Nutrition and Diet:

Supplement Brand Comparisms

Patients often inquire about what supplement brands and products are recommended Accurate Clinic. In an effort to field these questions, four well known supplement brands are presented here for comparison. This is not meant to be an exhaustive review, but rather a simple resource for those looking for guidance only.

 

See: Dietary Polyphenols for Pain – Diagnosis Based


 

Also See:

 

Key to Links:

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Definitions and Terms Related to Pain

 

Supplement Brand Reviews

  1. Kirkman
  2. Vitacost
  3. Thorne
  4. Life Extension

This document compares the four brands above regarding quality, expense and availability to guide supplement recommendations for Accurate Clinic’s  patients. Data is sourced from ConsumerLab.com ratings, industry certifications, and consumer feedback, with only limited weight given to consumer feedback (i.e. Reddit reviews) due to concerns about placebo effect, bias, and unreliable measures of consumer efficacy ratings.

Summary of Supplement Brands 

More Affordable Brands:

  • Kirkman
  • Vitacost

Both Kirkman and Vitacost brands balance quality and affordability for most patients. For example, Kirkman Liposomal Curcumin is a standout for bioavailability.

Premium Brands:

  • Thorne
  • Life Extension

Despite higher costs, both Thorne and Life Extension brands offer superior quality based on extensive quality certifications (NSF/TGA certifications) and ratings by ConsumerLab.com.

Availability:

All brands offer on online access (Amazon.com, brand websites, iHerb.com) but Amazon.com is reliable for all. In-store access is limited to specialty retailers, making online purchasing (e.g., Amazon, Vitacost.com) necessary for most patients.

 

Supplement Brand Comparison Notes

1. Quality

Kirkman

  • Strengths:
    • Specializes in hypoallergenic, high-purity supplements for sensitive populations (e.g., autism spectrum disorders, allergies).
    • Offers bioavailable formulations (e.g., Kirkman Liposomal Curcumin) for enhanced absorption, ideal for polyphenols like curcumin and resveratrol.
    • Adheres to FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).
    • High consumer ratings (e.g., 4.5/5 on iHerb for liposomal products).
    • ConsumerLab.com has rated specific products (e.g., liposomal vitamin C) favorably for purity and potency.
  • Limitations:
    • Narrow focus on hypoallergenic needs; fewer third-party certifications (e.g., NSF, TGA) compared to Thorne.
    • Less extensive ConsumerLab.com testing than Thorne or Life Extension.

Vitacost

  • Strengths:
    • In-house brands (Vitacost, Synergy, ROOT2) offer bioavailable formulations (e.g., Vitacost Liposomal Curcumin) at affordable prices.
    • Rated #1 Online Supplement Merchant by ConsumerLab.com in 2017 for quality and value.
    • Adheres to cGMPs.
  • Limitations:
    • Recent customer reviews (2024–2025) report inconsistent quality (e.g., damaged packaging, mislabeling in Synergy Cognitive Support).
    • Complaints about declining standards post-Kroger acquisition (2014) on BBB and Reddit.
    • Less consistent ConsumerLab.com ratings compared to Thorne or Life Extension.

Thorne

  • Strengths:
    • Premium brand with four rounds of testing (raw material, stability, potency, purity).
    • Certified by NSF and Australia’s TGA; gluten-, dairy-, soy-free; no fillers (e.g., magnesium stearate).
    • Offers bioavailable formulations (e.g., Meriva-SF curcumin, 250 mg) for pain management.
    • Consistently ranked high by ConsumerLab.com for potency and purity.
    • Trusted by professional sports (e.g., NBA, NFL) and supported by clinical research (e.g., nootropic studies).
  • Limitations:
    • Some Reddit users report variable efficacy (e.g., no noticeable effects), though these are unreliable due to placebo effect, bias, and lack of measurable outcomes (per Dr. Ehlenberger).
    • Occasional transparency concerns (e.g., reluctance to share Certificates of Analysis), but outliers compared to widespread praise.

Life Extension

  • Strengths:
    • Offers clinically studied supplements (99% U.S.-made) with cGMP compliance.
    • NSF-certified; transparent supply chain information.
    • High ConsumerLab.com ratings for specific products (e.g., multivitamins, curcumin).
    • Strong consumer feedback for potency (e.g., Reddit notes stronger effects than Thorne for some supplements, though unreliable per Dr. Ehlenberger).
    • 12-month return policy enhances trust.
  • Limitations:
    • Marketing can exaggerate benefits.
    • Some formulations lack vitamin K or copper (e.g., Two-Per-Day multivitamin), limiting completeness compared to Thorne.

 Quality Summary:

    • Thorne and Life Extension are superior due to extensive third-party testing (NSF, TGA for Thorne; NSF for Life Extension) and consistent ConsumerLab.com ratings.
    • Kirkman is comparable for hypoallergenic, bioavailable formulations but lacks broad certifications.
    • Vitacost is reliable for affordability but has recent quality concerns, making it less consistent.

2. Expense:

  • Kirkman: Moderately priced; e.g., Kirkman Liposomal Curcumin (100 mg, 60 capsules) ~$30–$40 on iHerb/Amazon. More expensive than Vitacost, cheaper than Thorne.
  • Vitacost: Most cost-effective; e.g., Vitacost Liposomal Curcumin (60 capsules) ~$15–$20. Offers 33–75% off retail with frequent sales.
  • Thorne: Premium pricing; e.g., Meriva-SF curcumin (120 capsules, 250 mg) ~$45–$60, reduced by 25–35% with sales/subscriptions.
  • Life Extension: Mid-range; e.g., Super Bio-Curcumin (400 mg, 60 capsules) ~$28–$38, cheaper than Thorne with 10–15% discounts for bulk/subscriptions.

Conclusion:

    • Vitacost is the most affordable, followed by Kirkman, Life Extension, then Thorne. Kirkman and Vitacost suit budget-conscious patients; Thorne and Life Extension offer better quality for higher cost.

3. Availability

  • Kirkman:
    • Stores: Limited to specialty health stores/pharmacies (e.g., autism-focused retailers). Not in major chains (Walgreens, CVS, Walmart).
    • Amazon.com: Widely available (e.g., Kirkman Liposomal Curcumin) via authorized sellers (Kirkman Labs).
    • Other Online: iHerb.com, Kirkman’s website, health-focused retailers.
  • Vitacost:
    • Stores: Rarely in physical stores; some Kroger-owned stores (e.g., Fred Meyer) may carry select products.
    • Amazon.com: Widely available (e.g., Vitacost Liposomal Curcumin) via Vitacost or Amazon, with fast shipping.
    • Other Online: Vitacost.com (primary source) offers full range with discounts.
  • Thorne:
    • Stores: Limited to health food stores (e.g., Pharmaca), practitioner offices, some GNC locations. Not in major chains (Walmart, CVS).
    • Amazon.com: Available via authorized sellers (e.g., Pattern, avoid HTG Co. due to counterfeit risks). Products like Meriva-SF widely stocked.
    • Other Online: Thorne’s website, iHerb.com, PureFormulas.com with discounts.
  • Life Extension:
    • Stores: Limited to health food stores (e.g., Natural Grocers, Whole Foods). Not in major chains (Walgreens, Target).
    • Amazon.com: Widely available via Life Extension’s official Amazon store (e.g., Super Bio-Curcumin).
    • Other Online: LifeExtension.com, Vitacost.com, iHerb.com with bulk discounts.

Conclusion:

    • All brands rely on online access (Amazon.com, brand websites, iHerb.com). Amazon.com is reliable for all, with Thorne requiring caution for authorized sellers. In-store access is limited to specialty retailers, making online purchasing (e.g., Amazon, Vitacost.com) necessary for most patients.

Emphasis on Education

 

Accurate Clinic promotes patient education as the foundation of it’s medical care. In Dr. Ehlenberger’s integrative approach to patient care, including conventional and complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments, he may encourage or provide advice about the use of supplements. However, the specifics of choice of supplement, dosing and duration of treatment should be individualized through discussion with Dr. Ehlenberger. The following information and reference articles are presented to provide the reader with some of the latest research to facilitate evidence-based, informed decisions regarding the use of conventional as well as CAM treatments.

 

For medical-legal reasons, access to these links is limited to patients enrolled in an Accurate Clinic medical program.

 

Should you wish more information regarding any of the subjects listed – or not listed –  here, please contact Dr. Ehlenberger. He has literally thousands of published articles to share on hundreds of topics associated with pain management, weight loss, nutrition, addiction recovery and emergency medicine. It would take years for you to read them, as it did him.

 

For more information, please contact Accurate Clinic.

 

Supplements recommended by Dr. Ehlenberger may be purchased commercially online

Please read about our statement regarding the sale of products recommended by Dr. Ehlenberger.

 

 

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