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Product Review: Vitamin A Supplements, Including Beta-Carotene and Cod Liver Oil |
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HOW PRODUCTS WERE EVALUATED:
How Products were Selected:
Products selected represent those commonly sold and/or available nationally in the U.S. ConsumerLab.com purchased products on the open market through retail stores, on-line retailers, catalogues, or multi-level marketing companies. Products were not accepted directly from manufacturers.
Testing Method:
Vitamin A products were tested for the identity of specified vitamin A component, total vitamin A and possible contamination with lead. All products were analyzed using a HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) assay in an independent laboratory. Products not passing this initial assay were tested in a second independent laboratory utilizing a similar HPLC assay.
Analyses for lead were performed using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy).
Products containing Cod Liver Oil were also tested for possible contamination for PCBs using High Resolution Gas Chromatography coupled with High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (EPA Method 1668A) and mercury using a Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption method.
Disintegration of non-chewable and non-time release formulations was analyzed utilizing USP (United States Pharmacopeia) <2040> recommendations. All testing was conducted in independent laboratories to which the identities of the products were not disclosed.
Passing Score: *
To pass testing, a product must meet the following criteria:
- Contain at least 100% and no more than 150% of its claimed amount of vitamin A. The product had to meet its claimed amount for total vitamin A (beta-carotene and retinol combined) as well as meet any claimed ratio of beta-carotene to total vitamin A.
- Meet recommended USP parameters for disintegration for vitamin supplements (excluding capsule, enteric coated, chewable and time-release products).
- Meet recommended USP parameters for disintegration for vitamin supplements (excluding chewable and time-release products).
- Meet the State of California Proposition 65 limits for lead contamination in the recommended daily serving of a supplement.
- Contain less than 0.1 ppm of mercury (GOED Monograph Recommendation) (Fish Liver Products Only)
- Contain less than 0.09 mg/kg (ppm) of Total PCBs (sum of four non-ortho PCBs and eight mono-ortho PCBs). (GOED Monograph Recommendation) (Fish Liver Products Only)
- Meet all FDA labeling requirements.
For a product to fail, confirmation of a failing result was required on at least one of the criteria through repeat testing in a second independent laboratory.
* Passing scores allow for specific margins of technical error associated with each analysis. ConsumerLab.com reserves the right to disqualify a product at any time from passing its testing if it considers such product to present a safety risk or to provide misleading or inaccurate information in its labeling.
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