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The Fake Supplement Issue No One Is Talking About – Beware of Amazon

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Take a stroll down any big-box store supplement aisle or hop online to update your supplement regimen and you’re bombarded with countless different brands – all claiming to be the best. While perhaps overwhelming, it’s no doubt convenient to just run to the corner store or hop on Amazon, add a few supplements to your cart, and voila – a couple of days later your order arrives at your door. 

But this convenience comes at a cost. You see, big-box retail stores and massive online retailers like Amazon are flooded with unscrupulous, low-quality, imitation supplements that can at best be a waste of your money and at worst cause more harm than good.

Today, we’re going to dive into the slippery slope of supplement regulation, the shocking ingredients (or lack of ingredients) found in Amazon and retail store supplements, and most importantly – how you can ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck and purchasing high-quality, effective, and ethical supplements. Let’s dive in.

 

How Is the Supplement Industry Even Regulated?

The truth is, unlike the pharmaceutical industry, the supplement industry is very loosely regulated. You see, generally, it’s up to individual supplement manufacturers to ensure their own products are safe and have accurate dosages and descriptions – meaning the supplement industry essentially operates on an honor code.1

To make matters worse, this industry is not only highly unregulated, but highly profitable – with  the global dietary supplement market being valued at a whopping $151.9 billion in 2021.2 So, unfortunately, combining the potential for high profits with almost zero regulations creates the perfect scenario for unscrupulous companies and individuals to swoop in and manufacture, market, and sell supplements that may contain ingredients that are entirely different than what you signed up for. 

Not really something you want to hear when it comes to the “vitamins and minerals” you’re putting in your body each day, is it? Let’s take a look at just some of the inconsistencies and flat-out fraudulent ingredients that can slip through the cracks when it comes to supplements.

 

What’s Really In Your Supplements?

Studies have found that some low-quality, unverified supplements may:3,4

  • Be contaminated with common allergens like gluten, soy, or corn
  • Contain potentially harmful contaminants or contain remnants of other drugs
  • Have inaccurate and/or inconsistent dosage
  • Not even contain the listed active ingredients

This leads us to one of the biggest offenders when it comes to low-quality, misleading supplements – the online retail giant Amazon.

 

The Problem With Amazon: Why You Should Never Buy Your Supplements From Amazon

Amazon has been making headlines lately due to surges in counterfeits, imitation merchants, and elaborate fake review scams. It seems as though this giant got too big for its britches and can’t keep these under control.

There are a couple of major issues when it comes to purchasing supplements from Amazon, which are:

Counterfeit Shops:

On Amazon, just about anyone can set up an online shop account – allowing unethical sellers to set up shop and sell knock-off supplements. Sadly enough, even “verified sellers” aren’t always reliable since they are sometimes found to be unscrupulous. These low-quality counterfeit shops can ruin the livelihoods of honest small business owners, and they are often selling second-rate supplements that contain questionable ingredients.

In a recent Forbes article, Amazon.com: The Place Where American Dreams Are Stolen By Chinese Counterfeiters, journalists found that 25 percent of Amazon’s marketplace are Chinese knockoffs – and that’s just what’s specifically coming from China.5

The pervasive problem is out of control and harming people left and right – crushing small businesses and leaving customers with unsafe imitation products.

Unregulated Storage, Shipping, and Handling:

Most things you buy online from mass retailers come from large warehouses and not from the manufacturer itself. This has huge implications for anything with an expiration date or that requires a climate-controlled environment for potency, like probiotics.

While Amazon may be convenient, ordering supplements through any of their online retailers is a gamble that could leave you with iffy products while potentially harming hardworking, honest business owners. So what’s the solution? Is it better to purchase from retail stores?

 

What About Buying Supplements From Retail Stores?

Now, you might be thinking if you purchase your supplements from a retail store you’ll benefit from the discrimination and protection of that store. Wouldn’t names like Walgreens, Target, and even GNC work to protect their supplement supplies so they maintain a good reputation?

Unfortunately, the issue of fake supplements is so pervasive even these stores aren’t immune from the problem. In fact, in some cases, they are part of the dilemma. In a 2015 New York State attorney general’s office report, they accused GNC, Walgreens, Target, and Walmart of selling “fraudulent and potentially dangerous” supplements. Here are a few more disturbing details from that same report:

  • GNC supplements contained ingredients that were not listed on their labels. Some of which are very dangerous allergens for certain people, such as peanuts and soybean.
  • A ginseng supplement from Walgreens turned out to be only rice and garlic.
  • Six supplements from Target tested negative for the main ingredient they claimed – they actually contained beans, rice, peas, and carrots.

So the frustrating and unfortunate reality is, when it comes to retail stores, you cannot blindly trust them either.

 

So What’s the Solution to These Second-Rate Supplement Sellers?

So what’s the solution? How do we address these crooked companies that exploit consumers by selling second-rate supplements?

While the lack of regulation within the supplement industry is disturbing and alarming, we also don’t want to swing too hard in the other direction and require pharmaceutical-type regulations on supplements. Doing this would create an entirely different yet equally troublesome set of problems – creating an environment where only the companies with the deepest pockets would be able to survive in the supplement industry. 

Pharmaceutical-type regulations would take power away from the small, yet quality producers that have exceptional, quality products but don’t have billions to pay for double-blind studies. And this subsequently would take power away from you and me – the consumers. 

So, what’s a consumer like you supposed to do? Who can you trust and where can you confidently buy supplements from?  

 

So, Who Should I Buy Supplements From Then?

There’s certainly no shortage of dodgy and unreliable supplement retailers in the world. But the truth is, there is also a plethora of top-notch organizations that are manufacturing and selling high-quality supplements and have your best interest as a customer and consumer in mind. 

As a Functional Medicine Doctor that regularly utilizes the health-transforming power of strategic, high-quality supplements, the caliber of supplements I use and recommend is of the utmost importance. Here are a handful of supplement brands I personally trust and recommend buying from directly or via one of their trusted suppliers:

  • Dr. Jill Health
  • Thorne Research
  • Researched Nutritionals
  • Quicksilver Scientific
  • Klaire Labs/SFI
  • Microbiome Labs
  • Pure Encapsulations
  • Emerson Ecologics
  • Ortho Molecular Products
  • Xymogen
  • Designs For Health

All of these fabulous, first-class supplements and more are available through my online retail store. We partner with these incredible organizations and receive their supplements directly from the manufacturers. Call 303-993-7910 if you have questions regarding these supplement lines. And if you’re ready to order any of these top-notch supplements via my online store, be sure to snag 10% off your first order by clicking right here.

Now let’s dive into a few tips for ensuring you’re purchasing safe, high-quality supplements.

 

Tips for Choosing Safe, High-Quality Supplements

If it isn’t obvious already, my number one tip for purchasing quality supplements is to avoid ordering from Amazon and big-box retail stores like Walmart, Walgreens, and GNC to name a few.

Instead, buy from trusted, professional producers (and suppliers) with the smallest supply chain possible. If you do decide to opt for a retail store, I recommend small, independent apothecaries that have an excellent reputation with knowledgeable staff (these do exist!). Some other things to look for when researching supplements include:

  • Independent testing Certifications: Look for a seal of approval from respected third-party labs such as ConsumerLab, National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), or U.S. Pharmacopeia. These third-party organizations exist to protect consumers and inspect supplements and the manufacturing practices used to produce them to ensure they are adhering to high-quality standards.
  • Ingredients: Look for supplements that contain minimal and pure ingredients. Avoid supplements that contain any common allergens that are often used in lower-quality products like gluten, dairy, eggs, and artificial preservatives or colors.
  • A good reputation: Look for companies that have positive reviews and come recommended by educated health professionals you trust.  

Being mindful and thorough about purchasing high-quality supplements from a trusted supplier is crucial if you want to reap the benefits of supplements and ensure you’re actually getting what you paid for.

 

Take the Time to Protect Yourself From Fake Supplements

Supplements can be a truly powerful tool when it comes to filling in nutritional gaps, mitigating imbalances, and giving your body the nutrients and support it needs to function at optimal levels. But supplements can only be a powerful tool when they actually deliver on the ingredients and quality they promise. So, while it may be slightly less convenient to get each supplement from a supplier to avoid Amazon, doesn’t taking the extra few minutes to make sure you’re getting exactly what it says on the bottle seem worth it?

When it comes to what you’re putting in your body, we know now more than ever before it’s worth it to be vigilant. This is an important step in taking control of our health and living our best, most fulfilling lives. If you’re ready to upgrade your supplement and wellness routine, be sure to check out the top-of-the-line product recommendations outlined in this article and available through my online store.

And while supplements are no doubt a powerful tool, at the end of the day, they are exactly that – a tool. Truly vibrant health, happiness, and longevity require a big-picture, whole-life approach. If you’re looking for more ways to support and enhance your well-being – physically, mentally, and spiritually – I encourage you to head over and check out all of the resources I have available on my blog, my YouTube channel, and in my upcoming book Unexpected: Finding Resilience Through Functional Medicine, Science, and Faith. 

If you enjoyed this article, please be sure to share it – this information is incredibly important. The more educated and empowered we can be as a collective, the better!

And don’t forget to pre-order a copy of my book Unexpected: Finding Resilience Through Functional Medicine, Science, and Faith by clicking right here!

Unexpected

 

Resources:

  1. ConsumerLab.com (nih.gov)
  2. Dietary Supplements Market Size Report, 2022-2030 (grandviewresearch.com)
  3. GAO-19-23R: Memory Supplements: Results of Testing for Selected Supplements
  4. Health Fraud Product Database | FDA
  5. Amazon.com: The Place Where American Dreams Are Stolen By Chinese Counterfeiters (forbes.com)
  6. New York Attorney General Targets Supplements at Major Retailers – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

 

This article was updated on January 3rd, 2023

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The product mentioned in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.   The information in this article is not intended to replace any recommendations or relationship with your physician.  Please review references sited at end of article for scientific support of any claims made.

Categories: Brain Health, Environmental Toxicity, Fitness, Gut Health, Heart Health, Hormones, NutritionBy Dr. Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABIHM, IFMCPFebruary 17, 2018112 Comments
Tags: amazonamazon scamChinese Counterfeitersfake supplementsFunctional Medicinefunctional nutritionhealthsupplementsupplements
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Author: Dr. Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABIHM, IFMCP

https://www.jillcarnahan.com/

Dr. Jill is Your Functional Medicine Expert! She uses functional medicine to help you find answers to the cause of your illness and addresses the biochemical imbalances that may be making you feel ill. She'll help you search for underlying triggers contributing to your illness through cutting edge lab testing and tailor the intervention to your specific needs as an individual. She may use diet, supplements, lifestyle changes or medication to treat your illness but will seek the most gentle way to help your body restore balance along with the least invasive treatment possible. Dr. Jill is a functional medicine expert consultant and treats environmental and mold-related illness as well

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112 Comments

  1. Scott Rubel says:
    February 18, 2018 at 8:00 pm

    This is concerning. I recently bought supplements from Amazon. But, even if they are from Amazon, these items are sold by certain businesses. I suppose you can learn which ones of those you can and can’t trust. I;m not surprised about WalMart. Just by instinct I would never have bought supplements from them. Do you still trust Pure Encapsulations now that it is owned by Nestlé? Even if I do, Nestlé does not deserve my money (or anyone’s), so I’ve taken that brand off my list.

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      February 18, 2018 at 8:26 pm

      I know… it is sad it has come to this! I love Amazon…Don’t get me wrong 😉 but I do think that it is best to purchase your nutritional supplements from either pharmacy, physician or health care provider or directly from the company itself.

      Reply
      • Vicki Zerbee says:
        July 11, 2019 at 8:52 am

        Agree with you also love Amazon but not for supplements. The company I have used for 37 years is also having problems with people selling on Amazon when real distributors are not authorized to do that. Even though Shaklee offers a 100% money back guarantee, that is not offered if purchased via Amazon. You also have to watch products aren’t outdated. It has served us well for almost 4 decades to purchase direct. And oh by the way, Shaklee should have been near the top of your list, as the #1 Natural Nutrition Company in America. Along with quality, the science and source and formulation of ingredients in the vitamins and supplements is huge also.

        Reply
        • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
          July 12, 2019 at 5:58 pm

          I am sorry Vicki but I would not recommend my patients take supplements that contain corn and soy oil as are on the label of the first Shaklee product I reviewed.

          Reply
          • Sharon Williams says:
            October 25, 2019 at 1:55 pm

            It is understandable that you would assume all corn and soy are from genetically modified sources, but that is definitely not true in the case of Shaklee.
            All their products are certified non-GMO. Yes it is possible to source these. One of the unique things about the company is the unusually rigorous testing performed on raw ingredients and on finished products, far beyond regulatory requirements. Thank you for your blog!!

          • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
            November 19, 2019 at 1:06 pm

            Thanks for your correction, Sharon!

          • Laura Fishkin says:
            January 23, 2020 at 5:41 pm

            Non GMO is often sprayed with the same dangerous substances. Only Organic.

      • Trish says:
        March 31, 2022 at 4:34 am

        You never answered the question about Nestle. Are they still safe or is this quiet takeover just a giant plot to rid us of beneficial vitamins and supplements, as well?

        https://drnealsmoller.com/rant/the-14-mega-corporations-that-own-your-supplement-brand/

        Reply
        • Dr. Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABIHM, IFMCP says:
          October 30, 2022 at 7:37 am

          Honestly I don’t know but the quality of Pure Encapsulations has not suffered.

          Reply
          • Mike says:
            January 5, 2023 at 10:26 am

            Hi Dr. Jill, I notice the article was written 2018 – when was it last reviewed for accuracy since it is now 2023? Just want to be sure I’m up to date on trustworthy sources and brands. Thank you!

          • Dr. Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABIHM, IFMCP says:
            January 7, 2023 at 3:50 pm

            Yes, Mike! This was just updated and reposted 1/4/2023.

    • Susan says:
      March 1, 2019 at 12:33 pm

      I agree with Scott Rubel,
      I no longer buy Pure Encapsulations since it was bought by Nestle. Even if the supplements remain the exact same (questionable if not doubtful) I won’t buy from a company with low integrity.

      Reply
      • Heidi Hackler says:
        December 18, 2019 at 3:29 pm

        Wow! Thanks for this info, I didn’t know Pure is now owned by Nestle!? :-{

        Reply
      • Kir says:
        January 5, 2023 at 1:14 pm

        yep. I would not recommend that. I hope that these brands stop doing this.

        Reply
    • Susan says:
      March 1, 2019 at 2:15 pm

      Thanks so much for this article Dr. Jill

      Reply
    • jum says:
      June 22, 2019 at 3:56 am

      me too! supporting local is the best way to beat the chinese fakes

      Reply
  2. David says:
    February 19, 2018 at 7:28 am

    How about buying from an internet retailer that buys its product directly from the distributor, such as iHerb or VitaCost?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      February 19, 2018 at 10:27 am

      yes, I think that is likely a good option if they control storage and watch expiration dates 😉

      Reply
  3. Antonio says:
    February 21, 2018 at 4:22 pm

    What are your thoughts on NOW products? I like to buy from Thorne, Pure, or Biotics, when possible, but they’re pretty expensive. I tend to use a lot of NOW products: L-Glutamin, Quercetin, Super Enzymes, HCL, and others, so I’d be curious for your opinion.

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      February 21, 2018 at 9:24 pm

      NOW brand is not considered pharmaceutical grade product line

      Reply
      • Amy says:
        February 22, 2018 at 8:57 am

        That’s good to know as I have been buying them. Can you detail a little further why they are not considered pharm grade?

        Reply
      • Nancy says:
        March 21, 2020 at 2:02 pm

        And yet it is GMP Certified.

        Reply
        • Pauline rowland says:
          August 8, 2020 at 3:55 am

          I suffer from vertigo and my husband has a rare form of excema. We’ve been told it’s because of our immune system. Can we buy from sainsburys or Superdrug or holland and Barrett. What strength ?

          Reply
  4. gene says:
    February 22, 2018 at 7:31 am

    forbes and ny times not fake news?

    Reply
  5. Becky says:
    February 22, 2018 at 7:41 am

    I’ve taken NOW products in the past. I was quite shocked. How about Nature’s Way?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      February 22, 2018 at 10:01 am

      Hi Becky, best to stick with professional grade brands.

      Reply
      • Linda Sue Reynolds says:
        May 30, 2019 at 7:09 pm

        Again, can you explain what you mean by that “professional grade brands?” Or pharm grade?

        What about Swanson? I note they have different levels of admitted quality.

        Reply
        • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
          May 31, 2019 at 11:57 am

          I am most familiar with quality of Thorne Research, Xymogen, Orthomolecular products, Pure Encapsulations, and others. Swanson would qualify as supplement grade, not professional grade

          Reply
  6. Cynthia says:
    February 22, 2018 at 8:23 am

    As an NP and functional nutritionist, this is why I encourage my clients to purchase directly from me….I have had seen far too many well meaning friends, colleagues, etc be duped off of Amazon supplement purchases. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
  7. Amy says:
    February 22, 2018 at 9:00 am

    So are you saying that you can buy an Ortho or Thorne product from Amazon and it might be counterfeit? I have wondered about this possibility as some of the labels are faded or a slightly different color

    Reply
  8. Dawn says:
    February 22, 2018 at 11:49 am

    Check out Kirkman to add to your list kirkmangroup.com. Their products are tested for 950 environmental contaminants. Most are their brand but also sell Thorne and Nordic Naturals. Probiotics are shipped on dry ice. Would love for you to assess the green superfood powders/products out there too! You have such valuable info, thank you.

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      February 22, 2018 at 12:14 pm

      Love Kirkman Labs… great professional grade products!

      Reply
    • Dan Germouse says:
      February 26, 2018 at 8:49 pm

      Kirkman Laboratories was busted for selling fluoride drops and tablets, which have not been approved by the FDA. Any company which sells fluoride products does not care about the well-being of its customers.
      https://www.fda.gov/iceci/enforcementactions/warningletters/2016/ucm483224.htm

      Reply
      • eric williams says:
        April 26, 2019 at 7:56 am

        so… which is the real problem for you? your first sentence, or second? apples n oranges.

        Reply
  9. steve lyles says:
    February 22, 2018 at 12:08 pm

    Supplements make me ill regardless of source…manufacturer or supplier…… I do have bio toxin illness (20 years}……but I know of many who complain of feeling unwell after taking supplements…… regardless of “health” …..paradoxically Pharmaceuticals do not have the same reaction with my hypersensitive body ……

    Reply
  10. Tara says:
    February 22, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    What about fullscript that u order through your doc?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      February 22, 2018 at 3:02 pm

      Excellent option for professional products

      Reply
  11. Melanie says:
    February 23, 2018 at 8:08 am

    I always go to Natural Grocers to buy supplements. Are you saying that none of them are professional grade ? How do I know what is professional grade? If they aren’t considered professional grade, does this mean there is no benefit or just partial benefit?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      February 23, 2018 at 11:29 am

      Hi Melanie,
      Some of the products at health food stores are quality-professional grade but others are not. Best to purchase from reputable pharmacy, physician, or health care provider or a least research before buying.

      Reply
      • LS Reynolds says:
        May 30, 2019 at 7:12 pm

        Your terms are very vague. Are you saying supplements at pharmacies are professional grade vs those at my local health food store? And what is “reputable”?

        Reply
        • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
          May 31, 2019 at 11:55 am

          Professional grade is sold through pharmacies and physicians and has been tested for purity and quality.

          Reply
  12. Presouz says:
    February 23, 2018 at 9:21 am

    Sadly any of them can be a target a few years ago I did buy from pure encapsulations from I thought reputable website and it turned out to be nothing but trash and junk It did not work one bit so I backslided it said it was magnesium glycinate bottle but I can guarantee you there was no magnesium in those capsules

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Moeller says:
      March 3, 2021 at 8:37 am

      Pure Encapsulations from Quebec Canada sold OUT to Nestle for 2.3 billion dollars in December of 2017.

      Reply
  13. Sarah says:
    February 25, 2018 at 6:43 am

    Is there a way to tell if the product that you purchased is a counterfeit?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      February 25, 2018 at 10:01 am

      Hi Sarah,
      Unfortunately I don’t’ know of any way to tell for sure…

      Reply
    • Joe Cannon, MS says:
      March 25, 2019 at 9:41 am

      While there is no simple way to know, if you search online for the product + FDA that may reveal any issues the FDA has had with the product. Do the same thing for the company + FDA too.

      Reply
  14. Marci says:
    March 2, 2018 at 10:21 am

    Yes I also love Amazon and have had Amazon Prime for years. I buy most everything there including sups. Our local Health Food Stores are small and expensive. Other places online like vitacost, vitamin shoppe, iherb, etc., charge crazy prices for shipping and handling and take a good week or more to receive. I also have group of trusted companies I usually buy from on Amazon. I don’t know for sure if I’m being scammed or not. Wish there was a way to know for sure.

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      March 2, 2018 at 7:49 pm

      Hi Marci, yes! I love my Amazon Prime as well… buy all you want there just best to leave supplements to certified suppliers only and not buy on amazon.

      Reply
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  17. Margaret says:
    March 12, 2018 at 4:23 pm

    I buy some of my supplements from Swanson, including their brand. Their prices are usually a bit lower than found elsewhere, but I have wondered about the quality.

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      March 12, 2018 at 5:06 pm

      Hi Margaret – I recommend purchasing from only professional brands.
      Warmly
      Dr Jill

      Reply
  18. Paulette Miksch says:
    March 15, 2018 at 8:10 am

    What is your opinion on Pro Caps laboratories and Andrew Lesman? They manufacture all types of supplements. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      March 15, 2018 at 8:14 pm

      I have not heard of that company

      Reply
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  22. my website says:
    September 2, 2018 at 10:10 pm

    I blog often and I truly thank you for your information.
    This great article has truly peaked my interest. I’m going to
    take a note of your blog and keep checking for new information about once per
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    Reply
  23. Jack says:
    October 6, 2018 at 10:45 pm

    Hi Dr. Jill,
    What are your thoughts on brands like New Chapter, Pure Synergy, and Standard Process?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      October 7, 2018 at 11:52 am

      Hi Jack
      Most of these supplement great supplement grade products but they are not professional grade.

      Reply
  24. Aziza Rayan says:
    October 16, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    What is your opinion on buying supplements from Puritans Pride ?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      October 17, 2018 at 9:10 pm

      I only recommend professional grade products. Unfortunately that is not one of them.

      Reply
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  28. bryan says:
    February 15, 2019 at 8:17 am

    Great information Dr. Jill,
    Most supplement companies sell directly on Amazon – so their online storefronts would be the safest place to get an authentic product from their lines. My only reservation is, how long has it been at the Amazon Warehouse and is it temperature controlled?
    Disclosure: I currently am a Functional Medicine consultant for Biotics Research (43 years of professional supplements).
    You should expand this article illustrating how some companies test every raw material that comes in and where their products are manufactured. Biotics Research has the only GOED and ORIVO certified fish oils in the US. Single sourced from anchovies (no mackerel or sardines) and processed close to the shipping port (Chile). Many of the companies you listed as “professional” don’t know where the fish was caught, where it was processed, how long it was in storage, or know logistically how it got to their facility. ORIVO (Norway) can genetically track the fish back to the source and randomly tests for quality and purity.
    I’d love for you and your patients to try some of our Products and recommend them in your future posts. In good health.

    Reply
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  31. swati says:
    February 27, 2019 at 12:13 am

    Nootropics are natural supplements or drugs that have a beneficial effect on brain function in healthy people.Many of these can boost memory, motivation, creativity, alertness and general cognitive function. Nootropics may also reduce age-related declines in brain function.

    Reply
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  34. Joe Cannon, MS says:
    March 25, 2019 at 9:38 am

    Dr Jill, good review of this industry problem. I like the company list you provided. Those companies are on my list as well. I’ve been investigating supplements since the 90s and I agree, few are talking about this problem. Two groups supplements I often see red-flagging are
    1 male performance supplements
    2 weight loss supplements

    Searching online for “FDA Tainted supplements” reveals a massive list of supplements the FDA has had problems with. Many of these products are in the two groups mentioned above.

    I hope this helps your patients and readers.

    Reply
  35. Heather says:
    March 28, 2019 at 8:36 am

    So what are your thoughts on going through Vitamin Shoppe? Wouldn’t they get those same great professional grade products straight from the manufacturer?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      March 29, 2019 at 7:00 pm

      No unfortunately, this is not a great source for vitamins

      Reply
  36. Hilary Olsen says:
    April 5, 2019 at 8:14 am

    Do you trust all of the brands sold on Natural Partners, such as Life Extension? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      April 5, 2019 at 8:31 pm

      Most brands sold on Emerson and Natural Partners are quality

      Reply
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  40. Heidi Hackler says:
    December 18, 2019 at 3:23 pm

    Thanks Jill, great article! I’m an independent consultant for Neal’s Yard Remedies organic health and beauty and our products are constantly showing up on Amazon which we don’t allow. Sadly, as you mention, there’s no guarantee who you’re actually buying from (unless you’re specifically shopping the manufacturer’s store on Amazon), and you may be getting products that are past their expiry date, with no recourse from the manufacturer. If it seems like too good a price to be true, it likely is. Thanks for opening people’s eyes to the issues w/ purchasing supplements on Amazon.

    On another note, I have always been a big Thorne fan, and recently I had a practitioner tell me that she felt they’ve gone downhill recently. I’ve not had any indication of that elsewhere and see that you still recommend them, do you have any thoughts on that? Thanks Jill!

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      December 21, 2019 at 8:57 pm

      Hi Heidi
      Thank you for your comments. Sadly many of the original professional brands that I have grown to trust have changed direction or ownership and not all maintain the quality they once had.
      warmly
      Dr Jill

      Reply
  41. Anthony Velardi says:
    January 7, 2020 at 11:02 am

    Good afternoon. Do you have direct evidence that a supplement product purchased through Amazon was fake based on reliable scientific testing? You state “In a recent Forbes article, Amazon.com: The Place Where American Dreams Are Stolen By Chinese Counterfeiters, journalists found that 25 percent of Amazon’s marketplace are Chinese knockoffs – and that’s just what’s specifically coming from China.” However, this statement does not indicate that a supplement product purchased through Amazon was fake. You appear to apply this percentage to Amazon products and then assume some or all supplement products purchased through Amazon fall within this percentage. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      January 7, 2020 at 1:47 pm

      Yes, actually, we had a private investigator do research and our findings were shocking. Still a big ongoing issue that many consumers are unaware of… That in addition to patient complaints of receiving expired product or product altered in some way from original.

      Reply
  42. Laura Fishkin says:
    January 23, 2020 at 5:31 pm

    Hi! Pure is no longer safe. It was bout by some company like Hersheys? I forget which.

    Reply
  43. Alan Meyers says:
    February 1, 2020 at 10:27 am

    Pure Encapsulations is a low-quality unsafe brand since its purchase by mega-corporation Nestle. I used to take their daily multivitamins and started receiving tainted capsules that contain alarmingly discolored contents. I think you should amend this list to remove Pure Encapsulations before someone gets hurt.

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      February 1, 2020 at 7:44 pm

      Hi Alan,
      I still believe that Pure Encapsulations purchased from your physician or pharmacist is a high quality brand. If you purchased the product online, or from retailer like Amazon, that is another issue as other patients have also had issues with with online purchase from third party retailers.
      warmly
      Dr Jill

      Reply
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  46. Julie L. says:
    February 17, 2020 at 11:55 am

    Do you consider Juice Plus+ professional grade? Many of their products are NSF certified. Only available through direct sales. They don’t offer a wide variety of products, but what they have, they do well. Their shakes are great, and I’ve had tremendous outcomes (and my family) with the encapsulated fruits and veggies.

    Reply
  47. Gail Ruetten says:
    February 29, 2020 at 6:15 pm

    Hi Dr. Jill I have spent hours looking for a combo of supplements for joint pain. My son was in a car accident with a drunk driver and broke his foot. He has 4 screws. It’s been almost a year and his foot and knees and back hurt him. He’s young and in good shape but he was hit head on. Please help me What would you recommend for him and where can I buy it. I also had a neck and back fusion and knee replacement years ago and now have a lot of pain too. Please help us! I to fell ignorant of the guard Amazon and others have been putting their greed in front of human health how sad.

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      February 29, 2020 at 8:00 pm

      You might try DrHRejoint or SPM Active

      Reply
  48. Joe says:
    April 18, 2020 at 11:23 am

    Hi Jill, I’ve been ordering Pure Encapsulations product from a site called PureFormulas.com based in Miami. Is this not advisable? TIA

    Reply
  49. Michele says:
    April 26, 2020 at 9:57 am

    What would you say about the AIM companies products ?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      April 26, 2020 at 6:14 pm

      I am not familiar with AIM

      Reply
  50. Michele says:
    April 26, 2020 at 9:58 am

    What about the company ASEA? I’ve been looking into their redox product

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      April 26, 2020 at 6:04 pm

      Hi Michele
      There is a lot of hype around ASEA and recently a distributor contacted me to try for 30 days. I saw no major difference and not convinced because there are little scientific studies supporting their claims
      warmly
      Dr Jill

      Reply
  51. teri says:
    May 17, 2020 at 4:00 pm

    is mega food and also carlson good brands? what vitamin stores are good to order from to be able to choose a wide variety of brands Pure Formulas.com or like vitamin shoppe,iherb,swanson,vitacost?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      May 17, 2020 at 10:03 pm

      Hi Teri
      These are also supplement grade brands. You can find professional grade brands here if you want to know examples.
      warmly
      Dr Jill

      Reply
  52. Teri says:
    May 21, 2020 at 6:04 pm

    Hi Dr. Jill, Thankyou so much for your reply. I am an older woman with so many health issues Ive had severe thyroid problems and very high anxiety all of my life and had a thyroid scan done after begging and it showed that i barely had a gland left so im assuming that means i have hashimotos. Over 10yrs ago after moving into a lot of mold after a bad divorce and extreme stress i developed so many other problems…a tender growth on my head,hives and rashes chest pains dry burning eyes and skin that feels like the heat cant get out and menopause and all of the Drs ive been to put me on anti anxiety and depressants and bp pills and i have very high cholesterol. Because of the shape im in from everything (the mold) I cant barely function or have the means to go to a better Dr. I think i may have cushings also because i have a hump and lots of pain. Please help me with any advice what could help me. I plan on ordering from your site when i get some money. Thankyou Dr. Jill and God Bless

    Reply
  53. Cheryl says:
    September 4, 2020 at 7:05 pm

    Are you familiar with biotics research? I’m curious as to your opinion on the quality. Thanks

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      September 4, 2020 at 8:36 pm

      Yes, Biotics Research is excellent and professional grade quality.

      Reply
  54. Karen says:
    October 31, 2020 at 2:23 pm

    What do you think about DESIGNS FOR HEALTH?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      October 31, 2020 at 3:04 pm

      excellent brand 😊

      Reply
  55. Shirley says:
    January 22, 2021 at 8:28 am

    Are high quality supplements (like Pure Encapsulations) safe to buy on Amazon if they are “shipped from Amazon”?

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      January 22, 2021 at 9:10 pm

      Hi Shirley
      I do not recommend purchasing nutritional supplements from Amazon in general as it is hard to track if they have been properly stored and untampered with.
      warmly
      Dr Jill

      Reply
  56. Elizabeth Moeller says:
    March 3, 2021 at 8:47 am

    I think it’s also important to know who now owns the companies. I will no longer buy Garden of Life, Pure Encapsulations, Douglas Labs or Genestra after Nestle bought them out. There’s a reason they’re taking out good quality companies and it’s not for our health benefits.

    Reply
  57. Leigh says:
    April 1, 2021 at 2:45 pm

    Just asking…what are your thoughts on supplements sold by companies like Plexus? I know several friends who are taking these supplements and swear by them. Of course Plexus is a “pyramid” type marketing company. I would assume by reading your other comments that these would not be “pharmaceutical-grade” supplements. Just curious what your thoughts are. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      April 3, 2021 at 2:52 pm

      not a fan of any supplements with GMO soy or corn or multi-level retailers.

      Reply
  58. Leigh says:
    April 22, 2021 at 4:39 pm

    What do you think about Previlli – a gut health supplement manufactured by Terragenics Nutrition, Inc in Orem, UT? And, also, Vegan Probiotics with Prebiotics Capsules by the company Ora? I’m researching prebiotics and probiotics due to GI, immune, and skin issues. I came across these supplements and had never heard of them. Just wanted your opinion. Thanks – Leigh

    Reply
  59. Holly says:
    May 26, 2022 at 6:53 am

    I think you should revise your trusted list. Pure Encapsulations has been owned by Nestle for years, they also own Vital Proteins & both brands made me extremely sick that’s why I researched & learned about Nestle.

    I called Thorne Research & asked them if iServe on Amazon was an authorized retailer & she said yes. So I went against my better judgment & started ordering supplements on Amazon, particularly Thorne based on your list since Thorne said iServe is authorized & once again, after switching to their brand of supplements I am so sick right now I feel poisoned & I’m trying to flush whatever is in their capsules out of my system with water, charcoal & NAC from my good old regular brands I’ve bought for years from VitaCost.

    Reply
  60. Jack says:
    January 5, 2023 at 2:40 pm

    Well the reason you know that the supplement at Target contained beans rice and carrots it’s because Target tests the supplements that it carries. So does Walgreens. That’s why we are aware that the supplements don’t contain the ingredients they purport to

    I think buying supplements from retail stores that have reputations to maintain and standards of integrity is the safest place to buy.

    Because the contents of supplements are completely unregulated, where else could you turn?

    Reply
    • Dr. Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABIHM, IFMCP says:
      January 7, 2023 at 3:53 pm

      Hi Jack,
      When you purchase pharmaceutical grade supplements from licensed providers, you are purchasing high quality regulated products you can trust. There are many sources but here is one that I have personally vetted all products.
      warmly
      Dr Jill

      Reply

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Dr. Jill will help you search for underlying triggers contributing to your illness through cutting edge lab testing and tailor the intervention to your specific needs as an individual.
  • Address:
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