A 1-point CI ranking deduction for using synthetic vitamins and/or minerals.

 

Published research in the last few years concludes that synthetic and other unnatural nutrients are mostly ineffective in preventing disease. Natural vitamin and mineral sources, rather than a synthetic alternative, are a healthier choice. 

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Truly natural dietary supplements are made from freeze-dried real food, or otherwise are not heated, and the nutrients they contain are natural doses without added synthetics. Fish oil (containing EPA/DHA), flax oil (containing alpha-linolenic acid), and vegetable or fruit concentrates containing many nutrients are common examples.  Unfortunately, most fruit and vegetable concentrates used in dietary supplements are dried with very high heat, destroying various nutrients. They don’t supply much nutrient but are used in the supplement to make it appear natural, while all the nutrients listed on the label come from synthetic or other unnatural additions. These so-called “whole food” supplements containing fruit or vegetable concentrates have to be “spiked” with synthetic vitamins and other unnatural nutrients in order to list any appreciable amounts of nutrients.

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Some companies even claim their products are made from real food with real vitamins when, in fact, they feed synthetic vitamins to yeast, then harvest the yeast to use in supplements. Unfortunately, the USDA is yet to address this issue, and the label information won’t let you know the truth, unless the dose is high enough. The truly natural ones are referred to as active B vitamins. The commonly used active B vitamins are listed below (If you read the label and don’t find these active names on the label for the B vitamins, most likely they’re synthetic):

• Thiamine (B1): Thiamine pyrophosphate; Thiamine triphosphate

• Riboflavin (B2): Riboflavin-5-phosphate; Flavin mononucleotide (FMN)

• Niacin (B3): Nicotinamide (adenine dinucleotide)

• Pantothenic acid (B5): Pantethine

• Pyridoxine (B6): Pyridoxal-5-phosphate

• Folic acid: Folinic acid; 5-methyl tetrahydrofolate

• Cobalamin (B12): Methylcobalamin; Adenosylcobalamin

• Choline:  Phosphatydlcholine

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Ingredients ending in “ate” or “ide” contain synthetic salt forms and products that begin with “dl” are also synthetic.

 

Watch for salt synthetic ingredients such as acetate, chloride, or gluconate. They are added to make the vitamin or mineral more stable.

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Beta carotene is not vitamin A, but is a phytonutrient, some of which converts to vitamin A compounds in the body. However, this conversion is not very efficient. Most supplements that list vitamin A will also state, in parentheses, beta carotene. Those listing vitamin A without noting beta carotene are probably synthetic, unless some type of fish liver oil is listed somewhere on the label.

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Vitamin C is one of the most highly processed vitamins you can buy. Taking high dosages of synthetic vitamin C daily can impair your energy systems and have adverse effects on the antioxidant system. Watch out for the synthetic ingredient “ascorbic acid.”

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Vitamin Bs will usually be referred by several synthetic names such as thiamine (B1), pyridoxine (B6), or cobalamin (B12).

Naturally active B vitamins can be found in health food stores and will go by names such as thiamin pyrophosphate (B1), pyridoxal-5-phosphate (B6), or methylcobalamin (B12). Almost all the B vitamins on the market are synthetic. 

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Vitamin D comes in two natural forms: Vitamin D2, called ergocalciferol, comes from plants. Vitamin D3, called cholecalciferol, is from animal sources, and is the active form, like the vitamin D obtained from sunlight. A variety of synthetic vitamin D compounds have been developed, the most common being calcitriol, doxercalciferol and calcipotriene. All vitamin D supplements can be toxic in high amounts, although one could not overdose on vitamin D from the sun. 

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Some vitamin E on the market may also be genetically modified, and the tocopherol could be derived from corn, soybeans, cottonseed, rice, or wheat germ oil. Tocopherol is vitamin E’s chemical name and can be seen on at least seven different types of the vitamin. Cheaper vitamin E supplements are camouflaged as d-alpha tocopherol. Petro chemically derived vitamin E has toxic effects, and men taking 400 IUs per day can increase their risk of prostate cancer.

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Watch out when the vitamins are labeled as “natural.” It can say natural even if they contain as little as 10% of their natural form, which means it also contains up to 90% synthetic chemicals. Products that contain 100% plant-based ingredients are the best vitamins.

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Beware of unnatural doses of minerals such as those that are five or 10 times above daily values. Also avoid minerals with the lowest bioavailability such the oxides and the chlorides. 

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Beware of natural. The use of the word natural has reached the level of abuse. Basically, the term has little meaning. A bottle of 100% synthetic vitamin C, for example, may be labeled “natural.” With no adequate legal definition, any company can use the word “natural” almost as it pleases. Ignore the word “natural” and look for key words on the label.