Policosanol is an aliphatic alcohol (made from sugar cane wax) with HMG-CoA reductase properties purportedly similar to statin drugs. Unfortunately, properly done science on policosanol is inconclusive at the moment. As such, providing it in USANA supplements based solely on existing research would be premature.
USANA scientists will continue to monitor the science behind policosanol, and any product-related decisions will be based on the best available research.
USANA products do not currently contain pycnogenol.
The grape seed extract in Proflavanol C contains similar proanthocyandins to pycnogenol (plus other beneficial compounds pycnogenol may lack), while also being cleaner and more environmentally friendly to process and manufacture.
USANA products do not currently contain krill oil.
Although some arguments in favor of krill oil may sound persuasive, overall it doesn’t really stack up against a top-quality purified and concentrated fish oil. (For example, krill oil is much lower in DHA (9%) than USANA’s BiOmega product (23.5%), yet significantly more expensive to produce.)
For now, based on purity, potency, concentration, availability, and cost, using fish oil as the omega-3 source in BiOmega is a great choice.
Frequently Asked Question
Q. Is krill oil significantly more bioavailable than fish oil?
A. Proponents maintain that krill phospholipids are “significantly more bioavailable” than fish oil. The actual data says something else. There are differences in the absorption rates and total amounts of fat absorbed from different forms of fats, but those differences are minor. Even in the best head-to-head experiments comparing fish oil to krill oil, there have been no statistically significant differences. The main difference in absorption may be due to high levels of free fatty acids in the krill oil, not to the phospholipid content.
A study that looked at krill oil versus fish oil asserted that krill “could be more effective than fish oil” when comparing omega-3 levels in the blood. However, this is likely because the fish oil used in the study was not equivalent to the fish oil used in most supplements. The fish oil was diluted with corn oil, increasing the levels of omega-6 fatty acids in the oil, which would impact the way omega-3s are absorbed. The results likely would have been different if a properly balanced fish oil were used, such as BiOmega, which contains no omega-6s.
A. As a source of omega-3 fatty acids, krill can theoretically be beneficial for our health; however, there is not overwhelming proof that it is any better than fish oil. Quite the opposite. There is substantial evidence that fish oil is good for our health, while evidence for krill oil is scant. PubMed, the US National Library of Medicine run by the National Institutes of Health, currently (as of 6 June 2016) lists 4,468 studies related to human health and fish oil, while only 29 studies are related to human health and krill oil.
Q. Have USANA scientists looked into developing a krill oil supplement?
A. Yes. Some krill studies showed promising results, so we followed up on them. The results of one particular study
that claimed krill provided significant cholesterol benefits looked very good, but there were questionable aspects of the research. So, USANA scientists decided to run the same study (on a smaller scale) in our own in-house lab, using a commonly available krill oil supplement. Unfortunately, we were unable to duplicate the positive results of the krill study. Until USANA can prove the beneficial health effects and the published research is fair and compellingly strong on krill, we stand behind the quality and effectiveness of fish oil, which has ample proof for supporting good health.
Q. What about the astaxanthin in krill oil?
A. Astaxanthin is beneficial. It’s a red-tinted carotenoid that helps neutralize free radicals, so an omega-3 supplement with astaxanthin will provide a little extra antioxidant protection. Astaxanthin provides similar antioxidant protection as other more well known carotenoids like lycopene, beta carotene, and zeaxanthin.
BiOmega vs Krill oil
00staffstaff2015-12-11 20:23:082019-12-19 11:29:10Fish Oil vs Krill Oil
USANA® offers many products that are vegan or vegetarian friendly. You will find a list below that states which products are vegan, and if not, which animal by-products they contain.
Supplements
Active Calcium™ Chewable: honey powder, vitamin D (derived from lanolin)
BiOmega™: fish oil, capsule (gelatin), vitamin D (derived from lanolin)
BiOmega™ Jr: fish oil, egg yolk, vitamin D (derived from lanolin)
Body Rox™: vitamin D (derived from lanolin)
Booster C 600™: vegan
CellSentials™ Booster: vegan
CopaPrime+™: vegan
Core Minerals™: vegan
CoQuinone®: capsule (gelatin)
Digestive Enzyme: vegan
EstroPro™: vegan
Hepasil DTX™: vegan
MagneCal D™: vitamin D (derived from lanolin)
Metabolism +™: vegan
Palmetto Plus™: capsule (gelatin)
Probiotic: vegan
Procosa®: vegan
Proflavanol®: vegan
Proglucamune™: vegan
Pure Rest™: vegan
Usanimals™: milk calcium
Visionex®: vegan
Vita Antioxidant™: vitamin D (derived from lanolin)
Vitamin D: vitamin D (derived from lanolin)
Vitamin K2: vegan
Foods
Fibergy Active: vegan
Fibergy® Plus*: vegan
Detox Tea Mix: vegan
Digestive Health Protein Drink (Plain/Lemon Ginger): vegan
Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal™: whey protein, sodium caseinate (a milk derivative), and vitamin D (derived from lanolin)
Electrolyte Replacement Drink: vegan
French Vanilla Nutrimeal: sodium caseinate (a milk derivative) and vitamin D (derived from lanolin)
Nutrimeal Active: vitamin D (derived from lanolin), vitamin E acetate encapsulated with fish gelatin
Nutrimeal Free: vitamin D (derived from lanolin)
Peanut Butter Snack Bar: vegan
Rev3 Energy®*: vegan
Rev3 Surge Pack: vegan
WholeBio™ Bar*: vegan
*While some USANA Foods do not contain animal-derived ingredients, they may be processed on equipment that comes into contact with dairy ingredients or by-products.
Skincare
Celavive®Perfecting Toner: N-Acetyl glucosamine, and collagen
Celavive Repleneshing Night Cream: pearl powder
None of the other Celavive skincare products contain animal-derived ingredients
00staffstaff2015-12-11 20:22:252024-05-06 09:53:13Which USANA Products are Vegan or Vegetarian?
USANA products are specifically formulated for humans. Although some might be appropriate for pets or animals, USANA scientists cannot make firm recommendations because our expertise is centered in human nutrition, not animal nutrition.
Optimal nutrient amounts vary greatly from species to species. For example, the only animals that require dietary vitamin C are humans, some primates, guinea pigs, bats, a few fish and some birds. Other animals are able to produce vitamin C endogenously, limiting the amount they need to obtain from dietary sources.
Simply put, there is no one-size-fits-all nutritional supplement for pets. If you would like to give USANA products to an animal, consult with a veterinarian to determine which products might be appropriate for a particular species.
00staffstaff2015-12-11 20:21:412019-12-19 11:29:12Can supplements be given to animals or pets?
Irradiation in the post office and x-rays at the airport will not significantly affect the quality of USANA products. The following is a statement from the U.S. Postal Service:
U.S. Postal Service position on irradiating the mail
“Following the terrorist attacks on the American public and postal employees through the mail, Postmaster General John Potter ordered extraordinary measures to ensure the security and safety of the mail.
As always, protecting the health and safety of our employees and the public is our top priority. The Postal Service will continue to take the lead and full responsibility for selecting and implementing the best technology available to carry out this task.
Among the measures being implemented is a process for irradiating the mail to destroy the presence of any biohazardous material. We are currently leasing irradiation facilities in Ohio and New Jersey to decontaminate mail.
We have issued contracts for future purchases of irradiation equipment and these contracts remain in place. We have said all along that irradiation will be used on targeted mail, not all mail, and that has not changed.
Recognizing the extraordinary expense these national security measures will take, the Postmaster General has testified before the Senate that the Postal Service would need $1.1 billion through June to implement full safety and security measures, including protective equipment for employees, detection and filtering equipment to be placed at our mail processing equipment, and irradiation and mail decontamination equipment.
We continue to utilize a variety of technologies and will use all methods that prove efficacious, safe, cost-effective, and are able to be integrated into our mail processing system. We are fully committed to detecting and removing biohazards from the mail. The safety of our employees and the public is paramount and we will do whatever it takes to ensure the security of the mail.”
USANA supports the U.S. Postal Service in taking these protective measures. Irradiation and x-rays will not significantly affect the potency of USANA products.
00staffstaff2015-12-11 20:20:242019-12-19 11:29:13Will x-rays or irradiation affect nutritional supplements?
USANA does not manufacture or sell products that would alter the natural blood pH of your body. The acid-base balance of the body is kept in a tight state of equilibrium, and intentionally altering this balance could lead to serious illness or even death.
00staffstaff2015-12-11 20:20:072019-12-19 11:29:14Will supplements affect my body’s blood pH?
Determining the best supplement delivery system is difficult, because of the huge variety of options available. Common pill forms, popularized by the pharmaceutical industry, include tablets, hard capsules, and soft capsules. Other vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant supplements take the form of powders, lozenges, liquids, gels, and gummy vitamins.
Recently, even vitamin injections have become common. Technically, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) considers injections to be drugs, not supplements, but we’ve included a discussion of them below.
Deciding what is the best supplement form, comes down to the active ingredient and the audience. Children, for example, need special consideration when designing a supplement. Most young kids are much happier eating a chewable, gel, or gummy vitamin. And they might struggle swallowing tablets. However, these kid-friendly forms need special planning and have some drawbacks compared to swallowed tablets or capsules.
Tablets and Capsules
A well-made tablet or capsule provides a very effective delivery system, making it the chosen form of most pharmaceutical medications. This is because years of carefully controlled clinical studies have confirmed they’re reliable, efficient delivery systems for medications.
These products can also provide an increased amount of active ingredient (much more than a liquid, gel, or gummy). This results in fewer excipients. An excipient, is an ingredient that does not serve an active nutritional purpose. They may be included for stability, digestibility, manufacturing, or other similar purposes.
In general, the stability and shelf-life of tablets are also superior to liquids or gummy vitamins.
Tablets and capsules are best used for vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant supplements that do not need large (> 2 grams) doses. Vitamin C, B vitamins, iron, iodine, etc., all have typical daily doses small enough to easily be included. Many of these nutrients also have a bad taste that can be difficult to hide in other forms.
Tablet and Capsule Pros:
Long shelf-life
Concentrated delivery of active ingredients (fewer excipients)
Hides bad tastes
Tablet and Capsule Cons:
Difficult for some to swallow
Not appropriate for large active ingredient doses
Chewable Tablets
Like other tablets, chewables are best used for ingredients only taken in smaller (< 2 grams) doses. They also share the benefit of a long shelf-life. Chewables may be the best supplement for those who have trouble swallowing whole tablets or capsules.
Because the tablets are chewed up, bad-tasting ingredients must be masked with sweeteners and flavorings. This limitation means chewable tablets typically have some sugar in them. Some chewable multi-vitamin, multi-mineral products are also missing essential minerals—like selenium, chromium, magnesium, and zinc—because it is hard to mask their flavors.
Chewable Tablet Pros:
Easy to consume
Long shelf-life
Chewable Tablet Cons:
Not as concentrated as swallowed tablets
May be missing key ingredients
Added sweeteners (although typically very small amounts)
Gummy Vitamins
Gummy vitamins, like chewable tablets, are much better tasting for children and those who have trouble swallowing tablets. Despite their taste, gummy vitamins are not candy and should not be taken beyond the recommended dosage.
They are even more limited than chewable tablets in what types of ingredients they can contain. Gummies often have very few minerals, and most essential minerals are usually absent. For the ingredients they do contain, doses are often much smaller, as well.
The best uses for gummy vitamins are typically select ingredients that are compatible with gummy vitamins, that only need to be taken in very small doses (< 100mg).
Gummy Pros:
Easy to consume
Great tasting
Gummy Cons:
Not compatible with many ingredients
Added sweeteners
Powders
Powders have the benefits of being easy to consume and can include larger doses (> 2 grams) of some nutrients. The active ingredients found in powdered supplements will be tasted, so they must either have a pleasant or easily masked flavor. They must also contain ingredients that are soluble in the liquid or are easy to shake up.
Protein powder is one of the most popular powdered supplements, and it is an ideal candidate for this delivery form. Protein delivery requires doses too large for a tablet or capsule, it is easy to make taste good, and mixes easily with water.
Other ingredients that are commonly found in powdered mixes are branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), creatine, and caffeine. Immune-boosting formulas are also commonly found in stick packs, which can easily mix with water.
Powder Pros:
Inexpensive to transport
Can include large doses of active ingredients
Powder Cons:
Less concentrated active ingredients (more excipients)
Added sweeteners and excipients
Liquids
Liquid supplements generally have the same types of ingredients, benefits, and drawbacks as powdered supplements. The one difference is they are already mixed with a liquid.
Liquid supplements are best for ingredients often found in powders, like protein, branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), creatine, and caffeine. Micronutrients often found in liquid supplements include most vitamins and minerals, and other antioxidants.
Since they are already mixed, liquid supplements typically have a shorter shelf-life than their powdered equivalent. Liquid supplements may also require many more “other” ingredients. This includes emulsifiers, solvents, preservatives, stabilizing agents, coloring, flavoring, and more.
Liquids Pros:
More convenient than mixing powders
Can include large doses of active ingredients
Liquids Cons:
More expensive and difficult to transport
Difficult to add non-soluble ingredients
Less concentrated active ingredients (more excipients)
Added sweeteners and excipients
Often a shorter shelf-life
Vitamin Injections
Certain vitamins can be injected intravenously (IV) or by intramuscular injections. Injections are a great option for delivering select nutrients in large doses. Vitamin B12 is one nutrient that has shown therapeutic benefits in some populations.
One concern with injections is that many nutrients are not safe to inject. Of those that are safe to inject, very few of them offer extra measurable benefits to the average person over eating the nutrient. Because of this, injections should only be given under a doctor’s recommendation.
Injections also bring additional risk factors. At the very least they can be uncomfortable. IVs also pose a risk of infection, bleeding (hematoma), embolism, and more.
Vitamin Injection Pros:
Can deliver high-doses of select nutrients
Vitamin Injection Cons:
Limited nutrient compatibility
Uncomfortable
Potential health risks
So, What is the Best Supplement Form?
The large variety of supplement forms have their own benefits and downsides. Ultimately, the best supplement form will depend on you and your individual needs. It also depends on the active ingredients you need, and individual preferences for swallowing tablets, taste, and convenience. Special medical needs may also determine the form a doctor recommends.
The best advice when deciding the best supplement is to consider all the factors listed above. Do the pros outweigh the cons? Is the form being used for its real benefits, or is it just a marketing tactic to be different?
https://askthescientists.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/AdobeStock_114833896.jpeg7971200Austin WinegarAustin Winegar2015-12-11 20:19:512023-03-09 09:36:26Tablets, Capsules, Injections, and More – What is the Best Supplement Form?
Many manufacturers add synthetic masking agents to their products in an attempt to hide the natural scent and/or taste of certain raw materials. USANA does not add fillers to its products, so some supplements may possess a noticeable scent upon opening. This is not generally a cause for concern.
The USANA supplements with particularly strong scents have natural ingredients added to offset the effect. For example, BiOmega contains a small amount of lemon oil to offset the fishy aftertaste associated with high-potency fish oil supplements.
Because most USANA supplements contain naturally derived ingredients, the scent of certain products may vary slightly from batch to batch. Natural variations in scent and appearance are not generally a cause for concern.
00staffstaff2015-12-11 20:19:142019-12-19 11:29:15Why do some products (including supplements) have a distinct scent?
The raw ingredients used in USANA products come from a variety of sources. Many are derived from natural sources. These natural sources (usually plants) can vary in color from one season to the next and from batch to batch. Because of the natural variations in plants, the tablet color may also vary slightly from one batch to the next.
However, this should not be viewed as a quality concern. USANA always tests for the chemical markers (active constituents) of these compounds to ensure they are both pure and potent.
Many companies color their tablets to mask naturally occuring color variations. USANA does not add any colorants to its tableted products.
00staffstaff2015-12-11 20:17:592019-12-19 11:29:16Why are there color variations in the tablets?
Thanks for sharing! Entering your USANA ID number creates a unique URL, which allows you to receive credit on referrals.
Here’s how it works: When the link is clicked, a cookie (if allowed) is created. Shopping buttons on applicable product pages will appear to the referred user. A click on these buttons passes your referral information to USANA’s Shopping Cart, tying purchases made on cookie-containing devices to you for 30 days. In addition, if a person clicks on this unique URL and then later visits USANA.com and makes a purchase (within 30 days), you receive credit for the sale.