Choosing supplements for your patients can be confusing - the industry is awash with options that all claim to be the best. So how do you know which ones to choose?
dr Leilani Alvarez is Director of the Division of Integrative and Rehabilitative Medicine at NYC's Animal Medical Center . The center is the largest non-profit animal hospital in the world, and Dr. Alvarez provides state-of-the-art therapies to support the functional mobility of dogs, cats and other pets, improving their quality of life.
dr Alvarez uses a variety of modalities, tools, and techniques in her practice. She regularly turns to Antinol as her favorite joint supplement to support her patients' long-term mobility and joint health.
Today she gives us an overview of the 4 steps you should take when choosing a joint supplement.
4 steps to choosing a joint supplement
Third Party Laboratory Verification.
Check the brand uses external laboratories to ensure that their claims and study results are accurate. You cannot rely on the company that manufactures the dietary supplement to provide you with authenticated lab results if they generate those results themselves.
Is it safe?
Before using any dietary supplement, Dr. Alzarez it the same rigor as pharmaceutical drugs. Numerous studies have shown that what is on the label is often not what is actually in the product, as regulations allow for some variance. Make sure your supplement states exactly what it contains and is regularly tested to ensure its safety.
pharmacokinetics
It examines how the dietary supplement works in the body and what dose is appropriate to achieve an effect. For example, turmeric (or curcumin) has a very low bioavailability, which means that even if your customers spend a lot of money on the supplement, very little of it will actually get absorbed into their pet's body. Check the bioavailability of your supplement - the higher the better.
efficacy studies
This is the most important criterion of Dr. Alvarez for choosing a good nutritional supplement for your pet. High quality efficacy studies. Does it actually work?
Has the type of supplement you plan to use it for be tested for the condition you plan to use it for? And is it tested on living patients who have a naturally occurring disease? Without valid efficacy tests, it is not possible to say whether it actually works. Many brands don't have published or peer-reviewed studies, or they have the data on file. If the information is not freely available, Dr. Alvarez question their validity.
When choosing a dietary supplement for your patient, be sure to ask the questions you need to validate each of these four steps. Manufacturers should be open and honest and happy to provide you with information and answer your questions.
If you cannot answer each of these 4 points satisfactorily, Dr. Alvarez that you need to keep looking for a more suitable match.
Would you like to learn more about Antinol and our efficacy studies? Visit www.antinolstudies.com to read our research.
