Show HN: Find out where your supplements are made & sourced(shop.nootritious.com)
shop.nootritious.com
Show HN: Find out where your supplements are made & sourced
https://shop.nootritious.com/
39 comments
The work being done by ConsumerLab is really useful, but of course one has to pay for it. They are not quite so concerned with the source of the ingredients but they do laboratory testing to find out how much of the nutrient or principal is actually in the product and what the variation is. A label-focused approach, unfortunately, leaves a wide space for nearly outright lying in this field. For example, you can find 1200mg fish oil capsules that do not weigh 1200mg, including capsule. They may be filled with fish oil or with a mix of fish and other oils. The fish oil could be depleted of certain fatty acids after making an enriched product that is sold separately. Other supplements may claim to be herbal medications but are actually adulterated with the prescription medication to achieve an effect.
Current Good Manufacturing Practice is a good thing but in the supplement industry is mostly an attestation. Unlike drugs, supplement manufacturers are usually not evaluated by the FDA unless they have collected evidence of problems at the facility. It requires people designated as quality control officers, written practices, and storage of samples, but, unlike drugs, nobody checks this stuff before a supplement is sold. The supplement industry has had some powerful congressional allies, and it is possible that too much regulation would cause congress to revoke the FDA's authority over supplements entirely. (My speculation).
Another standard is USP. This standard includes GMP and goes beyond it, with verification of potency, vehicle breakdown/release of ingredient, and measurement of contaminants.
There are several well-known brands that are consistently on-target with their supplements, and others that are frequently off target. I haven't reviewed the data recently so I won't list them here.
https://www.consumerlab.com/ https://www.usp.org/dietary-supplements-herbal-medicines https://www.quality-supplements.org/
Current Good Manufacturing Practice is a good thing but in the supplement industry is mostly an attestation. Unlike drugs, supplement manufacturers are usually not evaluated by the FDA unless they have collected evidence of problems at the facility. It requires people designated as quality control officers, written practices, and storage of samples, but, unlike drugs, nobody checks this stuff before a supplement is sold. The supplement industry has had some powerful congressional allies, and it is possible that too much regulation would cause congress to revoke the FDA's authority over supplements entirely. (My speculation).
Another standard is USP. This standard includes GMP and goes beyond it, with verification of potency, vehicle breakdown/release of ingredient, and measurement of contaminants.
There are several well-known brands that are consistently on-target with their supplements, and others that are frequently off target. I haven't reviewed the data recently so I won't list them here.
https://www.consumerlab.com/ https://www.usp.org/dietary-supplements-herbal-medicines https://www.quality-supplements.org/
Thanks for this wonderful comment - yes it is a travesty that there is so little transparency in supplements at the expense of consumers. I am aware of LabDoor, purity tests are something I want to try to do for my readers - am located in Australia so if anyone can suggest a lab I'd appreciate it!
My short-term plan is to provide consumers with information on companies that have either failed FDA cGMP/GMP tests - . The point regarding adulteration is concerning indeed, definitely I'd say it is a need more than a like to do regarding my own independent testing...
My short-term plan is to provide consumers with information on companies that have either failed FDA cGMP/GMP tests - . The point regarding adulteration is concerning indeed, definitely I'd say it is a need more than a like to do regarding my own independent testing...
I use this site to verify my supps: https://labdoor.com/
Awesome initiative! Consumer research is a neglected space but has immense potential. A lot hard work I presume. All the best.
One question, why do companies get a badge of approval with undisclosed sources? As a consumer, I would be really interested to discover companies who are transparent about where they source their ingredients from.
One question, why do companies get a badge of approval with undisclosed sources? As a consumer, I would be really interested to discover companies who are transparent about where they source their ingredients from.
I appreciate this comment and it means a lot to me. Yes, it has been a lot of hard (manual) work.
I will always disclose when we reach out to companies and if they were/are transparent whilst highlighting when they aren't. I definitely believe this is valuable to consumers.
Regarding the badge of approval: Am reaching out to these companies clarify their sourcing now. However, each product on the list though is a brand i've regularly taken for 5-10 years.
I will always disclose when we reach out to companies and if they were/are transparent whilst highlighting when they aren't. I definitely believe this is valuable to consumers.
Regarding the badge of approval: Am reaching out to these companies clarify their sourcing now. However, each product on the list though is a brand i've regularly taken for 5-10 years.
My 2 cents, it will good to have an objective way to evaluate such badges. I think the biggest problem with labdoor was that their grading criteria was not transparent.
You've given me a lot to think about. The overarching goal is to have and maintain a strict objective criteria for these badges of approval. As it stands, the current criteria as outlined in the website is met by 0 companies - the one's you see now are still the best available however as they have in-house production and full control over their supply chain. Eg. Your point stands as Some have CoA's whilst missing label ingredient info.
Thank you for this! It would be helpful to show your research in more detail to give confidence in the accuracy of the information in the table.
The page states that Amazon or iHerb referrals are used depending on which price is the lowest. Amazon is known for counterfeiting- I would never by a supplement from there. Stick with iHerb, which is effectively a first party only store but has reliably fast and cheap shipping of supplements.
Besides ingredient sourcing, if you are interested in this site you may be interested in whether the supplement contains what it claims- consumerlab.com regularly tests supplements to verify the contents and also look for toxic impurities.
The page states that Amazon or iHerb referrals are used depending on which price is the lowest. Amazon is known for counterfeiting- I would never by a supplement from there. Stick with iHerb, which is effectively a first party only store but has reliably fast and cheap shipping of supplements.
Besides ingredient sourcing, if you are interested in this site you may be interested in whether the supplement contains what it claims- consumerlab.com regularly tests supplements to verify the contents and also look for toxic impurities.
I felt this deserved another reply, the information in the table is taken directly from the packaging/product and from the companies themselves. In some cases, info on how to interpret the label is provided (i believe this is valuable). Goal is to have more detailed ingredient sourcing info eg. individual countries per constituent ingredient, in the coming weeks. All the links are to iHerb products as of today.
I understand that it is vital to provide this information on the process. This will be on the website. Thank you
I understand that it is vital to provide this information on the process. This will be on the website. Thank you
Thanks, now iHerb.
This is great! I don't see Pure Encapsulations which is one I'm familiar with, could you add this soon? Is there a way on your website to request a brand if it's not listed?
Email [email protected] for urgent inquiries and i'll see what I can do. Will add a form.
Not really related to the OP, but is there any scientific proof behind the whole industry of supplements? We have lived thousands of years without, even currently most people live without, and AFAIK we don’t give supplements to other species. It’s hard for me to think it’s not all snake oil.
Some even seem outright dangerous. One my girlfriend takes recommends 2 tablets per day (of Vitamin D I think) which equates 1000% of the daily recommended amount…
Some even seem outright dangerous. One my girlfriend takes recommends 2 tablets per day (of Vitamin D I think) which equates 1000% of the daily recommended amount…
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Love it! I've been meaning source my supplements more intelligently than via local sales and bargins, particularly as I have family that can't go without some. A friend mentioned companies that create custom multivitamins, but without looking into it, I assume it comes with a markup; OTOH, I own and love a Little Capsule Machine, but still do t have the time to buy in bluk and use it.
Other's are welcome to reply with your own situation and thoughts!
Other's are welcome to reply with your own situation and thoughts!
Thank you! In my xp, companies that create custom multivitamins are overpriced however more importantly, I don't trust what they are doing with the health data you provide them.
Nice work aggregating data! I'd skip the affiliate links in the name of building a better set of data for everyone, but.. whatever. Maybe publish your datasets? Please display tips either hover-over or static or whatever that describe the acronyms on the table. Also your pagination is pretty unbearable, why so few results per page? Overall thank you for helping me reduce search time
I'll take this on board, thank you.
I would love to see some crowd-sourced "clinical trials" of supplements, done in the right way. I'm getting tired of the pattern supplement works -> person posts raving review -> supplement stops working after 2 weeks -> person doesn't take down review.
Myprotein is one of bigger brands in the UK and many other countries. Wonder if it can be included?
Yep I'll include it this week
You should consider adding Lively Vitamin Co, Clear Probiotics and Vital Planet to your list.
Brenda Watson sold Renew Life to Clorox a few years ago and was missing something in her life after. They called it “sellers remorse”. She is back with a new line of probiotics called Vital Planet. If you don’t know who that is, she is credited as being the person who brought awareness to the public around gut health, probiotics, and the microbiome in the 90’s.
Brenda Watson sold Renew Life to Clorox a few years ago and was missing something in her life after. They called it “sellers remorse”. She is back with a new line of probiotics called Vital Planet. If you don’t know who that is, she is credited as being the person who brought awareness to the public around gut health, probiotics, and the microbiome in the 90’s.
Do you account for DNA testing results? (insert obligatory “a pox on orrin hatch” here)
Great tool, I will reference this in the future!
There are currently no search results for Centrum Adults, which is the "Amazon's Choice" multivitamin (at least for me).
There are currently no search results for Centrum Adults, which is the "Amazon's Choice" multivitamin (at least for me).
Ah centrum, np will add it!
This is great. I wish this existed 10 years ago as I had struggled to find this information and eventually gave up. Bookmarked
It'd be great to have an option to filter by seller.
Thanks for the tip! I'll add this in the future
Garden of Life: "Global Ingredients". Why even list a brand when you have no data on the source?
This is valid and something I'm trying to rectify. The information provided is from the label/company. The short term goal is have more detailed information coming for many products/companies. However companies are unsurprisingly reluctant to disclose manufacturing/sourcing information due to either quality concerns or competitor threats. Many companies however are quite transparent and will disclose sources of individual ingredients. I want to get to this level of detail so it is easily accessible to those who want it. I've reached out to many companies who generally do respond - will update the table as new info arrives.
Yes, a lot of these brands will not disclose to you ingredients they use unless it’s on the supplement facts. They are super paranoid with competitors reverse engineering their proprietary blends. We have direct relationships with a lot of the brands on your list, and we help them accelerate their sales channels and enter new markets. A lot of them are afraid to even enter the Canadian market because they will have to disclose their proprietary blends to Health Canada. There isn’t anything nefarious going on here, they are just super paranoid and protecting their trade secrets.
For what it’s worth, a lot of the companies on your list are 2nd and 3rd generation family run businesses with good intent to help people live healthier and feel good.
For example: Blue Bonnet Nutrition, Buried Treasure, Now Foods.
For what it’s worth, a lot of the companies on your list are 2nd and 3rd generation family run businesses with good intent to help people live healthier and feel good.
For example: Blue Bonnet Nutrition, Buried Treasure, Now Foods.
Thanks for the insight here - it is very helpful. Yes, I've considered reaching out directly and meeting brands in person so I can evaluate their processes and ingredients without disclosing supply-chain details, but this feels like a layer of obfuscation occurs and is hidden from the end user.
thank you for making this. Just wonder if you can find out where the material used to make the supplements are coming from. Sometime it is all about the quality of the materials to make these supplements.
No NootropicsDepot? Darn
Hey there. will add it - have recently ordered a package from them so I can verify the label too.
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whats cGMP,GMP ?
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/pharmaceutical-quality-resources/f...
it is something ensure the quality of the supplements if it is certified by GMP or cGMP.
it is something ensure the quality of the supplements if it is certified by GMP or cGMP.
It's still not really clear to me what the difference is between the two. The wikipedia page seems to use the terms interchangeably. What does it mean if a brand is listed as "GMP" but not "cGMP" or vice-versa?
* Full disclosure - if you purchase anything using the links, i earn an small affiliate fee (5%)
I made this to help demystify the language behind product labelling, which in many cases is obfuscating the manufacturing and sourcing of certain products