Not All Supplements Are Created Equal
When it comes to nutrition and supplements, quality matters. You can spend money on vitamins and supplements, take them faithfully, and still not get the benefits you're looking for if you're not paying attention to the ingredients, form, and quality of the product.
Unfortunately, many supplements found at big-box stores, drug stores, and online marketplaces can contain unnecessary fillers, dyes, artificial flavors, preservatives, or forms of nutrients that your body may not utilize as efficiently. That's why learning how to read a supplement label—and knowing what you're actually looking for—is so important.
🧬 The Form of the Vitamin Matters
One great example is B vitamins. Not all B vitamins are the same, and the form can make a difference in how your body processes them.
You've probably heard of methylated B vitamins, particularly methylfolate and methylcobalamin (B12). These are forms that are already in, or closer to, the forms your body can use. This can be especially relevant for people with certain variations of the MTHFR gene, which can affect how efficiently the body converts folate into its active form.
Having an MTHFR variant doesn't automatically mean you have a problem or that you need a specific supplement, but it is one reason we pay attention to the form of B vitamins rather than simply looking at the amount listed on the front of the bottle.
💊 Magnesium Isn't Just Magnesium
Magnesium is another great example. There are actually many different forms of magnesium, and they aren't interchangeable.
For example:
Magnesium glycinate is often chosen for its gentle nature and is commonly used for relaxation and muscle support.
Magnesium citrate is well absorbed and can also have a bowel-loosening effect, making it useful for people who struggle with occasional constipation.
Magnesium malate is often used for muscle and energy support.
Magnesium L-threonate is a newer form that has been studied for its ability to increase magnesium levels in the brain.
Magnesium oxide contains a lot of elemental magnesium by weight, but it is generally less well absorbed and is more commonly used for its laxative effect.
So if you walk into a store and simply grab the first bottle labeled "Magnesium," you may not be getting the form that best fits your individual needs.
The takeaway? Don't just look at the number of milligrams. Look at the form.
🔎 Quality & Brand Ownership Matter, Too
Another challenge today is knowing what happens to a supplement brand after it grows or is acquired by a larger corporation. A brand's ownership, manufacturing practices, sourcing, testing, and formulation can all be important factors when deciding how much confidence to place in a product.
For example, Pure Encapsulations is owned by Nestlé Health Science, and Thorne has entered into a transaction to be acquired by Procter & Gamble. Corporate ownership itself doesn't automatically mean a supplement is unsafe or ineffective, but it is a reminder that it's worth looking beyond the brand name and asking questions about who owns the company, where products are manufactured, whether formulas have changed, and what kind of quality control and testing are in place.
⚠️ Be Careful Buying Supplements Online
We also encourage patients to be cautious when purchasing supplements through third-party online marketplaces such as Amazon.
Counterfeit products can make their way into online marketplaces, and it can be difficult to know exactly where a product came from or whether it has been stored properly. Even if the bottle looks identical to one you've purchased before, you want to know that you're getting the actual product from an authorized source.
🌿 What We Look For at Ascend Chiropractic
This is why we take the quality of the nutrition and supplements we carry very seriously.
At Ascend Chiropractic, we spend time researching the brands and products we recommend, looking for high-quality, practitioner-grade supplements with strong manufacturing and testing standards.
One of the brands we stock most heavily is Orthomolecular Products. We appreciate their commitment to quality, science-based formulations, and rigorous testing. We also carry products from brands such as Seeking Health and Metagenics.
And if you don't see what you're looking for on our shelves, that's okay! Through a FREE Fullscript account, you can access thousands of professional-grade supplements and have them shipped directly to your door.
🧠 Don't Just Take Something—Know Why You're Taking It
Our goal isn't to tell you that you need a cabinet full of supplements. It's to help you understand what you're putting into your body and why.
If you're wondering whether a particular vitamin or supplement is high quality, whether a certain form is right for you, or how different brands compare, ask Dr. Krantz! He is passionate about nutrition and helping patients become educated and empowered when it comes to their health.
And if you're ready to dive deeper, Dr. Krantz also offers functional medicine consultations, where you can take a closer look at your nutrition, health history, blood work, supplements, and other factors that may be affecting your overall health.
Have questions about nutrition, vitamins, supplements, or a specific brand? Bring them to your next visit, reach out to us, or schedule a functional medicine consultation.
At Ascend Chiropractic, our goal is simple: to give you the knowledge you need to make informed decisions and ascend your health to new heights. 🌿