In some of our recent blogs, we’ve talked about nutrition, why food isn’t enough, and what supplementation can do for us, but there are a lot of choices in the world of vitamins. From specialized alphabet vitamins (A, B, C, D, E) to holistic multi-vitamins, they can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, doses, and qualities. So, how can you know which one(s) you should take?

To help you with choosing a high-quality product, here are a few things to look for when checking into a vitamin brand.

Science

Having scientific support behind the ingredients and effectiveness of a product is huge. Though most of us don’t know consumer research from a clinical trial, a few terms to keep in mind when reviewing science:

• Placebo-controlled: the study includes at least 2 groups of participants: a group that will get the actual product under observation and a placebo, which is something resembling the studied product but not intended to have any effect on the participants.
• Double-blind: This simply means that neither the researcher nor the participants knew if they were getting the real product or a placebo.
• Objective vs. subjective: These are terms used to describe the findings. Objective means that there is hard evidence like numbers to correlate with the results. Subjective means that it’s more of a personal experience result – a feeling vs. actual hard numbers.
• Results vs. Conclusion: The results will show the numerical/testing values gathered through the research. The conclusion is based on the interpretation of the researchers. Unfortunately, bias can affect the way the researchers develop the conclusion, so it’s important to investigate the researchers’ relations with the product/company involved.

Quality

Quality is something many companies claim to have, but few truly deliver. From ingredients to packaging to the overall product, quality is something that should be delivered in every aspect of the vitamin. Here are a couple of things to look for:

• FDA Consumer Goods Manufacturing Processes (cGMP): This certification details that the manufacturing plants in which the vitamins/supplements are created are following the best practices for clean, efficient, pure manufacturing.
• NSF International certifications: This third-party testing checks that what is on the label is what is in the product. It also looks for any impurities or irregularities.
  • Contents Tested and Certified
  • Certified for Sports: a deeper certification that looks for NCAA banned substances and other concerns
• Money-back guarantees: If a company really stands behind their products, they’ll offer your money back regardless of whether you finished the whole bottle or only made it halfway through.
• Ingredients/sources: Look for natural ingredients, as they tend to be higher quality and easier for our bodies to absorb, whereas synthetic ingredients tend to be lower quality and may not be as easily absorbed.

Doctor Recommendation

This may sound obvious but having a doctor’s recommendation means a lot. They understand the science aspect better than most, and we expect them to do their due diligence when selecting a product. Picking a product that’s doctor-recommended helps take some of the guesswork out of the selection process.

Once you know the type of vitamins you need, the hardest part is choosing which option is the best for you. Looking for these telltale signs of better products can help make that selection easier. EyePromise is committed to providing quality, visionary, science-based, and trustworthy eye vitamins for almost anyone – from those who currently have or have a family history of eye health concerns to those who are concerned with their ever-growing screen time.