Dietary Supplements: Quality Matters

NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, the majority of the American public is overfed or obese and yet under-nourished in several key nutrients(1). For people who try or want to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, but still lack key nutrients, it is important to seek the right vitamins from foods and select supplements from high-quality brands they can trust to fill this nutritional gap.

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"High quality vitamins and dietary supplements play an important role in helping people get the nutrients they need," said Dr. Michelle May, family physician, food and nutrition expert and author.  "Supplementation can be particularly important for certain populations, including pregnant women, nursing mothers, vegetarians, people with food allergies or intolerances, senior citizens, and those with certain health problems. However, no matter the reason for nutritional shortfalls, it is important that consumers are confident in what they buy. Quality matters."

For decades, Nature Made has been and continues to be a leader in the wellness industry, awarded for offering high-quality vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements nationwide. However, with so many different types of supplements hitting the shelves each year, Nature Made strongly believes consumers need to be equipped with the knowledge to determine what to consider when making a purchasing decision, and also the value of talking to a physician or pharmacist to suggest the proper dosage and best practices when combining supplements with prescription or over-the-counter medicines.  

"I always recommend that people should think twice about chasing the latest nutrition headline, as sound health advice should be based on research over time, not a single study," said Dr. May. "Consider vitamins and minerals for overall health for the long-term and be wary of results claiming a quick fix."  

These days there are many valuable resources available that allow consumers to do their own research, such as FamilyDoctor.org where consumers can find credible, physician-reviewed information on health and wellness topics, including the role vitamins and supplements can play in a healthy, active and balanced lifestyle. Nature Made, a proud partner of FamilyDoctor.org, provided general underwriting support for the independent development and physician-reviewed consumer health information on vitamins, supplements, general health and heart health found on the website.

It is also of utmost importance for consumers to seek brands that participate in third-party verification programs with such organizations as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). USP is a scientific not-for-profit organization that sets quality standards for medicines, food ingredients and dietary supplements. Nature Made was the first brand to obtain the USP Verified Dietary Supplement mark for a majority of its products. More than 90 Nature Made products have passed the rigorous verification program.

"Nature Made® has been and continues to be an industry leader in ensuring the highest level of product quality control, safety and efficacy," said Paul Bolar, VP, Quality and Regulatory Affairs at Pharmavite LLC. "As the vitamin and supplement industry continues to grow, consumers can be confident that Nature Made is made from only the highest quality ingredients."

Nature Made has a long standing commitment to leading the industry in delivering safe, high quality products. The company only sources raw ingredients from a trusted network of suppliers, uses state-of-the-art technologies and facilities, enacts science-based protocols and follows rigorous production processes to ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines and the highest quality products.

Learn more about choosing vitamins and supplements at NatureMade.com.

About Nature Made

Nature Made® vitamins is the number one supplement brand in the food, drug, club and mass channels.  Manufactured by Pharmavite, Nature Made was the first line of dietary supplements to earn a third-party quality seal of approval through the United States Pharmacopeia's Verification Program. The dietary supplement industry is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as by government agencies in each of the 50 states. Nature Made is a Proud Partner of FamilyDoctor.org, an award-winning website featuring physician-reviewed information on over 900 health and wellness topics provided in English and Spanish, including vitamins and supplements. Visit NatureMade.com for the latest news and offerings.

(1) Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

SOURCE Nature Made