Multivitamin Supplements

* Fact: Synthetics are the same as vitamins/minerals from natural sources 鈥?your body cannot distinguish between a 'synthetic' compound and a 'natural' compound of identical structure. Also their use and efficacy in the body is identical.

* Fact: Synthetic isolates are cheaper, far easier to work with and quicker to manufacture than natural ingredients - hence their widespread use.

* Fact: Less reputable companies succumb to the financial pressure to use synthetic forms in cases when the natural form has been proven to be better and should be used.

When determining the source for vitamins and minerals, a quality supplement company will conform to well accepted scientific evidence which shows that one vitamin form is preferable over another. This guarantees ingredients which are best absorbed and utilized in your body.

So in many cases it鈥檚 absolutely better to use synthetic ingredients. This is to achieve sufficient levels of purity, potency, safety, dosage and bioavailibility which cannot be achieved with materials from natural sources.

Example: Folic acid - the synthetic form is almost always used in supplements as it is preferentially absorbed and used over natural food folates in your body.

There are a few vitamins with extensive scientific research that validates the natural form as more advantageous than the synthetic form.

E.G. Vitamin E and Beta Carotene. Make sure the supplement you takes contains natural vitamin E and beta carotene.