Vitamin Review Methodology For Vitamin Product Rankings

To be able to discern and determine the best multi-vitamin brand available in the market today, different multi-vitamin products were reviewed through the lens of the following criteria, and each criteria carries their own percentage weightage of importance:

  • 40% weightage to manufacturing Facilities — cGMP?
  • 30% weightage to bio-availability or assimilability
  • 10% weightage to product composition
  • 05% weightage to speed of results and potency
  • 05% weightage to customer testimonials
  • 05% weightage to product guarantee
  • 05% weightage to cost and pricing

There is significant importance and weightage given to the first 2 categories, which are: manufacturing facilities compliance to high standards of regulatory bodies, as secondly is how easily the nutrients are bio-available and absorbable by our bodies.

Why is the first 2 factors the most important?

Here's the matter - if a supplement is manufactured in a facility that is cGMP (meaning current Good Manufacturing Practices), it means that the facility has met and is compliant to meeting and maintaining set standards and regulations.

Fundamentally, registering and staying compliant cGMP means:

  1. The product is true to the product label, and whatever ingredients nutrients stated on the product label and its amounts - it is accurate to every number. This is not a common approach, as there is so many supplement and food fraud where product labels are not accurate and in some cases, blatant lying/misrepresentation. cGMP means that the product label is true to its word/printing.

  2. The supplement doesn't contain any presence of any harmful specified contaminants.

  3. The supplement will definitely be able to break down, released and absorbed into the body within a set amount of time - this is big, and this is where most nutritional supplements fail, because most supplements are broken down and destroyed in the stomach but not in the upper intestines, where the real absorption occurs.

I think the most vital and significant part is that being cGMP is that the health supplements and skincare products manufactured by Xtend-Life is manufactured following the very stringent United States Food & Drugs Administration standards, with strict-controlled procedures and processes.

“cGMP Compliance” and Why It is Important

Being GMP (or cGMP - which means "current" GMP) is significant because these companies consciously, actively and voluntarily decide to register and comply with the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as per the U.S. Pharmacopeial (USP) verification program. 

Most nutrition, food and supplement companies DO NOT subscribe or comply with the US FDA cGMP code for dietary supplements or supplementation - it's just too much work and effort and tedious rigor required.

However, as of 28th June 2010, any companies that wants or plans to sell products in United States, needs to be GMP registered and compliant. However, at the end of year 2011, it seems that more than 70% of such companies are still not GMP-registered or GMP-compliant (Warren Matthews, An Insider’s View of The Supplement Manufacturing Process, paragraph 13).

The USP website say:

“The USP Dietary Supplement Verification Program is a voluntary testing and auditing program that helps dietary supplement manufacturers ensure the production of quality products for consumers” (paragraph 1).

So a potency scoring system was created from those criteria, and two factors carry the most weight: how easily the product was absorbed and the manufacturing procedures and facilities.

Being GMP compliant means that any health supplement product that is created there has met rigorous standards that the US FDA approves of.

additional Factors Used to score In The Vitamin Review Analysis

There are other additional factors are are also used to judge and score, which are found at:

How To Choose The Best Multi-Vitamin For Yourself

where I cover the below factors more in-depth:

  • How the products are researched and developed
  • How the nutrients react to each other and to you
  • Specific scientific formulation
  • Vitamins, Co-factors, Standardized Herbal Extracts, Amino Acids, Active Enzymes, Essential Minerals as well as Trace Elements
  • Manufacturing Processes and Procedures
  • Facilities
  • Delivery Systems (Enteric Coating vs Glaze)
  • Vitamins & Co-Factors, Standardized Herbal Extracts, Amino Acids, Active Enzymes, & Essential Minerals and Trace Elements
  • Manufacturing Procedures
  • Facilities
  • Delivery System (Enteric Coating)
  • Presence of "Product Fillers"
  • Product Quality, Purity and Freshness
  • Pharmaceutical Quality
  • Pricing and Its Value For Money
  • Actual Customer/User Testimonials And Feedback
  • Money Back Guarantees

These additional factors also carried weightage in the reviews - a truly high quality supplement MUST include in-depth clinical research and testings, created in a cGMP-compliant facility, use the best quality ingredients, within the best delivery system, pharmaceutical quality as well as has scores of testimonials of good reports by actual customers.

how much did this vitamin review and ranking study cost?

For all these products to be tested in a GMP-compliant lab would be at least $100,000 United States Dollars PER product. For just even one of these supplements to be tested by ConsumerLab would cost at least $750,000 United States Dollars (gosh, that's a lot of money).

I hope this vitamin review methodology for vitamin product rankings is helpful and useful to help you make a health decision.

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  1. First time here or buying health supplements? It can be daunting and overwhelming - I created a start here page that may help guide you for your health needs. You can also see/read what I personally take.

  2. Read all my Xtend-Life Product Reviews here

  3. Looking for a specific ingredient or list of ingredients? Visit the the Xtend-Life certified ingredients page here

  4. Read and share testimonials and experiences you had with Xtend-Life health supplements, skin care products and customer service. Or if you have questions or comments on how Xtend-Life can help you boost your health, fitness, wellness and skin, visit: Your Questions page.

  5. Follow up on updates, news and articles on the blog or visit our videos page where I create and upload relevant videos for you.

  6. Find out about Xtend-Life Loyalty Program here, to enjoy discounts and special offers.

  7. Contact us at Xtend Health Asia
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products that i've been using since 2014

Here are the Xtend Life health supplements that I personally use since 2014 and reviewed that I know will improve your health results.

Total Balance Men's Premium (review here)

Omega 3 Fish Oil QH Ultra (review here)

Kiwi Klenz (review here)

Garcinia Cambogia + Green Coffee Bean

Lipi Rite (review here)

Natural Energy Bee Pollen (review here)

See all the Xtend Life Supplements Nigel Take

ALL XTEND-LIFE PRODUCTS

Green Lipped Mussel Powder (read review)
Joints & anti inflammation

Neuro Natural Recall (read review)
Brain & memory booster

Neuro Natural Serenity (read review)
Brain & mood booster

Neuro Natural Sleep (read review)
Improves sleep quality

Neuro Natural General (read review)
Brain & memory booster

Male Rejuvenator (read review)
Aids sex & prostate health

Female Rejuvenator (read review)
Boosts female sexual health

Natural Energy with NZ Bee Pollen (read review)
Ups energy & alertness

Kiwi-Klenz (read review)
Aids nutrient absorption & digestive health

Immu-Stay (read review)
Boosts immunity defence

Lipi-Rite (read review)
Manage high cholesterol

Not Just Joints (read review)
Joints & arthritis support

Systemic Care (read review)
Diabetes health support

Bone-Support (read review)
Aids bone strength & health

Cardio-Support (read review)
Boosts heart health

Garcinia Cambogia &  Green Coffee Bean (read review)
Weight loss supplement

Zupafood Elite (read review)
Libido, immunity & energy

Zupafood Greenz (read review)
Detox, immunity & liver

Zupafood for Skin (read review)
Glutathione, marine collagen & elastin

Prostate-Support (read review)
Prostate & sexual health, better sleep

Men's Foaming Facial Cleanser (read review)
With natural Kiwifruit & Manuka Honey

Men's Exfoliating Scrub (read review)
Removes dead skin cells & refine pores

Men's Facial Fluid (read more)
Repairs, restores & soothes

Men's Eye Serum (read review)
Energizes, hydrates & firms tired eyes

Men's Body Lotion (read review)
Moisturizes & improves skin elasticity

Men's Hydrating Mask (read review)
Invigorates & deep hydration

Men's Cleansing Mask (read review)
Purge impurities & refines skin

Women's Nourishing Hand Cream (read review)
Protects, moisturizes & soothes skin

Women's Exfoliating Scrub (read review)
Refines & renews skin

Women's Day Cream (review here)
Moisturizing & anti aging

Women's Day Cream + Natural Whitening (read review)
Whitens, reduces fine lines & reduces wrinkles

Women's Night Cream (read review)
Omega 3 & 6 anti oxidant skin renewing moisturizer

Women's Sheer Day And Night Cream (read review)
Softens, anti wrinkle & hydrates

Women's Eye Serum (read review)
Energizes, firms and hydrates tired eyes

Women's Body Lotion (read review)
Soothes, anti oxidant & hydration

Women's Hydrating Mask (read review)
Invigorates & hydrates

Women's Cleansing Mask (read review)
Renews, supports & invigorates skin

Women's Foaming Facial Cleanser (read review)
With natural Kiwifruit & Manuka Honey

Total Balance Men's Premium (read review)
Comprehensive cellular multi vitamins

Total Balance Women's Premium (read review)
Comprehensive cellular multi vitamins

Total Balance Unisex Premium (read review)
Comprehensive cellular multi vitamins

Total Balance Children's (read review)
For healthy development, immunity & learning

Multi-Xtra (read review)
48 bio available  nutrients for cellular health

Omega 3 DHA Fish Oil Premium (read review)
Helps mood, heart, cholesterol & sleep

Omega 3 DHA Fish Oil (read review)
Aids joints, heart, cholesterol & sleep

Omega 3 / QH Ultra CoQ10-Ubiquinol (read review)
Cardiovascular health, anti cholesterol & energy

Omega 3 / DHA Mini (read review)
Easier for children to swallow; aids brain, memory & learning