Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements (Paperback)

by Lyle MacWilliam (Author) "Why do we age?..." (more)
Key Phrases: cited nutritional authorities, product score criteria, antioxidant triad, Blended Standard, New York, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
". . . addresses the very real dangers of ignoring the key nutritional choices we face every day — a great educational resource!" -- Dr. Christine Wood, MD, author of How to Get Kids to Eat Great and Love It!

"Lyle MacWilliam has scored another home run with the latest edition of his Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements." -- Dr. Denis Waitley, PhD, Bestselling author of The Psychology of Winning

Product Description
This guide seeks to educate consumers about the science and value of nutritional supplementation, and to provide them with a simple, reliable tool with which to compare nutritional products. Section I: Aging, Oxidative Stress and Degenerative Disease

Section I of this guide discusses the theories of aging and the intricate links between aging, oxidative stress and degenerative disease. The remarkable protective powers of the endogenous and dietary antioxidants and their role in mitigating the aging process are examined. Five degenerative disease processes are highlighted, including recent scientific evidence supporting the use of nutritional supplementation as a preventive measure.

Section II: Criteria for Advanced Supplementation

Section II reviews the substantial scientific evidence employed in developing the fourteen analytical criteria imbedded in the product-rating methodology used in this comparative guide.

Creation of the Final Product Score, based on these fourteen criteria, has been an evolutionary process. With each edition of this comparative guide, we have built on previous research as newly published scientific findings have become available. The result has been the creation of a robust analytical model, based on the scientific literature and the independent recommendations of our seven cited authorities.

In each of the chapters of Section II, the reader is introduced to one of the fourteen criteria and the scientific evidence supporting its use. For those who find the reading a little technical, we refer you to the highlighted text. For those who wish to explore the science of advanced nutrition, we invite you to "dive in."

Section III: How the Comparisons were Made

Section III provides further explanation of the Final Product Score and introduces the Blended Standard, a nutritional benchmark we have created based on the independent recommendations of seven scientific authorities. A brief biographical background of each of the seven authorities and their specific recommendations for optimal daily nutritional intake is also provided.

The use of the Blended Standard, as a benchmark for optimal nutrition and the foundation for the Final Product Score, is featured. The Final Product Score is described in detail in Chapter 17. This fourteen-point score is the heart of our comparative analysis; it provides a rigorous quantitative evaluation and relative ranking of all products, based on the Blended Standard benchmark.

Section III also provides a summary of the 25 top-rated products, listed according to Final Product Score. From this list, the top six products are profiled. These are products of exceptional standing and merit your serious attention as a consumer. Included is a brief profile of each company, with contact information, company history and general information. Points of interest on product formulations, including a breakout of the individual product criteria ratings and information on manufacturing processes (if available), is also provided.

Section IV: Graphical Comparisons

In Section IV, selected products from companies throughout the United States and Canada are graphically compared to the Blended Standard benchmark. With each graph, we have provided the Final Product Score for that product, illustrated as both a percentage ranking and a five-star rating. This allows easy comparison of relative product ratings.

In writing this comparative guide, over 1,000 American and Canadian nutritional products were initially examined. Over five hundred qualifying products, representing the best in the line-up of more than 210 companies, were further evaluated, and their respective nutrient contents were compared to the selected nutritional standards. Two hundred and thirty-two (232) finalists, representing the top-rated product(s) from each manufacturer, were then selected and compared graphically. (Some companies have more than one product represented, if they market in

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Northern Dimensions Publishing (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0973253800
• ISBN-13: 978-0973253801
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #351,351 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best I've Found, March 25, 2004

By	Don Wilson (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

My wife and I have taken nutritional supplements for years. It's always been 'up to me' to determine what brands are the best. I used to be a distributor for USANA nutritionals (rated #1 in this book) and then switched to Life Extension Foundation products (also rated high in this book). It was reassuring to me that by my own discernment, I had chosen the best. I have never found a book so complete and thorough as this book on rating nutritional supplements. I did read in one of the other reviews on this book, that someone had a problem with Denis Waitley reviewing the book when he was in fact, associated with USANA. Why? If that person took the time to do a little research, they would have found that other Doctors that made their own personal recommendations for the purpose of establishing a 'Blended Standard', were associated with several different companies. i.e. Dr. Michael Colgan is the Director of the Colgan Institute of Nutritional Science in San Diego and promotes his own brand of nutritional supplements. However, he's also associated with USANA. And Dr. Julian Whitaker, Director of the Whitaker Wellness Instituee, Inc in Newport Beach, CA, also promotes his own brand of nutritional supplements. Dr. Michael Murray, N.D. is associated with Natural Factors, a Canadian based nutritional supplement company. These doctors and others, all made their own suggestions as to what they thought went into making up the 'best' supplements. Then, an average was taken to determine the 'Blended Standard' to assess over 1000 supplement manufacturers products. This was boiled down to the best 500 and then charted in this book. USANA topped the list. So who would YOU have writing a testimonial for the book? Someone who represents a manufacturer that finished 500th? This is by far, the best book I've found on comparing nutritional supplements and their manufacturers.

40 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book---despite some of the skewed reviews, December 1, 2005

By	Shadar (El Paso, TX USA) - See all my reviews

Over all, I thought the book was excellent. I took the time to read several of the previous reviews and have to comment on one in particular. The one by Mr. Marcel Raffoul "Honest Citizen". First and foremost the review section is supposed to be a reviews of books and not of the company that is rated #1 in the book.

I did some research on some of his accusations against USANA by Mr. Raffoul. Here's is what I found.

1. Dr. Lyle is NOT on the board of directors. You can look at the board of directors on the USANA web site.

2. The "Independent Assessment" of USANA says nothing more than USANA is an MLM company. He acts like this is a bad thing. They say on their web site they are a direct/MLM company and talk about the benefits of cutting out middle men to help keep costs down on their pharmaceutical grade products. Their products are pricey but I guess you get what you pay for and would be outrageous if you had to pay for distribution, waehousing and transportion, etc.... but I digress.

3. I also looked at Mr. Marcel Raffoul's other reviews and noticed that some of the books he reviewed were on Direct Selling and MLM stategies which indicates that he is probably in networm marketing, probably in a competitive company.

4. I also read that Maleuca accusations as well as the rebuttal. The rebuttal stated that the original accusations were derived from a previous edition (Edition 2) and since then they went to other independent labratories to ask what other criteria the vitamins could be tested on. These reponses were incorporated into the testing procedures and from what I could determine in the comparison would take the possibility of Dr. McWilliams to skew the results out of the equation and therefore indicates that Maleuca is simply irritated that McWilliams revealed that their products are lacking in quality.

Another note on Centrum. Centrum is the biggest selling vitamin in the U.S. and apparently in Australia as well. It is well documented that as far as absorbability, it is severely lacking. I have talked to several nurses that call Centrum "bed pan bullets" because in patients that use them and use a bed pan, you can still read "Centrum" on the pill when it comes out. Yes, Centrum is much cheaper but again...you get what you pay for. If you want cheap vitamins, that don't work DON'T READ THIS BOOK, go down to WalGreens and buy the cheapest vitamin on the shelf.....you'll save a lot of money that way.

After doing a lot or research on the accuracy and claims by other reviewers, I believe the book and it's rating system are excellent. In addition, the book will teach you a lot on how vitamins work, oxidative stress in the body and how it promotes degenerative diseases. It will also teach you alot about anti-oxidants in supplements and how they prevent degenerative disease as well as how supplements are absobed in the body. I would consider this is a MUST READ book for anyone that is interested in their health.

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I borrowed a copy and now I want to buy one for myself!, April 23, 2005

By	Smart Cookie "Smart Cookie" (Raleigh NC) - See all my reviews

IF you take vitamin supplements, you will want to compare whether it is even worth your while & MONEY to take them, once you read this!
The details in this book may be overwhelming to someone without a science background, BUT --- here is what I understand:
a) the author made an ideal list of all the proven (AND some micro-nutritionals not proven yet) and -----then
b) assayed 500+ multi-vitamins ----then
c) graded them for efficacy and the ability to be absorbed.
I was pretty shocked to discover MANY popular brands are rated under 20%. Most famous & advertised brands barely are graded 50% worthwhile. BTW, I am not a salesperson for any of the top-rated vitamins! 8-}