Testing Lab for Nutritional Supplements?

[Greg Mihalik]

see next post …

[Greg Mihalik]

Back story –

When you take a statin it reduces your cholesterol production but it also reduces your ability to produce co-enzyme Q10 (and other cellular “building blocks”). Coincident with starting atorvastatin I noticed an immediate and significant loss of strength and endurance. I literally couldn’t complete an easy 2 mile walk. I couldn’t concentrate, remember anything, or plan a course of action. My cardiologist suggested CoQ10 , admitting at the time that there have been no good studies, but that it “worked for some”. For me, it was an immediate return to normality.

Of course, other factors are at play. Now it is time to sort them out.

Many supplements are bogus, providing a placebo effect at best. I would like to have an analytical test done on couple of brands of “co-enzyme Q10” to confirm composition.

Can anyone recommend a testing laboratory, or the key words for a search to find them?

Thanks

[jscott]

Try LabDoor. Someone I trust suggested these guys, but I don’t know how valid they are. they seem to be. I’ll be curious about what you think. I bought some magnesium based on their reviews.

p.s. it sounds like the brand of CoQ stuff that you’re taking was effective. I just started this (I take statins too). Would you mind mentioning the brand if you still like it?

[John S.]

https://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/

https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/02/may02/052902/02p-0244-cp00001-02-exhibit_a-vol1.pdf

[Greg Mihalik]

Jeffrey –

Jarrow’s Ubiquinol.  I can’t remember what resources I used to make that choice.

Many months ago I ran out (due to a late delivery), tried a different brand available at local shop, and immediately regressed.  It could have been coincidental, but as soon as the Jarrow got here I was back on track. (n=1)

I would like to find a less expensive alternative and have it verified by an independent (non-commercialized) lab.

[ben .]

consumer lab (https://www.consumerlab.com/) requires a subscription but appears to be quite rigorous.

(you don’t send them your pills, they test many different brands themselves.)

[Greg Mihalik]

^^^

I’ll pass.  The two links below explain why –

“Unfortunately, their claim to independence does not appear to us to be valid.”

 

“On one hand, companies are paying Consumer Lab for favorable reviews, while individuals are paying them for what they believe is objective reporting.”

 

So the search continues.  Suggestions?

[Roger Caffin]

Greg

The way the latest research is trending, you might be well advised to drop the statins entirely. Not reduced dosage: complete elimination. You may need to taper off over a couple of weeks.

Any time you take something which is going that deep into your system, your body starts to compensate. You become ‘addicted’. This is not good.

YMMV
Cheers

[Jerry Adams]

go back and forth several times, taking CoQ10 and not taking it

see if the change in side effects is consistent

your side effect experience may be coincidental

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/behindtheheadlines/news/2016-09-09-statins-are-safe-effective-and-should-be-used-more-widely/

“The authors also note that many side effects reported in placebo-controlled trials of statins may not in fact have been directly caused by the drugs.

Often, people who claimed statins were causing side effects continued to have the same side effects when given a dummy treatment.

Ironically, many of the media sources talking about side effects being “dangerously exaggerated” are the same ones exaggerating them in the first place – as we discussed in more detail in June 2016.”

 

[Greg Mihalik]

 

Hi Roger –

“The way the latest research is trending,.. ”

I am aware of the poor of correlation between cholesterol and atherosclerosis, and hence the skepticism regarding statins, given the side affects.

I am also aware of studies investigating the efficacy of statins to reduce arterial inflammation and to stabilization plaque.

Which “trend” are you referring to?

And yes, stopping altogether is always an option.

[Jerry Adams]

“there have been no good studies, but that it “worked for some”.”

and there would be no good studies that show CoQ10 that tested good at some lab would be more effective than CoQ10 that didn’t

since it produced a beneficial effect on you, just use that as your test

find a brand that seems more reputable, try it, go back and forth several times to make sure it’s not just conicidence, if it works then continue using it

[Greg Mihalik]

Jerry –

In any testing scenario you must know what the confounding factors are. I’m dealing with several. Quality assurance for supplements has been notoriously poor, and the “China Factor” doesn’t help.

I need to know.

[Jerry Adams]

buy supplements that say NSF on the label?  They seem to be more legitimate than many.  It would never make financial sense for you personally to test something, but NSF testing costs can be spread across many users.  They get most of their funding from fees to manufacturers, which could be a conflict of interest, but…

[Greg Mihalik]

^^^

I’m reaching the same conclusion – Find a reputable organization.

I think this will get me started.

But I’ll continue to look for a lab to test the final selection simply because not all products are tested.

[Jerry Adams]

Yeah, USP seems reputable also

[Roger Caffin]

Hi Greg

The ‘trend’ – we are starting to see research articles directly challenging the whole idea. Not sure exactly where, but maybe Science (AAAS).

The idea that your body starts to become dependant on these supplements or other drugs is quite well established. But it may be a while before some parties accept the idea – like the vendors, or even academics whose careers have been built on promoting such drugs.

Me, I have a slight dependency on coffee, chocolate, icecream and mountains.

Cheers

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