Amazon + Supplements = Absolutely Not.

Am I starting to sound like a broken record? Be honest, I can take it.

If you've seen me for more than 2 visits, you've heard my rant about Amazon (period.) and Amazon supplements. There are a number of written pieces like this one, and this one, and this one talking about Amazon and supplements. There can be safe ways to buy on Amazon but I always order from Fullscript or go directly to the product's site.

I get it. Amazon is undeniably convenient - and we all need more convenience these days - but when it comes to supplements, convenience can come at a serious cost.

Here’s why:

1. Lack of Regulation: Unlike pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements in the U.S. are minimally regulated under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. This means companies are not required to prove safety or efficacy before selling.

   
   

2. Counterfeit & Fake Products: Independent lab testing found that 50% of Amazon’s top-selling supplements failed to meet their label claims, with many containing only 0–3% of the advertised active ingredient.

   
   

3. Third-Party Sellers: Many supplements on Amazon are sold by third-party vendors. These sellers may store products improperly, repackage them, or even sell knock-offs that look legitimate but are ineffective—or harmful.

   
   

4. Inconsistent Quality Standards: While Amazon has introduced some voluntary testing requirements, enforcement is inconsistent and doesn’t match the rigor of physician-grade supplement distributors.

In recent years, Amazon has initiated a more stringent process for the supplement line. They're following NSF and CGMP standards more closely but also rely on the supplement companies to run their own third party testing. As of April 2024, Certificates of Analysis (COAs) must now be submitted to Amazon through a third-party Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) company that Amazon has approved. Unfortunately, the minimal regulations of DSHEA mentioned above still leaves room for low quality and counterfeit supplements to make their way to Amazon's supplement market. Low quality doesn't just mean "inert" or no medical benefit. It could mean there are heavy metals and contaminants in your supplement that are worsening your health.

Doesn't the DSHEA standards mean all supplements aren't safe? No. Physician grade supplements through companies like Designs for Health, Xymogen, Boiron, Vital Nutrients, OrthoMolecular Products, QuickSilver, or Standard Process all have rigorous third party testing to ensure their product is safe, effective, and reliable. I have no affiliation with these companies but want to give you names of the best (psst - there's more below).

So, what do you do?

Stay organized, plan ahead, and use a different supplement dispensary.

Yes, a different supplement dispensary means you have to pay for shipping.

Yes, a different supplement dispensary means the supplements will arrive in 3 to 5 business days.

Yes, a different supplement dispensary means you'll need to plan a week ahead.

Yes, sometimes you'll forget all of this and you'll go a week or four without supplements. It's okay, just get back on track when you can.

If you're going to spend money on supplements, spend a few extra bucks so you know you're getting a quality supplements that'll benefit your health - not harm your health.

You've got this.

Brands I Love and Trust

Physician Grade	Over The Counter
Designs for Health	Jarrow Formulas
Xymogen	Boiron / Hyland's / Ollois
Vital Nutrients	MegaFood
OrthoMolecular Products	Solgar
QuickSilver	Herb Pharm
Standard Process	Gaia Herbs
Biocidin Botanicals	New Chapter
MicrobiomeLabs	Host Defense
Ayush Herbs	Thorne
Restorative Formulas	Needed
Allergy Research Group	Solaray
Integrative Therapeutics	Source Naturals
Klaire Labs / SFI Health	Nordic Naturals
Metagenics	Carlson's