Since my previous post, I've come across more information from the Dietary Supplement Quality Initiative, which seems to be independent. It offers this guidance:
Here are some strategies for learning about the quality of any dietary supplement.
1. If it carries the ConsumerLab.com quality seal or appears on the list of brands on their www.ConsumerLab.com website that passed their random independent testing program, you can be assured the supplement is high quality and should perform as expected.
2. If it carries the USP or NF seal, the producer is claiming that it meets the US Pharmacopoeia or National Formulary standards for that product. Among other things, these standards cover potency, minimum dosage, and purity from contamination.
3. If it carries the NNFA's "GMP" seal, the manufacturer has passed a comprehensive, independent inspection of its manufacturing process. (This gives solid assurance of a well made product, but says nothing about the manufacturer's choices of which ingredients and potency levels to use.)
4. If it carries the BioFIT trademark, the product has passed "biological assay" testing, which means that it displays biochemical activity that is consistent with having the corresponding effect in the human body.
5. SupplementWatch.com uses a subjective, 100-point system for rating brands. Up to twenty points are awarded for each of five categories: health claims, scientific theory, scientific research, safety and side effects, and value (relative cost).
6. Call the supplement's producer and ask for the head of their quality control or assurance program. (Be prepared to ask a few questions!) This will tell you if they actually have a quality control program. If they don't (they might be a reseller or rebrander), ask how they deal with quality control issues.
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