Organic supplements

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Along with organic produce, milk, meat, and other packaged foods, organic dietary supplements are now being found in the marketplace.

Nutrient value:

Whether organic foods have a higher nutrient value than their conventionally grown counterparts is still being debated. However, some studies have shown that organic foods may contain higher levels of certain nutrients than those produced non-organically.(1) One recent ten-year study that compared organic and non-organic tomatoes showed that the tomatoes grown organically had significantly higher flavonoid content.(2)

Challenges in labeling:

Before any product can be labeled “organic” it must comply with guidelines established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Their National Organic Program has codified definitions of the term, and enforces it.

Common organic labeling terms: (also see “organic foods”)

100% Organic: Applicable to foods (not supplements) and can be fruits or vegetables raised organically, or food products made up of completely organic ingredients. According to the USDA, the term organic means that the food or ingredient is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Animals are raised without antibiotics or growth hormones; plants are grown without most conventional pesticides, fertilizers with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.(3) Producers and manufacturers of organic products must be certified by a government-approved certifying agency, such as Quality Assurance International (QAI).

Organic: Any product claiming “organic” on the label must be made of at least 95% organic ingredients. Foods or supplements labeled “organic” can feature the USDA Certified Organic seal on the packaging. (3)

Made with organic ingredients: In order to say this, these products must have at least 70% organic ingredients in the mix. A vegetable soup, for instance, (one of the examples given on the USDA’s web site) could call out that it contains “organic potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers,” or that it is “made with organic vegetables.” (3)

The USDA allows some room for movement within the categories. For instance, a supplement labeled “made with organic ingredients” doesn’t mean it’s only made with 70% organic ingredients. It may have up to 93% instead. Nonetheless, it still can’t jump ahead of the line to “organic” status. Only supplements made with 95% or more can make the claim, and use the USDA Organic seal on their label. In addition, these products must be certified by a third-party agency, such as Quality Assurance International, (QAI).

Tablet vs. capsule:

Because capsules create weight it is very difficult to fill capsules with enough organic ingredients to meet the percentage of organic material required to be labeled “organic.” A line of USDA-certified organic dietary supplements in tablet form was introduced to the United States market in June, 2008.

Organic not always best

Some supplements can be more precisely measured and safer when chemically synthesized instead of organic. The hormone melatonin, for example, a dietary supplement in the USA, was previously available as an extract of the pineal glands of cows and sheep. Since the recognition of Mad Cow and similar diseases, only synthetic melatonin is marketed.

[edit] References

  • Olsson ME, Andersson CS, Oredsson S, Berglund RH, Gustavsson KE. Antioxidant levels and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation in vitro by extracts from organically and conventionally cultivated strawberries. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Feb 22;54(4):1248-55.
  • Mitchell AE, Hong YJ, Koh E, Barrett DM, Bryant DE, Denison RF, Kaffka S. Ten-year comparison of the influence of organic and conventional crop management practices on the content of flavonoids in tomatoes. J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Jul 25;55(15):6154-9.
  • National Organic Program: Organic Marketing and Labeling Information. Available at: www.ams.usda.gov/nop/Consumers/brochure.html.. Accessed June 4, 2008.