Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Ask Our Experts Your Vitamin & Supplement Questions!

If you have questions about vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, homeopathic remedies or anything else related to natural health, here's the place to come for answers. Our team of in-house experts are dedicated to providing the best answers possible to help you make the right decisions about dietary supplements and natural health.

Do you have a question you’d like answered? Ask Our Experts! Send it via email to drea658baic@compend.me.

(Note: as per industry regulations, we cannot and will not answer medical questions, make treatment or diagnosis recommendations or comment on disease inquiries. Such questions must be answered by your doctor or professional health care provider.)

Am I Taking More Supplements Than I Need?

Sunday, January 29, 2012 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: I take many Swanson Vitamins and I am not sure if I am taking more than I need. I am a healthy 73 year old woman who takes no medication/drugs but many vitamins. I take the recommended amounts of each of them. I take A,B,C,E,D, ZINC,CALMAG, Glucosamine, Garlic, EPA, ALFALFA,Selenium, Krill oil and wondered what your thoughts are on adding Natto K7 and Lee Swanson's 3 for 1 ProBiotic? I am not a fan of soy products but considering trying these. Am I taking more supplements then needed?...Read More »

Best Natural Help for Joints

Monday, January 16, 2012 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: Am 74+ in fair and active health, do hour long walk and Yoga in a group 3-4 times a day. In last 6 months have started having pain in the slightly inner side of shin next to knee, minor swelling too... walking down hill/steps hurts. What is the best supplement? Been taking Glucosmine, Chrod, gelatine at recommended dose.

The difficult part about suggesting a “best product” is that different people respond differently to different nutrients so while you may respond best to one, your...Read More »

Nutrition Test for Deficiencies

Sunday, January 15, 2012 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: Is there a test to determine what vitamins and/or minerals are deficient in our bodies? This would be for the purpose of only taking what's really needed.

There are laboratory tests for many different nutrients, but each of these would have to be ordered individually by your health care provider. It’s probably easier to consult with a dietitian after keeping a food intake record for several weeks to get an idea of overall nutrient intake for starters. An experienced health...Read More »

Can Magnesium Stearate Cause Health Problems?

Saturday, January 14, 2012 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

This question routinely comes up in the dietary supplement industry. According to the FDA, there is no evidence that demonstrates or suggests that magnesium stearate or stearic acid when used in dietary supplements presents a hazard. In fact, magnesium stearate is an important ingredient in the manufacture of supplements. There are few, if any, acceptable substitutes in most cases. Swanson Health Products feels confident in the quality and safety of our supplements produced with magnesium...Read More »

Should I Be Taking Calcium?

Monday, January 2, 2012 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: I do not currently take any vitamins or supplements. I'm not sure what I should be taking to suit my age and lifestyle. I am 36 years old, mother of 2 children, and teach high impact aerobics 3-4 times a week. Should I be taking calcium? Something to help protect my joints?

We get this type of question often here at Swanson Health Products, but it's one of the harder ones to answer. Why? Well, each one of us has a unique set of conditions, a unique body. What's perfect for one isn't...Read More »

Aloe Vera Powder

Thursday, December 29, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: If I buy the Organic Freeze Dried Aloe Vera Powder, do I add it to water or juice? Does it have any taste? Does it have the same benefits as Aloe Juice?

Aloe Vera Powder delivers the same nutrition as regular aloe vera juice, it just comes in a more space-saving and lighter package. Our Organic Freeze Dried Aloe Vera Powder, for example, comes in a nice 50 gram jar and provides the same servings as 33 8-oz glasses of fresh aloe vera juice. This makes it easy to take with you on the go...Read More »

Will Heat Spoil Krill Oil?

Tuesday, November 8, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: I'm wondering if heat will spoil Krill oil?. My bottle got warm by sitting on the counter with the sun shining on it, also the dishwasher was on which warmed up the counter.

This is a common question about liquid filled softgels in general (even for normal capsules and tablets). The best indication of whether or not temperature has affected the quality of the supplement is by looking to see if the softgels themselves have sort of melted together or coagulated in any way. If it's been...

Can Supplements Cause Gout?

Saturday, November 5, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: Would supplements cause you to have Gout......MSM, calcium, mushroom complex, etc????

Gout is caused by having higher-than-normal levels of uric acid in your body. This may occur if:

Your body makes too much uric acid
Your body has a hard time getting rid of uric acid
You overindulge in meat, seafood or alcohol

Supplements really shouldn't be an issue unless you take a lot of glucosamine, for example, which is made from shellfish. As always, don't ever take more than recommended on the...Read More »

What Is N-Acetyl Carnitine (NAC)?

Monday, October 31, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: You have explained the differences between Acetyl L-Carnitine and L-Carnitine and listed a few other "carnitines" but what about N-Acetyl Carnitine (NAC)? Where does that fit in and what is it used for?

N-Acetyl Carnitine is simply another name for what is usually marketed as Acetyl L-Carnitine for brain and nerve support. Bear in mind that the abbreviation NAC is also used for N-Acetyl Cysteine, which is a precursor for glutathione synthesis in the body. Sometimes the use of...

Fruitflow vs. Lycopene

Friday, October 28, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: What is the difference between your lycopene products and Fruitflow. Your advertisement says Fruitflow is Lycoperisicon esculentum. This is the scientific name for tomato. Lycopene comes from the skin and seeds of tomatoes. So what is the difference? Is there more lycopene in Fruitflow than your other lycopene products?

Lycopene is just one nutrient that can be derived from tomatoes. Fruitflowdelivers another group of nutrients that is derived from tomatoes. Yes, you’re exactly right...Read More »

How Does Cranberry Seed Oil Compare to Fish Oil and Other Vegetarian Omega-3 Options?

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Any plant-based Omega-3 EFA supplement has the Omega-3 in the form of Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) which is a precursor that the body can convert into EPA and DHA, the primary active Omega-3s. Fish Oil already has the Omega-3 in the EPA/DHA form, so you don’t need to worry about how well you are converting ALA. From what we’ve read, conversion of ALA to EPA/DHA is only about 5% to begin with, but high Linoleic Acid (from polyunsaturated cooking oils like corn, safflower, sunflower, soybean,...

Question About Xylitol and Blood Sugar

Monday, October 24, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: I would like to know if Xylitol is good for diabetics. Will it raise the blood sugar or will it not. I believe Stevia is supposed to be good for you and not raise your blood sugar but it has an after taste.

Xylitol is a very good alternative to sugar because it doesn’t have the glycemic index as sugar has. There is no negative aftertaste, but as with any powder product, some people like the taste and some don’t. As for your diabetes, we can't make any recommendation there as that would...

Isn't DHA More Important Than EPA?

Monday, October 24, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: Isn't DHA more important than EPA? Body needs both but I'm seeing that just DHA would be more beneficial. Is that right? Also this calamarine... is this better than fish oil?

DHA and EPA are both important as they are both Essential Fatty Acids. But DHA is commonly more desired because it helps support brain health and memory (which I’m sure we can all use), whereas the EPA helps promote cardiovascular health, skin health and offers other benefits that other EFAs give. Because of...

What Can Help My Excessive Sweating?

Saturday, October 22, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: I have an issue with excessive sweating, which is bad enough that it can be embarrassing. I take Black Cohosh and Soy Isoflavones for peri-menopause symptoms, but the sweating is still a problem. I shower 2x a day, use antiperspirant and deodorant so body odor isn't a problem just yet, or so I am told by those I ask constantly. Is there anything that I can take that would help ease the sweating even just a little?

Excessive Perspiration Homeopathic Formula

Have you looked into our Swanson Homeopathic Excessive Perspiration...

Amount of Vitamin Stated on Your Label Accurate?

Friday, October 21, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: I heard that some companies are not putting the full amount of vitamin that is stated on the label in the vitamin. Do your vitamins contain exactly what is posted on the label? Please honestly explain the content of your vitamins, for example, calcium?

While it is possible that some companies might try this, they are the kind of low-quality companies that can be (and have been) shut down by the FDA for mislabeling. We do quality control testing using 3rd party labs to verify that...

What is the Cholesterol Content of Salmon Oil?

Friday, October 21, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: What is the cholesterol content of salmon oil. Is there an amount that is too much? Is Lipitor contraindicated?

Good news! When it comes to cholesterol, salmon oil has next to none. All oils will have some very small amount of cholesterol in them, but a softgel will have limited space and minimal levels of cholesterol (most commonly less than 5mg, which is less than 2% of the RDA). The label will state the exact amount, so always check there.

As far as how much is too much, that would...

Can You Take L-carnitine and Acetyl L-carnitine at the Same Time?

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: Can you take L-carnitine and Acetyl L-carnitine at the same time? One I understand is supposed to help your body burn fat for energy, and the other one can help with memory.

The simple answer is yes, you can take these two forms of the amino acid L-carnitine together without risk. Various forms will do double duty for assisting in natural fat burning, cardiovascular support and brain support. However, you are right that acetyl L-carnitine is the preferred form for memory support...

Fish Oil vs. Flax or Chia (regarding ALA, EPA and DHA)

Monday, October 17, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: In reference to your October 6 post, "Do Flax and Fish Oils Provide the Same Omega-3s" I understand and accept your answer. However, I thought that generally it is thought that conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is inefficient regardless of the state of the liver. Are you saying that for a person with a healthy liver flax seed -- and other ALA sources, such as Chia -- are as good as fish oil because they are converted to EPA and DHA?

Thank you for the follow up question to a previous...

Will Nattokinase and K-2 Work Against Each Other If Taken Together?

Saturday, October 15, 2011 by Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: I am a bit confused. I've read that nattokinase can be a good supplement to take for cardio issues as it has blood thinning properties, and at the same time read that K-2 can be a good supplement to take for cardio issues, but doesn't K-2 assist in coagulation? It seems to me that if both of these supplements are taken that they will work against each other?

Nattokinase

One of the major reasons people take Vitamin K-2 for cardiovascular support is because it supports the formation of...