Taking dietary supplements will ensure that you get all of the nutrients you need to stay healthy. But are natural supplements better than synthetic supplements?

Natural dietary supplements are made from natural ingredients that have not been chemically or falsely enhanced in any way. The natural ingredients can come from nutrient sources, plant/herbal sources, or animal sources. Natural dietary supplements contain no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, coatings or fillers.

Synthetic dietary supplements are made from artificial ingredients that have been created in a laboratory. The artificial ingredients copy natural ingredients, that is, they have a similar or identical molecular structure to natural ingredients.

There is limited scientific research on whether natural supplements are better than synthetic supplements, so doctors, nutritionists, and other health experts have varying opinions on this issue.

Some feel that synthetic products are less effective than natural products because the artificial ingredients they contain are not assimilated by the body as well as natural ingredients. Some feel that synthetic products are just as effective as natural products because the artificial ingredients they contain have similar or identical molecular structure to natural ingredients. Some feel that natural products are safer to use because your body can more easily get rid of any excess. Some feel that with synthetic products, all you get is the “chemical” that has been synthesized, but with natural products, you get additional nutrients.

Even with these differing opinions, scientific data has provided us with conclusive facts about three particular supplements – vitamin E, beta carotene, and folic acid.

Studies have shown that the natural forms of vitamin E and beta carotene are superior to the synthetic forms. Natural vitamin E is better retained and more biologically active than synthetic vitamin E. Beta-carotene is a natural form of vitamin A that is safer than synthetic vitamin A because any excess beta-carotene is easily flushed from the body so that it can’t build up to toxic levels. Not so with synthetic
vitamin A that can become toxic in high doses. With regard to folic acid, the synthetic form is absorbed better than the natural form is.

The bottom line with regard to natural versus synthetic is that until more scientific research is conducted, you have to use your own judgment when selecting all but the above three supplements. If you do decide to go the natural supplement route, be aware that just because a product is natural doesn’t mean it is high quality. The dietary supplement industry is full of companies that produce inferior products, even natural ones, so you should only purchase supplements from a reputable company that has a track record of producing safe, effective, top quality products.