|  | Diet Nutrition | Vitamins

How to Compare Vitamin Quality Research Studies

Vitamins, or dietary supplements, make claims to their usefulness and effectiveness by referring to research studies. How can you tell the good studies from those that are not so good?

  1. Quality Research

    • Good quality research studies include at least one clinical trial. A clinical trial tests the effects on a group taking the vitamin against a control group. Better trials are longer, contain more test subjects, and include the results of blood tests. Laboratory experiments on the stability and uniformity of the product should also be included.

    Advertisements

    • According to the Federal Trade Commission, research studies that are referred to in advertisements must be substantiated. If a vitamin seller claims that the vitamin has a particular effect based on "research studies," the seller must make the evidence available to the public.

    Publications

    • Quality research studies are published in peer-reviewed medical journals and can be found in the International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements (IBIDS) Database.

    Warning Signs

    • The Food and Drug Administration advises the public not to trust vitamin research study information that is sent by email, especially if the email makes bold claims, is in all capital letters, or requests that you forward the contents. In addition, you should be wary of research study data online that is vague or accompanied by advertisements.

Vitamins - Related Articles