Medical Grade Supplements

The dietary supplement industry is a growing sector within the wellness field. According to the 2021, 80% of U.S. adults take dietary supplements to help improve energy, support the immune system, fill nutrient gaps, encourage healthy aging, and support heart health. The most commonly purchased dietary supplements include multivitamins, vitamin D, and vitamin C.

Dietary supplements cannot be marketed for the treatment and prevention of disease, but they are often taken to support overall health and function. The safety of dietary supplements is a valid concern, with one study estimating an average of 23,000 emergency department visits resulting annually from supplement usage. Dietary supplements can be safe and effective tools to help achieve health goals, but they must be thoughtfully purchased and appropriately administered. Functional medicine doctors are knowledgeable about the safety and usage of medical-grade dietary supplements.

What is the Difference Between Medical-Grade Supplements and Over-the-Counter Supplements?

Although the FDA regulates dietary supplements, the FDA is not authorized to review and approve them for safety and effectiveness before they are available to the market. This means that not all supplements are created equal and that many over-the-counter supplements may not contain what they claim on the label. Medical-grade supplements are high-quality supplements distinguished by the strict safety standards their manufacturers have in place, including adherence to cGMPs, third-party certification, routine supplement testing, and transparency of company audits. cGMPs are FDA guidelines developed to establish consistent, safe, and quality supplement manufacturing. To adhere to cGMPs, manufacturers must meet standards regarding the location, people, processes, and products involved in the manufacturing process of dietary supplements. Medical-grade supplement manufacturers follow cGMPs, ensuring supplements do not contain unsafe ingredients, are produced without contamination, are packaged safely, and are labeled accurately.

Medical-grade supplement companies routinely test and audit their products and production lineup to confirm the supplements contain nothing more or less than what is printed on the nutritional label and that company practices remain in accordance with federal regulations.
Third-party certification companies are independent programs that inspect and test manufacturing sites, materials, and goods to provide unbiased verification of dietary supplements' quality and label claims. A third-party certification seal on a product indicates that it has passed that company's standards; it is another checkpoint that helps guarantee the exclusion of unsafe ingredients in supplemental formulas and accurate supplement labeling.

Dr. Samadi’s Health & Wellness Institute has partnered with the following highly reputable medical grade supplement manufacturers: Ortho Molecular and Douglas Lab / PUREMedical Grade Supplements. All the prescribed and dispensed supplements are developed and marketed by either of these companies.