging in the rating of multiple vitamins. Antioxidants are vitally important to your health as antioxidants destroy free radicals. Free radicals harm cells and this contributes to the aging process.

Clinical studies are not conclusive but some researchersbelieve free radicals also contribute to degenerative diseases like heart disease, cancer, and lupus as well.

Interdependence of Vitamins

Vitamins C and E are well regarded as potent antioxidants (and Vitamin A to a lesser degree), but there are more much potent antioxidants that exist. A final note for this section: With your comparison of daily multiple vitamins, multiple combinations are desirable as they work together.

For example,Vitamin D actually enhances calcium absorption in the body, and inhibits its excretion by the kidneys, yet boron is important for calcium utilization; vitamin B5 is critical to metabolizing amino acids, etc.

The Point? Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are interdependent -- this should be a key thought in your rating classification.

Comparison of Daily Multiple Vitamins

1. Alpha Lipoic Acid
2. Gingko Biloba
3. Green Tea Extract
4. L-Carnosine
5. N-Acetylcysteine
6. Turmeric

Alpha Lipoic Acid
Although not very well known, alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant working in both fat and water, (in fat as it's fat soluble). This means it can roam throughout the body protecting cells in every system. Studies show it can prevent many diseases including heart disease, diabetes, cataracts, even help prevent Alzheimer's.

Gingko Biloba
We've used this herb for almost 6 years now and can testify to its efficacy. This potent herbal comes from the oldest trees on earth, thins the blood, improves circulation, improves memory and all mental related functions, and is a powerful antioxidant as well. It also helps relieve depression, anxiety, headaches, and helps reduce macular degeneration.

Green Tea Extract
Green tea has polyphenols, in particular EGCG, that make is a "superstar antioxidant." It has also been shown to help eradicate prostate cancer. Lastly, it also helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL).

L-Carnosine
L-Carnosine has piqued interest as an anti-aging element as it effects advance glycosylation end products (AGEs). According to one site, "AGEs are abnormal, cross-linked, and oxidized proteins that might play a role in the aging process. Carnosine may diminish the glycosylation of these proteins, preventing them from inducing cellular damage. Carnosine may be of benefit in complications of diabetes." It also plays a role in atherosclerosis, joint inflammation, and cataracts. It also helps prevent strokes.

N-Acetylcysteine
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is a precursor for glutathione, a vital antioxidant in the body. As mentioned, antioxidants help minimize damage from free radicals. It increases immunity to flu, helps the immune system, has even been touted as a hangover remedy. It also helps to protect the body against toxins like herbicides and second hand cigarette smoke. In today's polluted environment, this is essential.

Turmeric
It may seem odd to add this to a Rating of Multiple Vitamins page but Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herb that deserves mention. It also helps the immune system. It's used for everything from colds, chest infections, fever, cancer, even leprosy. Its active compound is curcumin.

This compound has been shown in clinical studies to inhibit cancer cell growth. May be beneficial for arthritis and in preventing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Comparison of Daily Multiple Vitamins

Manufacturing Process

Another key component of rating of multiple vitamins should be is the manufacturing process. There are four main areas of manufacturing that are relevant here, i.e., scientific formulation, potency of ingredients (we've already discussed that), type of facility, and verification of ingredients on label.

Scientific Formulation
When doing a vitamin supplement comparison, the ideal supplement should be scientifically formulated. It's critical that in a multivitamin with many nutrients be formed with scientific knowledge at the cellular level. Some vitamins cancel each other out and some need other minerals to do their job.

Type of Facility
When comparing vitamin potency, look for GMP certified facilities that are regularly inspected by government authorities. Do you think this irrelevant? Supplement fraud is utterly rampant as this article attests. Here's one example. As reported by Medscape 1/24/2000, "High levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been identified in five brands of shark liver oil capsules that are available internationally over-the-counter."

PCBs are toxic to the body In another study done by Time Magazine as reported July 31, 2000, eight of 21 brands tested were found to have pesticides and lead. This dovetails into our next point, verification of ingredients.

Pharmaceutical GMP compliant facilities verify not only purity and potency of ingredients, but they also validate the existence of label proclaimed ingredients. Regarding potency of ingredients, look for all raw ingredients supported with a COA (Certificate of Analysis), which guarantees their potency and safety.

Bio-Availability Delivery System

When comparing differing vitamins, remember that the biological delivery system is just as important as the manufacturing process. The truth is that as most dietary supplements use synthetic ingredients and are destroyed by gastric acids.

Experts say that 90% of most supplements are excreted out as they're unassimilable! Ideally, the nutrients of the supplements make their way through the stomach intact where they can then be assimilated in the upper intestine. Is there a solution that makes this possible? There is -- enteric coating.

Enteric coating is expensive and sophisticated technology, which is why most manufacturers don't have it. Enteric coating protects the active compounds of the vitamins and minerals where it then dissolves in the upper intestines for assimilation into the blood stream. Another important consideration are the binding agents for the tablets themselves, called excipients.

Again, they're expensive and most manufacturers seek to avoid them. Consequently, they substitute cheap binders that cause the supplement to go through the system unused. We know this wasn't always the case as we've been studying herbal medicine for over 24 years including homeopathic and nutritional supplementation as well.

Rating of Multiple Vitamins -- My Choice

In looking for a supplement for our own use, we have come across a company called based in New Zealand that meets all of the above criteria. We mention New Zealand deliberately as their government has stricter regulatory manufacturing standards for supplements than the US has for prescription medications -- they even surpass FDA standards.

Their flagship multivitamin supplement product meets the criteria discussed on this webpage. In addition, this vitamin and mineral supplement has over 80 nutrients including vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, amino acids, trace nutrients, etc. In our own rating of multiple vitamins, we found it superior.

I also have been using it for over three and a half years or so and am pleased with the results. If you want more than just a basic vitamin supplement comparison, or a basic multivitamin, you may want to check out this world-class vitamin supplement further.

I hope this Rating of Multiple Vitamins web page has been useful to you.

Yours in health, hope, and harmony,
Nutritional-Supplement-Bible.com