According to different standards, raw materials used in supplements are divided into food-grade, pharmaceutical-grade and feed-grade. Unlike dietary supplements, pharmaceutical-grade supplements have therapeutic effects and can be applied in functional medicine to maintain an optimal balance of body functions. They can only be used in the context of the pharmaceutical industry. Ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, herbal or plant extracts are set to the highest purity standards and must comply with all pharmaceutical standards. These pharmaceutical-grade supplements, also known as medical-grade supplements, cannot be sold if they don't meet pharmaceutical standards that are often set by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and federally reviewed.
Pharmaceutical Grade Ingredients
Some ingredients used in pharmaceutical grade supplements have health-promoting medical effects, such as zinc carnosine, glutathione, digestive enzyme complex, betaine hydrochloride and milk thistle extract. Here are some examples of pharmaceutical grade ingredients and their medical functions.
Characteristics of Pharmaceutical Grade
- Product quality is guaranteed
Pharmaceutical grade supplements have stable product quality, and they are only manufactured in facilities that follow cGMP (Certified Good Manufacturing Practices) protocols. In addition, the production process and purity requirements of the products are relatively high, so medical-grade supplements often have corresponding product identification reports.
- Product research and development is guaranteed
A company manufacturing pharmaceutical grade supplements generally has a professional and independent research and development team that translates the latest scientific findings into products. These supplements need to be supported by clinical data just like drugs, so clinical research in collaboration with medical institutions and doctors is also essential. All these factors contribute to making the research and development of medical-grade supplements safe.
- Product classification is more detailed
Supplements of pharmaceutical quality can be categorized by the health functions they support, and each of these categories can be used to design products from different perspectives in more detail. For example, pharmaceutical-grade supplements in the endocrine category can be refined into specific supplements that support intestinal metabolism according to specific endocrine functions.
- Product formulation is professional
The formulations of medical-grade supplements are evidence-based and take into account the body's physiological and metabolic processes to optimize body functions and maintain optimal organ function through comprehensive nutritional supplementation.
The Difference between Pharmaceutical Grade and Food Grade
The difference between pharmaceutical grade and food grade is mainly divided into the following four aspects.
It is difficult for food-grade supplements to guarantee the quality of active ingredients and the production standards follow food manufacturing standards. Pharmaceutical-grade supplements must be ensured that the absorption, purity, and bioavailability of their active ingredients meet the highest quality standards, that is, pharmaceutical manufacturing standards.
Food-grade supplements focus on the safety of raw materials, while pharmaceutical-grade supplements examine the quality, purity, and effectiveness of raw materials to ensure that the drugs are authentic and effective.
- Regulatory compliance testing
Food-grade supplements may not have third-party testing and do not have to adhere to strict purity standards. However, pharmaceutical-grade supplements must be tested regularly by a third-party laboratory for purity and potency.
Food-grade supplements are formulated without evidence-based support, while pharmaceutical-grade supplements have product formulations supported by evidence-based medical data and used by healthcare professionals.
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