Reviews and Information for Trace Minerals
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CL Answer
What are trace minerals and do I need them?
Trace minerals include boron, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, zinc, and others. Find out what they do, how much of each trace mineral you should be getting, and who's most likely to be deficient in these minerals.
Product Review
Digestive Enzyme Supplements Review
Big Differences in Strength Found Among Digestive Enzyme Supplements. CL Tests Reveal Which Are Best.
Product Review
Magnesium Supplements Review (Including Calcium, Vitamins D & K, and Boron)
Find Out What Magnesium Does, Who Needs It, and Our Top Picks Among Supplements
CL Answer
Are plant-based calcium supplements, like AlgaeCal, better than regular calcium supplements?
Info about AlgaeCal, a plant-based calcium supplement. See the clinical evidence and safety information, including possible presence of excessive lead.
Product Review
Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements Review
Best Multivitamins In 2023 -- Caution with Gummies
Product Review
Coconut Waters Review
Best Coconut Water? See Our Tests and Comparisons of Popular Brands Looking at Sugar, Electrolytes, Taste and Price.
Product Review
L-Arginine Supplements Review
Choose the Best L-Arginine Supplement. Find Out Which L-Arginine Supplement Passed CL's Tests.
Product Review
Zinc Supplements and Lozenges Review
Find the Best Zinc Supplements and Lozenges. Have a Cold? See CL's Top Picks Among Zinc Supplements and Lozenges.
Product Review
Iron Supplements Review (Iron Pills, Liquids and Chews)
See Which Iron Supplements Are CL's Top Picks for Different Needs
Clinical Update
1/20/2023
Too Much Copper?
Experts in Europe recently cut in half the daily upper limit on how much copper people can safely consume. Find out how this compares to the limit in the U.S. and to amounts in multivitamins in the Copper section of our Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements Review.
Also see: What are trace minerals and do I need them?
CL Answer
I'm interested in using Himalayan salt. What are the health benefits with it and other specialty salts? Are there contaminants in these salts?
Himalayan salt health benefits, along with other gourmet salts like Hawaiian and Mediterranean. Info including what's in them and their safety.
Product Review
Probiotic Supplements Review (Including Pet Probiotics)
Probiotics: See What They Really Contain and Our Top Picks
CL Answer
How much calcium do you need each day, what forms are best, and how much is too much?
Learn about the recommended daily intake of calcium from food & supplements and why taking too much can be harmful. Also, learn about the forms of calcium that are available and which are best.
Product Review
NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) Supplements Review
Choose the Best N-Acetyl Cysteine Supplement. See Our Tests of Popular NAC Supplements and Top Picks for Quality and Value.
CL Answer
What are "broad-spectrum micronutrient" supplements, and do they have greater health benefits than multivitamin/multimineral supplements?
Learn about "broad-spectrum micronutrients" and how they compare to multivitamin/multimineral supplements.
Product Review
Calcium and Bone Health Supplements Review (Including Vitamins D & K, Magnesium and Boron)
See Which Bone Health Supplements Are Top Picks and Which Fail
CL Answer
Which "whole food" multivitamins don't include synthetic vitamins? How about Complete Foods, Sunwarrior, Garden of Life, Nature's Brands, and Doctors' Research?
Find out which "whole food" multivitamins are only from foods and which include synthetic vitamins, including Complete Foods Nutrition-OctoMega MultiVitamin; Sunwarrior; Garden of Life-MyKind Organics; Nature's Brands-PhytoVitamins; Doctors' Research MultiVitamin.
CL Answer
Does Restore (Biomic Sciences LLC) really improve gut health? What is in Restore?
Learn more about Restore, including clinical studies on gut health, dosage, cost, and safety.
CL Answer
Are lithium orotate supplements as effective and safe as prescription lithium for bipolar disease and depression?
Lithium orotate supplement info, including proper dosage, safety, and how lithium orotate supplements compare to prescription lithium for bipolar disease and depression.
Recalls & Warnings
July 18, 2018
Maker of Vitamin B12 and Multimineral Supplements Warned by FDA
On July 6, 2018, the FDA issued a warning letter to Aegle Nutrition, LLC, following a facility inspection which found some of the company's products, including Tropical Oasis Ionized Trace Minerals, Tropical Oasis Ultra Methyl B12, and Tropical Oasis Premium Vitamin B12 to be ...
CL Answer
Is it true that there are bits of plastic in drinking water, specialty salts, or other foods and beverages? How concerned should I be?
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that can end up foods and beverages. Learn about microplastics found in drinking water and specialty salts. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.
News Release
February 25, 2024
Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2024 Based on Consumer Satisfaction
White Plains, New York, February 25, 2024 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on over 10,000 responses collected in November/December 2023.
News Release
February 25, 2023
Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2023 Based on Consumer Satisfaction
White Plains, New York, February 25, 2023 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on 8,600 responses collected in November/December 2022.
News Release
March 11, 2022
Best Magnesium Supplements Identified by ConsumerLab
White Plains, New York, May 12, 2022 — Nearly half the U.S. population does not get adequate amounts of magnesium and can benefit from increasing magnesium intake from foods or supplementation.
News Release
February 25, 2022
Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2022 Based on Consumer Satisfaction
White Plains, New York, February 25, 2022 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on 8,049 responses collected in November/December 2021.
News Release
February 25, 2021
Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2021 Based on Consumer Satisfaction -- Results of the ConsumerLab.com Survey of Vitamin & Supplement Users
White Plains, New York, February 25, 2021 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on 9,647 responses collected in November 2020.
News Release
February 25, 2020
Top-rated Vitamin and Supplement Brands and Merchants for 2020 Based on Consumer Satisfaction -- Results of the ConsumerLab.com Survey of Vitamin & Supplement Users
White Plains, New York, February 25, 2020 — Each year, ConsumerLab.com surveys its free e-newsletter subscribers about the vitamins and supplements that they use. The results below are based on 9,782 responses collected in late November and early December 2019.
News Release
June 21, 2017
Which Magnesium Is Best? ConsumerLab.com Tests Popular Brands and Reveals Its Top Pick
White Plains, New York, June 21, 2017 — Magnesium supplements are among the most popular supplements, but do you need to take one and, if so, which is best? To find out, ConsumerLab.com reviewed the clinical evidence, and purchased and tested popular magnesium supplements sold in the U.S.
News Release
June 10, 2015
ConsumerLab.com Tests Reveal Best and Worst Magnesium Supplements
White Plains, New York, June 10, 2015 — Magnesium supplements have become extremely popular, surpassing even calcium among frequent users of supplements. However, recent tests by ConsumerLab.
News Release
December 10, 2014
ConsumerLab.com Identifies Best Zinc Products for Colds, Eyes, and Zinc Deficiency -- Popular Zinc Supplements and Lozenges Tested and Compared
White Plains, New York, December 10, 2014 — "Zinc supplements have been shown to shorten colds and reduce the progression of advanced macular degeneration, but not all products provide the dosage proven effective, as well as pass criteria for supplement quality," says Tod Cooperman, M.D.
News Release
May 08, 2012
Lead Contamination and Mislabeling in Joint Health Supplements with Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM According to ConsumerLab.com
White Plains, New York, May 8, 2012 — Glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM are popular dietary supplements for treating symptoms of osteoarthritis — worn joint cartilage.
News Release
December 20, 2011
Choose zinc supplements carefully -- ConsumerLab.com finds only some have dosage proven to shorten colds, reduce eye disease
White Plains, New York — December 20, 2011 — Can zinc supplements shorten colds and reduce the progression of advanced macular degeneration? "Yes, but not all supplements provide a dosage that has been proven effective." says Tod Cooperman, M.D., President of ConsumerLab.com.
News Release
January 13, 2009
ConsumerLab.com reports largest test of CoQ10 and ubiquinol supplements -- Most supplements provide claimed ingredient, but large variation in dosage and forms may confuse consumers. ConsumerLab.com provides guidance.
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK — JANUARY 13, 2009 — A report by ConsumerLab.com on supplements containing the anti-oxidant CoQ10 shows the difficulty for consumers in determining an appropriate dosage.
News Release
October 20, 2006
ConsumerLab.com report on CoQ10 supplements finds quality high but large range in suggested dosage
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK — OCTOBER 20, 2006 — New test results from ConsumerLab.com for CoQ10 supplements show that all of the products selected contained amounts of ingredient consistent with their labels.
Recalls & Warnings
October 08, 2016
Seller of Cell Power and Super Silica Warned for Manufacturing Violations, Misbranding
On September 23, 2016, the FDA issued a warning letter to SSO, Inc.
Recalls & Warnings
June 24, 2014
CELLFOOD Recalled in Canada
On June 23, 2014, Health Canada recalled CELLFOOD (Nu Science), a supplement promoted for improved energy, endurance and natural health, because it was found to be an unauthorized health product.
Recalls & Warnings
December 02, 2014
Seller of Energy & Joint Supplements, Aloe, Silver and More Warned for Drug Claims
On November 24, 2014, the FDA issued a warning letter to Jansen Enterprises, LLC, dba HealthWorksUSA, following an inspection of the company's website which found statements made about Nutra Blast Natural Energy, Ionic Silver Water, Nutra Complete, and Nutra Gel to be drug claims.
Recalls & Warnings
March 12, 2016
FDA Finds Problems at 58% of Supplement Manufacturing Sites in U.S. and Abroad
ConsumerLab.com has obtained results of the FDA's inspections in Fiscal Year 2015 (ending September 30) of 483 dietary supplement manufacturing facilities, showing that most -- 58.2% -- received letters indicating noncompliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).
