Comparing natural products

But of course price and cost per day are not the only factors. There are many other intangible factors that Script It cannot provide such as:

	Reputation and ethics of supplier
	Source and quality of ingredients
	Quality standards in manufacture, packaging and distribution
	Vegans and vegetarians need to know that no animals have been used for testing, or that there are no animal byproducts - eg gelatine capsules, or seafood
	Availability of supply
	Bioavailability (see "formulation" below)
	Service and delivery
	Presentation, packaging, non-active ingredients, product literature
	Expiry date
	Individuality and Suitability - what might work well for your friend might not work at all for you. All of us have different genes and chemical composition.
	Whether the product has passed clinical trials for safety and efficacy (how well the product works).

You should take particular note of

	Cautions - take note of all cautions and contraindications, and before taking any natural medicine, talk to your health professional if you unsure, are or plan to become pregnant, have any medical condition, or are taking prescribed medication.
	Claims, indications and statement of purpose - the TGA only permit certain wording which is usually on the label. Note that "practitioner only" products do not need to have a statement of purpose on the label.
	Type of medicine - eg liquid, tablet, capsule, enteric coated or not, etc
	Formulation - and perhaps this is one of the most important factors and needs some discussion.

Formulation. Most health prescribers agree that the formulation is most important when considering efficacy. Some nutrients need other nutrients in the formula to be effective. For example iron is better absorbed into the body if there is some Vitamin C present. Most B vitamins work better if there are some other B vitamins present as well.

Some nutrients should not have other nutrients present to be effective.

Some nutrients (eg many minerals) are in a compound form which the body needs to break down to access the nutrient. These compounds can considerably vary and the body may even prefer certain compounds in order to effectively digest and absorb. A good example is magnesium - click here to see the various forms of magnesium. See also Iron forms and doses.
Some forms might not be suitable for some people. For example, Magnesium Oxide is dependent upon Hydrochloric Acid (produced in the stomach) for absorption and can cause diarrhea in some people.

One way of comparing the amount of a mineral is to examine the "elemental" amount (stated on the label) but this does not show the bioavailability resulting from the form of the compound.

Some forms are naturally occurring, and others are synthetic
eg Vitamin E d-Alpha-Tocopherol is natural whereas dl-Alpha-Tocopherol is synthetic or man made. Click here for the various forms of Vitamin E.

So as you can see, comparison is not a simple matter.

For a comprehensive database which explains the various nutrients you are advised to purchase a splendid CD-ROM called "Hyperhealth" by In-Tele-Health ISBN 0-64630-942-0.