Opinion – What’s in Your Herbal Pills? Firm Promises DNA Testing for Proof

500 mg calcium supplement tablets, with vitamin D, made from calcium carbonate, maltodextrin, mineral oil, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, glycerin, Vitamin D3, polyethylene glycol, and carnauba wax. These supplements are distributed by Nature Made Nutritional Products. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dietary supplements, such as the vitamin B supplement show above, are typically sold in pill form. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you or your family take herbal supplements this NYT article is a must-read. It reports that one of the national’s largest supplement makers will conduct advanced DNA testing to ensure its products contain the ingredients listed on the label.

Source: What’s in Your Herbal Pills? Firm Promises DNA Testing for Proof – The New York Times

This is a breakthrough. Pharmaceutical companies have long been critical of the regulation over health supplements, calling for pharmaceutical level standardization and quality assurance. Investigators have found that big US names have been selling questionable products.

This is a multi-billion Dollar industry. Big brands like Solgar will strengthen their product differentiation with DNA testing. Expect the new standards to shake the industry leaving consumers of these expensive products angry and confused.

Thoughts?