The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    Everybody wants to certify dietary supplements

    Will different certification programs and seals of approval help consumers select the highest quality supplements or just add to the confusion?

    We probably won’t know for a while. In the mean time, here are three players in the field.

    ConsumerLab.com

    • Buys competing items in stores
    • Analyzes products to determine if they contain what the label declares, whether there are contaminants, and how they degrade or dissolve
    • Offers a seal to companies willing to enter a licensing agreement
    • Consumers get limited info for free, and pay a membership fee for greater access
    • For profit

    NSF and NNFA

    • NSF International (originally the National Sanitary Foundation) combined with the National Natural Foods Association (NNFA)
    • Evaluates a company’s good manufacturing procedures
    • Analyzes products to determine if they contain what the label declares, and whether there are contaminants
    • NNFA represents retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids
    • Non-profit

    USP

    • The USP (United States Pharmacopeia) dietary supplements certification program
    • Evaluates a company’s good manufacturing procedures
    • Conducts company record audits
    • Analyzes products to determine if they contain what the label declares, and whether there are contaminants
    • Products that pass the test get the USP certification seal
    • Subsequent testing assures that products remain in conformity
    • Non-profit

    Another group called SIDI (Standardized Information on Dietary Ingredients) is profiled here.

    11/21/06 22:25 JR

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