ConsumerLab.com Reports Problems with Some Vitamin D and Calcium Supplements -- Wrong Amounts of Vitamin D, Pills Which Don’t Break Apart, and Lead Contamination Found

White Plains, New York, February 11, 2012 — Vitamin D and calcium are among the most popular supplement ingredients in the U.S., but recent tests by ConsumerLab.com show problems with 4 out of 25 products which contain these ingredients. Pills of two popular brands of supplements failed to properly break apart, suggesting their ingredients may not be fully available for use by the body. One of these products also contained too much vitamin D (172.5% of the listed amount) as did a widely-sold, candy-like supplement which contained 182.2% its listed amount of vitamin D. Lead contamination was found in a fourth product. Findings were published on February 9 on www.ConsumerLab.com.

In a survey of over 10,000 supplement users by ConsumerLab.com this past November, 55.5% percent of respondents reported using a vitamin D supplement daily, making vitamin D the 3^rd most popular supplement after fish oils/omega-3 supplements and multivitamins. Calcium was the 5^th most popular supplement, coming after CoQ10, and was used by 48.4% of respondents.

"Vitamin D and calcium supplements can be helpful, but not when you're getting much more or much less than what you need and expect," said Tod Cooperman, M.D., President of ConsumerLab.com. "After making sure that you require a supplement, focus on products which have been tested for quality by a reputable third-party."

Results of the recent tests appear online in the Vitamin D Supplements Review and the Calcium Supplements Review. Several of the products also appear within the Vitamin K Supplements Review and the Magnesium Supplements Review, as they include overlapping ingredients. These reports provide results and ratings for each product selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com and for products certified through ConsumerLab.com's Voluntary Certification Program. Reports include ingredient and cost comparisons, information regarding benefits, risks, and dosage, and important tips for consumers on how to use these supplements.

ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Reviews of other popular types of supplements are available from www.consumerlab.com. Subscription to ConsumerLab.com is available online. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.