12.01.10
Tests of B vitamin supplements, including B-complexes and shot-sized energy drinks, revealed quality problems with four of 18 products selected for review by ConsumerLab.com, White Plains, NY. One widely-sold B-complex supplement was found to contain only about 18% of its vitamin B12. Another had no detectable vitamin B6 and was short on both biotin and folic acid. Two energy shot liquid supplements were low on folic acid, respectively providing only 40% and 75.5% of the amounts listed on their labels. Both energy shots displayed B vitamins as their top-listed ingredients and listed caffeine as part of a proprietary “energy blend.” The amounts of vitamins B6 and B12 included in these two products were, respectively, 2000% and 8333% of the Daily Values of those nutrients. Taking three or four small bottles in a day, which one product indicated as permissible, would cause a person to exceed Upper Tolerable Intake Levels for niacin, vitamin B6 and folic acid, representing a risk of toxicity. Neither of the energy shots listed a specific amount of caffeine but noted the amount to be comparable to that in a cup of either “brewed” or “leading premium” coffee. According to the USDA, one cup (8 fluid ounces) of brewed coffee contains an average 95 mg of caffeine. ConsumerLab.com discovered the amounts of caffeine in the small (2 fl. oz.) energy shots to be higher than one might assume from their labels: 156 mg in one and 207 mg in the other.
In a separate test, ConsumerLab.com found most of the valerian herbal supplements recently selected for testing contained less of the herb than expected and/or were contaminated with lead. Among nine products selected for review, only two passed testing. Of the seven that failed, one contained no detectable key valerian compounds and four others had only 27% to 83% of amounts expected from ingredient listings. One of these products was contaminated with lead, as were two other products. These results were confirmed in independent laboratories. The amount of lead found in the products (which ranged up to 3.5 mcg of lead per daily serving) is not likely to cause toxicity alone. Lead contamination was found to be an issue in products consisting primarily of valerian root powder as opposed to valerian root extract. The extraction process removes heavy metals. ConsumerLab.com found similar problems in earlier reviews of valerian supplements in 2001, 2004 and 2006.
In a separate test, ConsumerLab.com found most of the valerian herbal supplements recently selected for testing contained less of the herb than expected and/or were contaminated with lead. Among nine products selected for review, only two passed testing. Of the seven that failed, one contained no detectable key valerian compounds and four others had only 27% to 83% of amounts expected from ingredient listings. One of these products was contaminated with lead, as were two other products. These results were confirmed in independent laboratories. The amount of lead found in the products (which ranged up to 3.5 mcg of lead per daily serving) is not likely to cause toxicity alone. Lead contamination was found to be an issue in products consisting primarily of valerian root powder as opposed to valerian root extract. The extraction process removes heavy metals. ConsumerLab.com found similar problems in earlier reviews of valerian supplements in 2001, 2004 and 2006.