Which Supplements Do I Need?
Select either multi-formulas, single vitamins, minerals or herbs that balance your diet and meet your individual nutritional needs. You should consult a health care professional or perform a self-assessment of your diet to determine which specific nutrients may be deficient or helpful in greater quantities. Generally, a premium multivitamin with the proper antioxidants, B-complex vitamins and other essential nutrients is a good compliment for basic dietary requirements and general wellness. Additional nutrients and herbs may be helpful based on your health and other informed choices.

Visit the American Society for Nutritional Sciences www.nutrition.org/nutinfo for scientific data on 41 vitamins, minerals and nutrients prepared by nutrition research experts based on peer-reviewed scientific reports. Includes functions, deficiencies, clinical uses, food sources, toxicity, and recent research.

Multi-Formulas or Single Supplements?
Multi-formulas are easier to consume and the proper brand can ensure you get essential daily nutrients. Additional single vitamins and herbs can be added when a nutrient is required in a larger quantity to be effective. Taking only individual single supplements may more accurately meet your specific nutrient targets, but may be a more complex process and more expensive. However, be aware that many multi-formulas only contain small amounts of some ingredients which may be inadequate for preventive or therapeutic purposes.

Combining the right vitamins in the proper amounts is also important. For example, selecting a formula with the entire B vitamin complex promotes synergistic activity. A synergistic blend of antioxidants (A, C, E, selenium, zinc, copper, carotenoids, bioflavonoids, alpha lipoic acid, n-acetyl-l-cysteine, Q-10, polyphenols, tocotrienols, etc.) can help protect from free-radical damage.

Tablets, Capsules or Liquids?
The packaging form should not make a difference in the quality and efficacy of the nutrients. Tablets and capsules will both dissolve readily if properly made. To ensure nutrients are released in the proper location in the digestive tract for optimal absorbency, select products that are carefully manufactured and formulated to control disintegration times. Many products are produced in tablet form because dissolution time can be controlled, less fillers may be required, and they are more economical to manufacture. Capsules may be smaller and easier for some people to swallow. Chewables contain sugar or artificial sweetners that you may want to avoid. Some nutrients do not preserve well in liquids. Vegetarian formulas may be a preference for some people.

Ingredient Source
Some nutrients come from different sources or in different forms, which can affect their potency and efficacy. The source is usually indicated in parenthesis after the nutrient's name on the label. Some examples to look for are natural vitamin E (indicated "d-" prefix, "dl-" is synthetic), and natural-source beta-carotene which contains other important carotenes. Some ingredients are patented because of unique manufacturing processes that may affect their efficacy. Chromate and Citrimax are a few examples.

Natural Nutrients or Synthetics?
Natural nutrients are the source of nutrition that the human body commonly relies on from food sources and can usually process properly. Many people prefer not to use synthetic substances since they may not be easily assimilated by the body or cause adverse reactions. For example, formulas containing synthetic substances or certain excipients such as chemical fillers and binders can hinder absorption, upset the digestive system, cause allergic reactions, or affect effectiveness. Our general advice is to select supplements with pure natural ingredients so nature can do its job. Read the label carefully, some products use the word "natural" on the label, but actually contain many synthetic ingredients.

Dosages and Potency
Consult your health care professional or make an informed personal choice to determine which nutrients you need and the quantity. A conservative and safe guideline used by some medical professionals is to take supplements with 100% of the RDA. However, other professionals and organizations recommended higher dosages of some nutrients. Your age, gender, health, physical activity and other factors influence your nutrient needs, so adjust your intake accordingly.

Multi-formulas that suggest 2 to 6 tablets daily usually contain a more complete blend with a reasonable amount of nutrients. Formulas available in multiple daily tablets also offer the flexibility to adjust your dosage based on your individual dietary or medical needs. It is impossible to get the RDA level of all nutrients in a single tablet. One-a-day tablets do not contain the RDA for calcium and magnesium, and may have inadequate levels of other nutrients.

DRIs, RDAs, and DVs
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) is a generic term used to refer to various nutrient reference values. DRIs do not necessary indicate appropriate levels for optimal health, disease prevention, therapeutic treatments, safety, or potential adverse effects. Individual requirements may also vary substantially.

Since the RDAs were first published in 1941, scientific nutrition research has significantly evolved. This research and expansion of knowledge has resulted in new nutrient reference values and the development of Dietary Reference Intakes. The current RDAs are under review by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences (Institute of Medicine) and new guidelines may be issued based on known nutrients needed to optimize health and minimize risk of chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. The board is scheduled to release seven reports by the year 2000. After the review of adequate scientific data, DRIs will cover several levels of nutrient intake related to the decrease in risk of certain chronic diseases.

• Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) - The dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the [minimum] nutrient requirements of almost all of the healthy individuals in a specific age and gender group. Established for essential nutrients where sufficient scientific evidence is available. Some people refer to this as the "minimum wage" of nutrition.

• Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)- The intake value that is estimated to meet the requirement defined by a specified indicator of adequacy in 50 percent of an age- and gender-specific group. At this level of intake, the remaining 50 percent of the specified group would not have its needs met.

• Adequate Intake (AI) - When sufficient scientific evidence is not available to estimate an average requirement, the AI may be set as the goal for intake. The AI is derived though experimental or observational data that show a mean intake which appears to sustain a desired indicator of health.

• Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) - The maximum level of daily nutrient intake that is unlikely to pose risks of adverse health effects to almost all of the individuals in a specified group. This figure is not intended to be a recommended level of intake.

The term Daily Values (DV) is used on food and supplement labels to calculate percentages based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Herbal Products and Remedies
Herbal therapies have been used for thousands of years and are the oldest known form of health care. The World Health Organization estimates that between 65 and 80 percent of the world's population relies on traditional medicine (refers to ways of protecting and restoring health that existed before modern medicine) as the primary form of health care. Herbal medicines are a widely accepted part of health care in some European and Asian countries. For example, in Germany, France, and Italy phytomedicine treatments are well established and regulated by the health authorities, and some herbal treatments are reimbursed. Also, some countries have completed more extensive research and published herbal monographs. For more information, the National Institute of Health's Office of Alternative Medicine provides a brief overview of herbal medicines in the U.S. and other countries.

Although about one-quarter of the prescription drugs in the U.S. contain at least one active ingredient derived from plant material, many herbals and botanicals have not undergone rigorous scientific research with double-blind studies in the U.S. Some herbal medicines may become more accepted in the U.S. as scientific research continues to evaluate their medicinal values and potential side effects.

Selecting and purchasing herbs in an informed manner can be difficult. Potency and efficacy are dependent upon using the part(s) of the plant with therapeutic value. For some herbs, the whole plant produces the most potent and synergistic blend. Standardization is the process of extracting the active herbal component(s) and concentrating it into a compound that produces a consistent and reliable dosage in each tablet, but the process can differ by manufacturer. Contaminants, pesticides, herbicides, region grown, harvesting techniques, storage, and the manufacturing process may also affect the quality and potency.

Our suggestion for selecting herbs is to consult a knowledgeable health care professional, research the HealthMax.net web site, and purchase from a reputable manufacturer. Another source for information is the Herb Research Foundation's (HRF) Natural Healthcare Hotline where you can talk to an information specialist about herbs and health (303-449-2265, fee charged). You can also purchase information packages from the HRF.

Sources:
OAM Designated WHO Collaborating Center in Traditional Medicine, CAM Newsletter, January 1997, Volume IV, Number 1 almed.od.nih.gov/oam/cam/1997/jan
Herbal Medicine, Fields of Practice, National Institutes of Health, Office of Alternative Medicine altmed.od.nih.gov/oam/what-is-cam/fields/herbal.shtml

Quality
(graphic = picture of lab testing, see Douglas Labs web site) Always select premium products to ensure you obtain the nutrient quality, quantity, and efficacy necessary to promote optimal health and disease prevention. Like many other products, quality can vary by manufacturer and some brands may not be all they claim. Nutritional supplement manufacturers are not government regulated, resulting in brands with low quality ingredients and low manufacturing standards. Companies can produce supplements without adhering to Federal standards (FDA), quality control standards, or efficacy testing.

Given the many brands and unique formulations on the market, it is often difficult to ensure you are selecting high quality products that you can trust for your health. To assist you in selecting nutritional supplements, members of the HealthMax Medical Advisory Board have reviewed many products and manufacturers searching for the best-of-the-best.

HealthMax's Quality
HealthMax, Inc. is proud to offer premium products for your health. We are committed to providing you products and service that meet the high quality standards and compliment your health care choices. Most of our supplements are pharmaceutical grade products formulated and manufactured using the most rigid quality standards. Our primary manufacturing facility also produces supplements for physicians and health care professionals and has many years of expertise in the industry. HealthMax, Inc. is proud to offer premium nutritional supplements that we feel are high quality products offering maximum health benefits. Visit our HealthMax Products page for more information.

Quality Checklist
Use these guidelines to help select premium quality nutritional supplements from reputable manufacturers. Your health may depend on it.