Mega/High Potent Formulas

Mega/High Potent Formulas feature concentrated levels of beneficial nutrients. These efficient nutritional supplements:

• Supply high-­potency nutrient levels.
• Offer convenient concentrated dosage.
• Support overall health and well­-being.**

What are Mega/High Potent Formulas?

Nutritional guidelines have long assisted health­conscious consumers in assessing foods, beverages and supplements based on each product's content of certain important nutrients. During World War II, the United States National Academy of Sciences established the Food and Nutrition Board, which created Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) in 1941. These guidelines remained in place for decades with occasional revisions.

In 1997, the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) system was introduced to expand on the existing guidelines, while continuing to feature RDAs, along with other factors such as Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs), which set limits to avoid excessive consumption of some nutrients. For example, the vitamin C RDA for an average adult is 90 milligrams (mg), while the UL is 2,000 mg. Prior to 2000, the vitamin's RDA was only 60 mg, but experts came to agree that more vitamin C in the diet is beneficial.**

Reference Daily Intake (RDI) is a system similar to DRI but is utilized for product labels that feature nutritional facts. Nutrients present on these common labels are displayed as percentage of Daily Value (DV) and include macronutrients such as fatty acids, sodium and protein, along with various vitamins and minerals. They do not factor in trace minerals and other nutrients that may also be significant to dietary health.

Particularly in recent decades, research has indicated that for some individual nutrients, notable benefits only registered with larger serving sizes. This kind of assessment led to increased RDAs for calcium and vitamin D in 2010. With this revision, the calcium RDA for the average adult was elevated to 1,000 mg while the vitamin D RDA moved upward to 600 international units (IU).

During the 1960s, Nobel Prize­winning scientist Linus Pauling introduced the concept of higher nutrient servings into popular culture, asserting that large amounts of vitamin C could have numerous positive effects on health. This approach is referred to as "megavitamin therapy" or "high-­dose vitamin therapy." Pauling's work continues via the Linus Pauling Institute, which has advocated higher daily levels of many nutrients. The LPI, for example, believes that 120 mg, rather than 90 mg, should be the RDA for vitamin C.

In regard to stating how potent a product may be, the FDA has issued the following qualified health claim: "The regulation states that the term 'high potency' may be used in a claim on the label or in labeling to describe individual vitamins or minerals that are present at 100 percent or more of the Reference Daily Intakes (RDI) per reference amount customarily consumed (21 CFR 101.54(f)(1)(i)). This means a supplement may be labeled as 'high potency' for each nutrient(s) that is present at 100% of the RDI per serving."

Numerous mega/high potent formulas feature concentrated extracts that offer 4:1 or even higher ratios of their active compounds. These supplements supply large amounts of a specific nutrient despite a physically small serving. Tart cherry, for example, is offered in 300 mg capsules; with a 4:1 ratio, it means that one capsule contains 1,200 mg of the active ingredient. It is crucial to keep these ratios in mind when taking nutritional supplements that use this method.

High­-potency supplements have had various proponents over the years, with some health experts supporting Pauling's concept of megavitamin therapy. Scientists have singled out certain nutrients that they believe are effective in large servings, including B­-complex vitamins and selenium. These nutrients are often associated with common deficiencies, and the higher amounts may elevate overall levels in the body. One researcher found that mega servings of vitamins such as B-­12 and D stimulated variant enzymes to therapeutic effect.**

Given the vast array of nutritional supplements available, it can be difficult for consumers to distinguish one from another, particularly in relation to potency levels. Mega/high potent formulas have become popular in part because they clearly offer elevated amounts of certain nutrients. In addition to supplying higher potency, these products are also convenient, since their concentrated formulation involves taking less of a given supplement while still receiving the desired amount of its active ingredient.

Mega/High Potent Formula Products

Mega/high potent formulas supply generous levels of specific nutrients. Some of these supplements are derived from botanical sources, and many offer active ingredients at concentrated ratios such as 4:1 or 10:1. For nutrients that have daily values, these products regularly exceed those DVs, sometimes by a considerable percentage. Supplements are typically available as caplets, capsules and softgels.

Mega/High Potent Formula Products Directions for Use

Before starting a high­potency supplement regimen, talk to your health care provider. While some of these products have standard RDAs, others do not. Capsules may vary widely in terms of specific nutrient levels based on active ingredients, often ranging from 10 mg to 1,000 mg.