| Perhaps you have seen or purchased a | | | | previously-analyzed, herb extract and solvent duo. |
| supplement that promised to rise to the quality of | | | | Pharmaceutical Grade Vitamin Supplements |
| standardized herbal supplements. What did that | | | | Some supplements contain vitamins in addition to |
| mean? Why should such a supplement be rated | | | | their health-giving, herbal extracts. In that case, |
| as an above-average supplement? | | | | the user of such supplements could read that the |
| Buy Only Pharmaceutical Grade Vitamin | | | | product has pharmaceutical grade supplements. |
| Supplements | | | | What does that mean? Why should someone |
| In each of the standardized herbal supplements, | | | | consider the purchase of a product with |
| the amount of the main ingredient has been | | | | pharmaceutical grade vitamin supplements? |
| standardized with reference to an assayed | | | | When a product promises pharmaceutical grade |
| chemical. In other words, the chemistry of the | | | | vitamin supplements, then the person who buys |
| primary herbal ingredient has been compared to | | | | that product knows exactly what chemicals that |
| the chemistry of a pure chemical. That | | | | product does have, and what chemicals that |
| comparison has been completed by using various | | | | product should not have. A product with |
| assay methods. | | | | pharmaceutical grade vitamin supplements has |
| For some standardized herbal supplements, the | | | | used safe and recognized fillers in the tablets that |
| comparison between the chemistry of the herbal | | | | will carry the vitamin supplements down the |
| mixture and the chemistry of the pure reference | | | | digestive tract. |
| chemical is completed by using a | | | | For example, a product with pharmaceutical grade |
| spectrophotometer. The spectrophotometer | | | | vitamin supplements could pack those |
| measures the wave length of light in the | | | | supplements into tablets that might also contain |
| spectrum of both assayed chemicals. | | | | starch, gelatin, soybean oil, silica or magnesium |
| For a second group of standardized herbal | | | | stearate. By the same token, a product with |
| supplements, the comparison between the | | | | pharmaceutical grade vitamin supplements would |
| chemistry of the herbal mixture and the | | | | not be expected to contain wheat, gluten, corn, |
| chemistry of the pure reference chemical requires | | | | lactose, sugar, barley, egg products, flavorings, |
| use of high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). | | | | preservatives or artificial sweeteners. |
| Chromatography is a process whereby the | | | | When a customer buys a product with |
| various chemical components of a substance are | | | | pharmaceutical grade vitamin supplements, then |
| separated according to how quickly they travel in | | | | that customer should feel confident that the |
| an electrically-charged field. | | | | product is free from known and recognized |
| For yet a third group of standardized herbal | | | | allergens. In other words, one would not expect |
| supplements, the comparison of the herbal and | | | | to develop an allergic reaction after using such a |
| reference chemicals requires use of titrimetry. | | | | product. |
| That is an assay method in which the chemist | | | | So when a label includes the words |
| measures the amount of a reagent that combines | | | | "pharmaceutical grade," then it is referring to the |
| with a known analyte. That measurement could | | | | purity of a product, i.e. the degree to which that |
| take place in one of three fashions. | | | | product is free of contaminating substances. |
| For most standardized herbal supplements, the | | | | When a label talks about a product's standardized |
| type of titrimenty most often used for assay | | | | herbal supplements, then it refers to something |
| purposes is gravimetry. In gravimetry the reagent | | | | other than purity. That label attests to an |
| of interest in an assay is measured according to | | | | exacting measurement of the chemical |
| its weight. A standardized herbal supplement | | | | composition of the product's primary ingredient. |
| would therefore have the same weight as a | | | | |