What to look for in a vitamins/suppliments

Question
I am a twenty-four year old male who has recently started to focus on nutrition.  
I have two questions...
What is the difference between a multi-vitamin and a dietary suppliment?

I have heard that some vitamins are not digestable in the form that they are sold and are pointless to take.  How can I find a vitamin that I know is being absorbed into my system?

Answer
There is no difference.  A multi-vitamin is a dietary supplement.  You can read the definition from the FDA below:
The DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994) established a formal definition of "dietary supplement" using several criteria. A dietary supplement:
*is a product (other than tobacco) that is intended to supplement the diet that bears or contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients: a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, a dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total daily intake, or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combinations of these ingredients.

*is intended for ingestion in pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid form.

*is not represented for use as a conventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet.

*is labeled as a "dietary supplement."

*includes products such as an approved new drug, certified antibiotic, or licensed biologic that was marketed as a dietary supplement or food before approval, certification, or license (unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services waives this provision).

Look for supplements labeled with the USP label, which tells you:
The distinctive USP-verified mark represents that USP has rigorously tested and verified the supplement, to assure the following:
*What's on the label is in fact in the bottle梐ll the listed ingredients in the declared amount.
*The supplement does not contain harmful levels of contaminants.
*The supplement will break down and release ingredients in the body
*The supplement has been made under good manufacturing practices.
USP is an independent, not-for-profit organization. No other organization in the U.S. that tests supplements is recognized in federal law as the nation's official standard-setting body for medicines and supplements. USP standards are enforceable by the FDA.
You can read more at: http://www.usp.org/aboutUSP/

Keep in mind that your body asborbs vitamins and minerals best from whole foods.  If you are eating a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes a variety from all of the food groups you will not need a whole lot of supplement to ensure you are getting what you need daily!  Food first and supplements just to "supplement".
Hope that helps,
Kim Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net  

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