Not all vitamins and supplements are created equal

At Origin26, we provide professional-grade supplements with the highest quality ingredients to ensure customers receive the best possible solutions for their health and wellness needs. Our supplements meet or exceed strict cGMP, NSF, and kosher certified quality standards in FDA-regulated manufacturing facilities (more on that below).

There are a multitude of supplement options available in stores and online today, which can be overwhelming when trying to decide which supplements are right for you. How do you know you are getting a high quality, safe supplement that will work in the sea of options on the market? Start by familiarizing yourself with the brand and its quality standards. Here are some questions to consider when choosing your supplementation:

1. Is it food grade (sold over the counter) or professional grade (sold by a practitioner or clinic)?
2. What certifications does the supplement company have?
3. What form of vitamins and minerals is used in the product?
4. How many other ingredients and fillers and what types are used in the product?
5. Does it contain potential allergens, artificial colors, sweeteners or preservatives?
6. Should I trust the seller?

These are just a few of the key factors to consider when deciding which supplements to buy. Not all companies follow the same manufacturing practices or use the same raw materials, which can lead to an inferior product that may not perform as well. This is one of the main differences between professional-grade and food-grade (over-the-counter) supplementation. For example, 4-8 capsules of a dietary supplement may be equivalent to 1 professional-grade capsule.

So what does professional level mean anyway? That means you’re getting high-quality supplements in its pure form that have been third-party tested to meet quality and potency standards. Manufacturers of professional-grade supplements go through many of the same rigorous processes as pharmaceutical drugs. They also meet or exceed strict cGMP, NSF, and kosher certified quality standards in FDA-regulated manufacturing facilities.

What do these strict certifications and standards mean?

• FDA Registered and Inspected Laboratories – Professional supplement companies manufacture supplements in FDA registered laboratories and are subject to the same standards and regular inspections required in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations are released by the USDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. These regulations require manufacturers, by law, to take the necessary steps to ensure that a product is safe, pure and effective. By implementing these processes, it protects the consumer.
• National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) is a program that provides standards for independent testing and product certification for dietary supplements. NSF Certified products have been tested for unacceptable levels of contaminants, but have also undergone toxicological review and labeling. It certifies that the supplement contains exactly what is on the label and that it does not contain any unlisted ingredients. NSF certified manufacturers are also inspected regularly to ensure they meet safety and quality standards.
• Third party testing – Each batch of finished product is third party tested by a qualified laboratory to verify that what is on the label is exactly what is in each dose and meets cGMP requirements. Some companies may cut corners to save costs and only test one to two batches of product before distribution. This leaves a level of uncertainty as to whether the untested product matches the label claims for nutrient amount.
• Electronic tracing – Professional supplement companies may also choose to implement an electronic tracing program that begins with the manufacturer and documents the transfer history of the raw material until it is delivered to the company for distribution This technology is currently being used in the pharmaceutical industry to prevent counterfeit products from being used in the production of prescription drugs. By tracing the history of the raw material, the authenticity and storage conditions are verifiable.

Differences between nutritional standards

Professional quality

– Each dose contains therapeutic levels of all-natural nutrients

– Minerals are in their most absorbable form – so you get the most out of every dose

– Wherever possible, the products are hypoallergenic, i.e. they do not contain allergenic ingredients

– Use standardized herbs that concentrate the active ingredients for the greatest therapeutic effect

– No synthetic vitamin E

– Uses the active form of folic acid (5-methyltetrahyrofolate or 5-MTHF) and vitamin B-12 (methylcobalamin) on a single molecule of folic acid and cyanocobalamin.

– Triglyceride of omega-3 fatty acids

Does not contain

– Unless necessary, common allergens (wheat/gluten, milk/casein, corn, soy, eggs, peanuts)

– Artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners

– Binders, fillers, excipients and preservatives

– Trans or hydrogenated fats

– Coatings and Lacquers

– May need 4-8 capsules to be equivalent to 1 professional-grade capsule

– Many contain artificial colors, preservatives and sweeteners

– Minerals are in forms such as carbonates and oxides which are not absorbed as well, so what is on the label is not what is actually absorbed

– May contain allergenic ingredients more often

– Use dry herb powders which have very little benefit

– Binders and lacquers may interfere with absorption and are not necessary

At Origin26, the quality and purity of our products are tested three times during the manufacturing process. We source and test professional grade raw materials for purity. We retest once the product is mixed and encapsulated to ensure we meet label claims. After the product is bottled, labeled and delivered, it is quarantined until final test results are returned and meet quality standards. So what’s on the label is exactly what you get in each capsule. No more no less.

Learn more about professional-grade nutritional differences:

No synthetic vitamin E . Did you know that vitamin E is actually a group of 8 compounds – tocotrienols and tocopherols and each has a specific role in the body? Most supplement manufacturers will either use d-alpha tocopherol or opt for the synthetic dl-alpha tocopherol form of vitamin E. When reading a supplement label, look for vitamin E in the d-alpha tocopherol form with mixed tocopherols (including alpha, beta, delta and gamma tocopherols).

No folic acid – Folic acid is found in fortified processed foods and poor quality vitamins to cut costs. With 50% of the population unable to properly metabolize folic acid into its active form, folic acid can build up, which can actually impair the function of the folate enzyme. Professional brands use the active form of folic acid-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) which is ready for the cells and easily used by the body.

Triglyceride form of omega-3 fatty acids are naturally found in cold water fish such as salmon, anchovies and sardines. Most professional companies will use the triglyceride form of fish oil rather than the cheaper ethyl ester form because it is 100% more absorbable and easier to digest. The fish oil has also undergone a molecular distillation process to remove heavy metals, PCBs and other toxins. The final product is also tested for heavy metals and impurities. The standard American diet is deficient in omega-3s, which is why it’s important to take a supplement that will provide the optimal levels of the active constituents of fish oil – EPA and DHA, but also in a highly absorbable form. There are many non-professional brands that will market a fish oil supplement of 1000mg per capsule, but did you know that it’s not always how much EPA and DHA you consume? When reading the supplement facts label for a fish oil supplement, you should check the EPA and DHA content. Studies now show that we need 2000 mg of EPA and DHA combined for overall health. It may take 6-8 capsules of a mega-deal or food-grade supplement to get the same dose as 2 capsules of professional-grade fish oil.