Remember to Take Your Pharmaceutical Grade Vitamins
M Brian Hunt Pharmacist Del Norte Pharmacy 1691 Galisteo St. A 505.988.9797 DelNortePharmacy.com
ost of us know we should take our vitamins, but taking a generic vitamin is not enough to ensure optimal health. It’s important to consider taking quality pharmaceutical grade products rather than the standard, mid-grade or food-grade supplements and nutritionals generally found at run-of-the-mill stores and pharmacies. What are pharmaceutical grade vitamins? Pharmaceutical grade means products made to meet the same standards as medications. One hundred percent of the ingredients a pharmaceutical grade company claims are in their vitamins are in the vitamins, and just as importantly, absolutely nothing else. One great pharmaceutical grade vitamin company — Nature’s Source — stands above the rest. Its products are manufactured with the most stringent practices in the industry. All raw material that comes into their manufacturing plant has a certificate of analysis. The company then tests every batch of raw material to verify purity. Nature’s Source pharmaceutical grade vitamins and supplements were developed by a group of pharmacists to optimize health benefits and
are manufactured by the two most reputable nutritional companies, Douglas Laboratories and Metagenics. Nature’s Source offers a range of high quality products to address a multitude of health categories, including adrenal support, cardiovascular health, immune support, prostate support, vitamins deficiencies, antioxidants, blood sugar metabolism, joint/connective tissue, general health, energy/sports/fitness, stress control/relaxants, hair and skin health, liver health, female specialties, microbial support, phytonutrients, hormonal support, neurological and ocular (eye) nutrition. The pharmacists at Del Norte Pharmacy are experts in checking for drug interactions with current medications and identifying products that may complement prescription therapies. For example, Nature’s Source ubiquinol and CoQ10 are particularly important for patients taking statin-class medications, the medications most commonly used to treat high cholesterol. Ubiquinol is the reduced, active antioxidant form of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Produced naturally in healthy bodies, ubiquinol is CoQ10 that has been converted for use in the cellular
energy production process. In addition to its critical role in energy production, it is the strongest lipid-soluble antioxidant available, protecting the body’s cells from oxidative stress which can cause damage to proteins, lipids and DNA. If you suffer from congestive heart failure, angina or periodontal disease, or have difficulty breathing at 5,000 ft. above sea level, you may need ubiquinol supplements as part of your daily regimen.
Nature’s Source has several probiotic formulas to address individual’s needs, like Ultra Probiotic Balance, Ultra Probiotic Acute Care, Ultra Probiotic for Women, Ultra Probiotic Intensive Care and Ultra Probiotic Spectrum. Each product is formulated to be the most efficacious probiotic therapy for a particular disease state. Del Norte’s pharmacists are experts at recommending which is most appropriate.
Age and other factors can hinder the body’s ability to produce and metabolize CoQ10. Some reasons for this include increased metabolic demand, insufficient dietary intake, oxidative stress or any combination of these things. Some reports say this decline becomes apparent around 40 years old, although it can begin as early as 20 in some cases. As the body’s inability to produce CoQ10 begins, supplementation with CoQ10 and/or ubiquinol becomes increasingly important to maintaining good health.
Why should you buy only pharmaceutical grade vitamins?
Additionally, high quality probiotics are critical, particularly in patients on antibiotic treatments or those with recurrent microbe related ailments, such as frequent urinary tract infections and digestive disorders.
• Vitamins and dietary supplements made from mid-grade raw ingredients do not work well. • Most vitamin companies are not necessarily looking out for your best interests much as they are interested in turning a profit. • In 2002, the entire Australian nutritional industry was shut down after several people died and many more were hospitalized after using tainted vitamins. The problem in Australia was traced to the largest manufacturer of dietary supplements in the country. They were caught falsifying reports
about what actually went into their supplements. Of course, only the worst of the worst supplement companies will have toxicity present in their vitamins. There are far more mediocre vitamins on the market than anything else, but more than 50 percent of the products did not contain the amounts of nutrients they claimed to have on their labels. • In 2003, in light of the increased concerns around bio-terrorism, Nature’s Source raised the bar even further by requiring100 percent purity of raw ingredients from their raw material suppliers. Only 148 out of our 450 vendors were able to meet this new standard. • When you spend your money on a Nature’s Source product, you are not only buying the type of supplements that have extraordinary absorption, but you are also assured tainted raw materials will never find their way into your Nature’s Source products. • Nature’s Source is committed to providing you and your family the highest grade supplements available to ensure optimum health throughout the year.