Nutraceuticals:

Nutraceutical Quality Review Organizations

“A healthy mind in a healthy body

This summary explains key compounds and pathways driving inflammation and oxidative stress in pain conditions (e.g., osteoarthritis, neuropathy), their origins, producing cells/tissues, and how nutraceuticals such as resveratrol, curcumin, omega-3s,  vitamin D, melatonin, and others modulate them. 

 

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Nutraceuticals

 

 

 

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Definitions and Terms Related to Pain

Nutraceutical Quality Review Organizations

This summary identifies organizations that review the quality and purity of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals, assessing their reliability for ensuring product quality (e.g., absence of contaminants, accurate potency) when purchasing supplements.  This evaluation prioritizes organizations with rigorous, independent testing, focusing on certifications like USP, NSF, and ConsumerLab.com, based on industry standards, ISO accreditation, and expert consensus (e.g., Consumer Reports, Harvard Health, U.S. Pharmacist).

Consider this recommendations guide when making purchasing decisions to ensure safe, effective products for clinical use:

Organizations Reviewing Quality and Purity

  1. U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP):
    • Role: Sets public standards for supplement identity, strength, quality, and purity. The USP verification program involves rigorous testing (e.g., for contaminants, dissolution) and audits of manufacturing facilities. Products earning the USP Verified Mark must meet these standards ongoing.
    • Reliability: Highly reliable; USP is a nonprofit with over 200 years of experience in standards-setting. It’s FDA-recognized and frequently recommended by experts for its stringent, science-based testing. Best for verifying overall purity and label accuracy.
    • Use: Ideal for patients needing guaranteed quality (e.g., ashwagandha for anxiety, KSM-66 products).
    • Links:
  1. NSF International:
    • Role: Tests for purity (e.g., heavy metals, pesticides), potency, and contaminants through programs like NSF Certified for Sport and NSF Contents Certified. Includes facility audits and periodic retesting.
    • Reliability: Excellent; NSF is ISO-accredited, independent, and trusted by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and professional sports. Rigorous testing ensures contaminant-free products. Best for athletes or high-risk patients.
    • Use: Suitable for pain patients (e.g., osteoarthritis) or athletes using nutraceuticals like curcumin.
    • Links:
  1. ConsumerLab.com :
    • Role: CL independently tests supplements for purity, potency, and value, publishing reports on contaminants (e.g., lead, arsenic) and label accuracy. Rates products as “Approved” or “Not Approved” based on voluntary submissions or market samples.
    • Reliability: Very reliable; ConsumerLab is independent and subscription-based, with a track record of exposing contaminated products (e.g., 25% failure rate in some categories). Cited by Harvard Health and Consumer Reports for accessibility and rigor. Best for cost-effective comparisons but lacks facility audits.
    • Use: Useful for budget-conscious patients selecting ashwagandha or multivitamins.
    • Links:
  1. Informed Choice/BSCG (Banned Substances Control Group):
    • Role: Focuses on testing for banned substances (e.g., steroids) and purity, with programs like Informed Choice Certified (general) and BSCG Certified Drug Free (sports). Includes facility audits.
    • Reliability: Good for sports supplements; ISO-accredited, trusted by MLB/NFL, but less comprehensive for general purity (e.g., heavy metals). Best for active patients concerned about doping.
    • Use: Relevant for athletes using supplements like selenium for energy.
    • Links:
  1. Labdoor:
    • Role: Tests for purity, potency, and label accuracy, assigning letter grades (A–F) based on independent lab results.
    • Reliability: Solid; transparent methodology, but smaller scope than USP/NSF and no facility audits. Useful for quick comparisons. Good for budget-conscious buyers.
    • Use: Helpful for patients comparing cost-effective options like vitamin D supplements.
    • Links:
  1. NIST (Dietary Supplement Laboratory Quality Assurance Program):

Most Reliable Organizations for Purchasing Nutraceuticals

  • Top Recommendations: USP, NSF International, and ConsumerLab are the most reliable, consistently recommended by experts for their independent, rigorous testing [Harvard Health Publishing. (2024). Should you take a daily multivitamin? www.health.harvard.edu, U.S. Pharmacist. (2024). Evaluating Dietary Supplement Safety. www.uspharmacist.com, Consumer Reports. (2025). How to Choose Safe Dietary Supplements. www.consumerreports.org].
    • USP: Best for overall label accuracy and purity; nonprofit, FDA-recognized.
    • NSF: Excellent for contaminant-free products and sports safety; ISO-accredited.
    • ConsumerLab.com: Most accessible; affordable subscription, tests thousands of products.
  • Purchasing Guidance:
    • Prioritize USP or NSF seals for maximum purity and safety, especially for pain management (e.g., ashwagandha, curcumin) or cognitive enhancement.
    • Use ConsumerLab ratings for value comparisons, ensuring no contaminants (e.g., only 38% of ashwagandha products passed in 2025) [ConsumerLab.com. (2025). Ashwagandha Supplements Review. www.consumerlab.com].
    • Avoid relying solely on FDA, as it doesn’t routinely test products [U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2024). Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). www.fda.gov].
    • Consult doctor for personalized recommendations, especially for patients with pain, anxiety, or comorbidities.
  • Patient Application:
    • Purchas USP/NSF-verified products (e.g., Pure Encapsulations Ashwagandha, Life Extension multivitamins) for reliability.
    • Use ConsumerLab reports to guide budget-friendly purchases for patients (e.g., Physician’s Choice KSM-66) .
    • Look for USP/NSF seals on labels to ensure quality for conditions like osteoarthritis or anxiety.

References

    1. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2025). Dietary Supplement Laboratory Quality Assurance Program. www.nist.gov
    2. U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP). (2025). USP Verified Dietary Supplements. www.usp.org
    3. ConsumerLab.com. (2025). Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements Review & Top Picks. www.consumerlab.com
    4. Informed Choice. (2025). Certified Supplement Testing. www.informed-choice.org
    5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2024). Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). www.fda.gov
    6. Harvard Health Publishing. (2024). Should you take a daily multivitamin? www.health.harvard.edu
    7. NSF International. (2025). NSF Certified for Sport Program. www.nsf.org
    8. NIST. (2024). Analytical Methods for Dietary Supplements. www.nist.gov
    9. USP. (2024). USP Dietary Supplement Verification Program. www.usp.org
    10. Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG). (2025). Certified Drug Free Program. www.bscg.org
    11. ConsumerLab.com. (2025). Ashwagandha Supplements Review. www.consumerlab.com
    12. Labdoor. (2025). Top Dietary Supplements Rankings. www.labdoor.com
    13. U.S. Pharmacist. (2024). Evaluating Dietary Supplement Safety. www.uspharmacist.com
    14. Consumer Reports. (2025). How to Choose Safe Dietary Supplements. www.consumerreports.org
    15. Labdoor. (2024). Methodology for Supplement Testing. www.labdoor.com
    16. Verywell Health. (2024). The Best Multivitamins for 2025. www.verywellhealth.com
    17. NSF International. (2024). NSF Dietary Supplement Certification. www.nsf.org
    18. Harvard Health Publishing. (2025). Choosing High-Quality Supplements. www.health.harvard.edu
    19. Informed Choice. (2024). About Informed Choice Certification. www.informed-choice.org

 

 

 

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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