09.01.09
One-third (9 of 27) of osteoarthritis supplements recently tested by ConsumerLab.com, White Plains, NY, was contaminated with lead, lacked all or some of a key ingredient or had other quality problems. Tests focused on joint health supplements containing glucosamine, chondroitin and/or MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). Supplements included those for people as well as for veterinary use. Among 21 supplements tested for people, four were contaminated with lead—likely to have originated from glucosamine in the supplements, which is made from shrimp or crab shells, according to the report.
Two of these supplements also lacked chondroitin—one contained only 5.6% of its claimed amount while the other had no detectable amount. One of the lead contaminated supplements also failed to break apart properly in disintegration testing. Mislabeling of sodium content was the reason for a fifth supplement to fail the review of the supplements for people.
ConsumerLab.com also found problems with four of the six animal supplements tested. One supplement sold in capsules contained only 17% of the claimed chondroitin. A chicken treat provided only 6% of the claimed glucosamine and only 16% of the claimed chondroitin. Each treat provided only about 1 mg of each of these two ingredients. Two different liquid supplements provided only 5.4% and 16% of the labeled amount of chondroitin, respectively.
Of 13 vitamin E products recently tested by ConsumerLab.com, 10 met quality standards and FDA labeling requirements. While most supplements contained what they claimed, according to tests, two vitamin E oil products provided synthetic vitamin E when their labels suggested they were natural. One of these was also short on the total amount of vitamin E promised. Tests also showed that a vitamin E tablet failed to properly break apart, taking 128 minutes to disintegrate in solution rather than 30 minutes or less as required by the U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP).
Two of these supplements also lacked chondroitin—one contained only 5.6% of its claimed amount while the other had no detectable amount. One of the lead contaminated supplements also failed to break apart properly in disintegration testing. Mislabeling of sodium content was the reason for a fifth supplement to fail the review of the supplements for people.
ConsumerLab.com also found problems with four of the six animal supplements tested. One supplement sold in capsules contained only 17% of the claimed chondroitin. A chicken treat provided only 6% of the claimed glucosamine and only 16% of the claimed chondroitin. Each treat provided only about 1 mg of each of these two ingredients. Two different liquid supplements provided only 5.4% and 16% of the labeled amount of chondroitin, respectively.
Of 13 vitamin E products recently tested by ConsumerLab.com, 10 met quality standards and FDA labeling requirements. While most supplements contained what they claimed, according to tests, two vitamin E oil products provided synthetic vitamin E when their labels suggested they were natural. One of these was also short on the total amount of vitamin E promised. Tests also showed that a vitamin E tablet failed to properly break apart, taking 128 minutes to disintegrate in solution rather than 30 minutes or less as required by the U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP).