Re: ConsumerLab in review

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Bob. This is very helpful. I just had time to check one of

the pages linked re probiotics and was surprised to find some less

expensive products that Consumer Labs qualified.

Merry Christmas! Karolyn

> Dear ConsumerLab.com Newsletter Member:

>

> As the year draws to a close, we want to provide you with a quick

recap of

> this year’s Product Reviews of over 230 supplements, as well 26

important

> Recalls & Warnings. Now is the time to catch up on CL’s

information (see

> below if you are not already a subscriber).

>

> For those who prefer their information in a convenient, printed

format,

> ConsumerLab.com’s Guide to Buying Vitamins & Supplements was

published in

> September. The Guide has received glowing reviews and is already

in its

> third printing.

>

> Subscription to Consumerlab.com and the book also make great gifts

to help

> protect the health of those you love! See below for easy ways to

give them

> as gifts.

>

> We hope that you continue to use CL’s information to make

informed

> decisions on buying and using supplements. Happy Holidays!

>

> In this Newsletter:

>

> ***Recap of Reviews***

> ***Recap of Recalls & Warnings***

> ***Upcoming Product Reviews***

> ***Give ConsumerLab.com for the Holidays***

>

>

> ***Recap of Reviews***

> --------------------------------------------

>

> This year was a busy one for CL. New Product Reviews covered 17

types of

> popular supplements -- including vitamin, mineral, herbal and non-

herbal

> supplements. Pet supplements were also included for the first time

in one

> of our reviews (Joint Supplements) and we will continue to include

pet

> products in selected reviews going forward.

>

> We also had a major policy change in 2003. As of April 2003, we

started

> disclosing the names of products that did not meet our testing

> criteria. Below, in chronological order, are highlights and a link

to each

> Review.

>

> PROBIOTICS (January) -- " Acidophilus " and other probiotic

supplements gain

> in popularity but live bacteria missing in many. One third of the

products

> tested contained less than 1% of the expected number of viable

bacteria ­

> with several products containing one-ten thousandth of the amount

> expected. http://www.consumerlab.com/results/probiotics.asp

> VITAMIN C (March) -- ConsumerLab.com finds improvement in quality

of

> vitamin C products. In contrast to its prior research,

ConsumerLab.com

> found that all 15 products evaluated in its newly announced Product

Review

> of Vitamin C Supplements passed its

> testing. http://www.consumerlab.com/results/vitaminc.asp

>

> MEMORY ENHANCERS/Ginkgo Biloba & Huperzine A (April) ­ Low quality

> ingredient appears widespread among Ginkgo supplements according to

> ConsumerLab.com; points to challenge for FDA's proposed

regulations. In

> contrast to its findings three years ago, only 22% of the Ginkgo

biloba

> supplements it tested in 2003 met its quality standards. In late

1999, 75%

> of the products it tested met these

> standards. http://www.consumerlab.com/results/ginkgobiloba.asp

> SAW PALMETTO (May) ­ Consumers advised to read labels carefully when

> selecting herbal supplements for prostate. Only two-thirds of the

saw

> palmetto supplements it recently evaluated contained ingredients

similar to

> those known to work in clinical

> studies. http://www.consumerlab.com/results/sawpalmetto.asp

> CALCIUM (June) ­ ConsumerLab.com finds lead in coral calcium

product;

> Product also charged with false advertising by

> FTC. http://www.consumerlab.com/results/calcium.asp

> CHOLESTEROL LOWERERS/Guggulsterones, Policosanol, Sterols (July) ­

> ConsumerLab.com finds many cholesterol-lowering supplements poorly

> made. More than half of the cholesterol-lowering supplements that

it

> recently purchased failed to contain their listed ingredients

and/or could

> not adequately break apart to release their

> contents. http://www.consumerlab.com/results/cholest.asp

> GINSENG (August) ­ Some problems persist with ginseng supplements

but

> overall quality improves. In contrast to its testing three years

ago in

> which nearly 60% of Asian and American Ginseng supplements were

found to

> have significant problems, testing of recently purchased products

by

> ConsumerLab.com found problems with a far lower percentage ­

> 17%. http://www.consumerlab.com/results/ginseng.asp

> p

>

> MUSCLE ENHANCERS/Creatine, HMB, Glutamine (September) ­

Consumerlab.com

> finds new forms of creatine (liquid, effervescent and chewables)

prone to

> problems. Problems were not found among standard creatine " powder "

> products. http://www.consumerlab.com/results/creatine.asp

> JOINT SUPPLEMENTS/Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM & Pet supplements

> (November) ­ Key ingredient missing in some arthritis supplements

for

> people and pets. Two products for use by people contained less

than 20%

> and 85%, respectively, of the expected chondroitin. More shocking,

two pet

> supplements had no detectable chondroitin despite a " guaranteed

analysis "

> on the label of each showing significant

> chondroitin. http://www.consumerlab.com/results/gluco.asp

> SAMe (November) ­ Improvement in quality of SAM-e supplements used

for

> osteoarthritis and depression; but a high priced product found to

contain

> only 30% of label claim.

http://www.consumerlab.com/results/same.asp

> HGH (December) -- ConsumerLab.com dispels myths about “HGHâ€

human

> growth hormone supplements sold widely on Internet. This article

covers

> the science behind human growth hormone -- the controversy and

limitations

> of HGH as a non-prescription supplement. We reviewed the

scientific

> literature and information about the

> products. http://www.consumerlab.com/results/hgh.asp.

>

> You can access any of over 40 past Reviews from

> http://www.consumerlab.com/results/index.asp.

>

>

> ***Recalls & Warnings***

> __________________________________

>

> As an important aspect of educating consumers on supplements, CL

posted 27

> Recalls & Warnings on its web site this year. Topics covered

included:

>

> Supplement promoted as cancer treatment removed from market

>

> Government stops supplements claiming to treat obesity & impotence

>

> FTC charges marketers of Seasilver with false & deceptive claims

>

> Non-prescription anti-hypertension pills recalled

>

> The most recent Recall & Warning, as well as an archive of past

articles,

> is available at http://www.consumerlab.com/recalls.asp.

>

>

> ***Upcoming Reviews***

> ------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Reviews scheduled for release in coming months include CoQ10,

Echinacea and

> Zinc, Eye Supplements (Lutein and Zeaxanthin),

Multivitamins/Multiminerals

> and St. ’s wort. You will be notified via this newsletter as

these

> become available. Many others are scheduled.