| |
Product Review: Alpha-Lipoic Acid Supplements |
|
|
 |
HOW PRODUCTS WERE EVALUATED:
How Products were Selected:
Products selected represent those commonly sold and/or available nationally in the U.S. ConsumerLab.com purchased products on the open market through retail stores, on-line retailers, and direct sales or multi-level marketing companies. Products were not accepted directly from manufacturers.
Testing Method:
Products containing alpha lipoic acid were first analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Products that did not pass this initial test were similarly re-analyzed in a second independent laboratory.
Analyses for lead were made using Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectroscopy (ICP/MS).
Disintegration of non-chewable, non-capsule, non-enteric coated and non-time-release formulations were analyzed utilizing USP (United States Pharmacopeia) <2040> recommendations entitled "Disintegration and Dissolution of Nutritional Supplements."
Any product that did not pass the testing was sent to another independent laboratory to repeat testing for at least one of the criteria on which it did not pass. The identities of the products were not disclosed to the laboratories performing the testing.
ConsumerLab.com may modify or use other appropriate test methods if necessary to test special product formulations.
Passing Score: *
To pass testing, a product must meet the following criteria:
- Contain at least 100%, and not more than 150%, of claimed amount of alpha lipoic acid.
- Meet recommended USP parameters for disintegration for vitamin supplements (excluding capsule, enteric coated, chewable and time-release products).
- Meet all FDA labeling requirements.
- Not exceed California's Prop 65 levels for lead contamination in a recommended daily serving and, in no event, exceed 2 mcg of lead in a recommended daily serving.
A product passed if it passed each applicable criterion in any one of the analyses.
* Passing scores allow for specific margins of technical error associated with each analysis. ConsumerLab.com reserves the right to disqualify a product at any time from passing if it considers such product to present a safety risk or to provide misleading or inaccurate label information.
Back to review
|
|
|
|
|
