The sad fact of the matter is that all nutritional supplements are not created equal and more than ever the old adage may be true,  you do, get what you pay for. One of the more recent studies that came across my desk was from ConsumerLab.com, where 21 brands of multiple vitamins in the United States and Canada were tested by independent laboratories. Just 10 met the claims on their labels, more worrisome, one of the products was contaminated with lead. 

Sometimes, a patient's clinical picture indicates a need for a supplement, which I will recommend and they may tell me "Oh, I'm already taking that"  I need to ask at that point, which brand they are taking. I may then ask them to switch to a different product, just to see if it will make a difference, OFTEN IT DOES!  So sadly if the patient is using a supplement they purchased at a discount store, I am not certain if they are  in-fact receiving the nutrient they purchased.

For the most part I use Metagenics products, here's why:

1. Dr Jeffery Bland their Chief Science Officer, has been working in the forefront of functional medicine and nutritional therapy for over 25 years. A nutritional biochemist and registered clinical laboratory director, Dr. Bland is a former professor of biochemistry at the University of Puget Sound, and a previous Director of Nutritional Research at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine. Dr. Bland has authored five books on nutritional medicine for the health care professional and four books on nutrition and health for the general public. He is also the principal author of over 100 peer-reviewed research papers on nutritional biochemistry.  

2.  

   The clinical research arm of Metagenics, The Functional Medicine Research Center^SM (FMRC), comprises an expert team of medical doctors, chiropractors, and nutritionists who are familiar with the latest developments in testing and treatment in natural medicine therapies

3. Metagenics sets the industry standard for quality and safety with stringent raw material selection and extensive testing for purity. These exceptional products are manufactured in a facility certified for Good Manufacturing practices (GMP) to further ensure optimal patient outcomes and clinical reliability. GMP certification means that outside auditors ensure adherence to GMP standards. Many nutritional supplement manufacturers do not have these types of GMP certificates. But without actual GMP certification, you cannot be sure if they are adhering to GMP requirements.

   The lists of U.S. companies certified for GMP are not't very long. See for yourself:

http://www.naturalproductsassoc.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ic_gmp_cos

http://www.nsf.org/Certified/GMP/Listings.asp

Last But Not Least ,the clinical changes I have observed in 25 years of  Chiropractic practice when the proper nutrients are received have convinced me of thier quality and purity