Vitamins and Supplements FAQs

Question: Can you please explain why I can't sleep if I take any magnesium product at any time of the day? I am beginning to believe that taking several supplements with magnesium stearate in them also causes me to not sleep.

We'll be honest, this is a very unusual response. But, if the Magnesium is giving you energy, it might be that you're just so low on Magnesium that your body is using it for energy processes (eg. the production of ATP), but the Magnesium levels can be checked by a simple...

Question: Just reading your article about acetyl L-carnitine and L-carnitine. I am now taking acetyl L-carnitine. If I want to take a supplement to aid in weight loss should I switch to L-carnitine or does taking acetyl L- carnitine also aid in weight loss?
 

Yes, you can certainly take Acetyl L-Carnitine and L-Carnitine during the same day, but they should be taken at different times, since the L-Carnitine should be taken on an empty stomach. The Acetyl L-Carnitine helps for converting fat into...

Question: I recently changed from Huperzine "A" to Maximum Strength Huperzine "A". I had just began taking 4 of the 50 mcg per day. By switching to just one of the Maximum Strength 200 mcg, I believed that I had reduced my monthly cost for this herbal supplement. But... when I saw that the 50 mcg and 200 mcg capsule are exactly the same size, it forced me to question that theory. I opened the two different capsules and compared the contents of four 50 mcg capsules against one 200 mcg in a...

Question: What is your take on NAC? A relative was put on this by her pulmonologist, and the improvement in her health was incredible. 
 

NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) is a great antioxidant that helps for liver support among other benefits. The unfortunate thing is that the FDA does have specific restrictions on what we can or can’t say so we may not be able to say as much as your relative’s Pulmonologist, but it is very good none the less. We would encourage you to follow up with your own doctor or...

Question: Hello, I was wondering if any of your vitamins or herbs are manufactured in China? If they are do you have a list so when I order from you I won't get any of these Chinese products?

Thank you for your question. We do get products from all over the world, including China.  Regardless of the country of origin, we do stipulate that all manufacturers must be compliant with GMP standards and practices.  We require a Certificate of Analysis from our manufacturers with each lot of product...

Question: Is the Vitamin K2 sold by Swanson manufactured in the United States?

We don’t limit most of our manufacturers to only one country of origin, but we do limit them to a quality standard. Specifically, we require that all of our manufacturers be specifically GMP compliant and the GMP has higher quality requirements than any country in the world.

With that being said, we learned once again last year how important it can be to not limit ourselves to only one area after Japan was hit by the...

Question: Now a days sometime I have joint discomfort after sitting for long time, such as dinner.  What kind of supplement do you recommend?

 

We would look at the most popular joint support supplements out there that feature time-tested ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and Hyal-Joint. A combination formula with any of these key ingredients can help protect and nourishe cartilage and connective tissues as well as support synovial fluid in the joint, which is important for...

Question: Why do so many of Swanson's supplements contain rice flour as fillers? Many people are sensitive to refined carbohydrates, and if we take many supplements containing rice flour, it adds up in a negative way. We would much prefer smaller capsules with less or no fillers rather than consuming substances we avoid in our diet.

There are several reasons that Rice Flour is used. Rice Flour isn’t just used to fill up the pill, but it provides very specific purposes including the fact that it...

Question: The Research Update article today mentioned the benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin for macular protection.  How much would be suggested for a 60 yo female, if I may ask?
 

Unfortunately, the most we can advise for dosage is what the labels recommend due to FDA regulations. Lutein is commonly taken up to 20-40 mg daily and Zeaxanthin is commonly taken up to 4 mg daily.

 

This question was answered by a trained product specialist at Swanson Health Products. Do you have a question you’d like...

Question: Is there a source of Zeaxanthin that has a negative effect on the thyroid?

We’ve never heard of Zeaxanthin being harmful to the Thyroid as it is a simple carotenoid that is commonly derived from Marigold or Paprika.

This question was answered by a trained product specialist at Swanson Health Products. Do you have a question you’d like answered? Send it via email to drea658baic@compend.me.

(Note: as per industry regulations, we cannot and will not answer medical questions, make treatment...