Are Online Supplements Safe?

Although online marketplaces make it convenient for many, they may be selling counterfeit product. It may be laced with impurities or may not even contain what they are marketed to contain. I have often recommended a product in the office and patients choose to look to find it cheaper online. I coach my patients and warn them about the problems with online ordering. I have heard of patients ordering something from a cheaper source and when they opened the bottle and we compare it from a trusted source, the color of the capsules are completely different or the label on the product is counterfeited.

People taking these kinds of supplements or herbs think they are taking something good for them or to help with a certain problem, but if they are not from a trusted source, it may be causing more harm. With poor quality, patients’ symptoms may not be getting better. There have been many stories in the news stating that a certain supplement may cause liver issues, such as curcumin. It makes me question the quality of the product, the amounts given or people taking supplements from a non-regulated source.

What can you do to make sure that you are taking the best quality supplements?

Know where you are getting your supplements or vitamins from. Order it from your physician, direct from the supplement company or a trusted online formulary like fullscript. Don’t buy from online individual sellers, big bulk stores or foreign sources.

Quality control is important. Is the product GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified, wild crafted, organic or tested? Is it free of impurities, gluten, toxins or heavy metals? These are questions you should ask before purchasing a supplement or vitamin.    Check out the product company’s website

Don’t start taking supplements that you hear about on a podcast, from a friend or in the media without checking to see if the claims are valid. Check with your physician first as certain medications that you may be taking may interfere or interact with herbs and supplements. You can also check with a trusted source like Pubmed for the most up to date research on herbs, nutrients or supplement ingredients to verify if the health claims are true.

If you do order online, make sure there is an expiration date on the product. Some lines will only show a manufactured date, making it difficult to know if the product is expired or not. You can contact the supplement company or distributor and they should be able to tell you when or if the product is expired or not.   

To summarize, know where you are buying your supplements. Not all companies, retail sellers or online retailers sell good quality brands. As a naturopathic physician, when I recommend a supplement, herb or vitamin for a patient, I am confident in certain brands or vitamin lines that I offer because they follow these safety guidelines.

“Do no harm” is one of our naturopathic principles and until the supplement and vitamin world is more regulated, it is important that you know what you are putting into your body. Take time to investigate or ask your naturopath about the quality of your supplements before taking them. Not all supplement companies are the same. If you are intending to take a supplement to improve a symptom, then make sure you get the most out of it without causing more harm. FBN

By Christina Kovalik

Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc, The Vitality Doctor, is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in hormone optimization, optimal health and vitality. She is a new Flagstaff resident, practicing since 2004, and opened her second location in Doney Park in 2020. For more information, visit thevitalitydoctor.com or call 928-863-6086.