The gelatin used in our products is derived from beef or pork or a combination of the two.

Fish oil, glucosamine, chondroitin, shark cartilage, cod liver oil (vitamins A&D) are animal derived.

At issue are ingredients derived from bovine glandular, brain and spinal cord materials. These materials carry the highest risk of infectivity by BSE-causing protein. The aforementioned ingredients are not used in LHP manufactured products. In addition, Leiner does not utilize any bovine-derived materials from countries where BSE is known to exist. All raw materials used by LHP are reviewed for source and country of origin and suppliers are also required to provide certification that the materials they supply us are in fact from BSE-free herds.

D-alpha tocopheryl acetate and d-alpha tocopherol are natural forms of vitamin E. Dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate is synthetic, but more stable and less expensive than natural forms of vitamin E. There are 4 kinds of Vitamin E made by Leiner: Natural, Mixed, Synthetic and Water Dispersible.

Most of the products that contain starch are either cornstarch (listed as starch) or potato starch (listed as sodium starch glycolate).

A change in urine color is normal and is caused by riboflavin and vitamin B2, which the body flushes out through the urine when not immediately needed.

We recommend that consumers follow suggested use instructions on the label and not to exceed the recommended dose.

Often tablets are color-coated to assist consumers with the identification of each tablet and, thus, what nutrients are in each one. In addition, they are colored for product recognition, especially if it is a “compare to” product. Consumers that purchase “compare to” national brand products expect the tablets to look the same as the national brand to which it compares.

USP refers to the United States Pharmacopoeia, which is a private, non-profit organization by Congress in 1906 that established quality standards for drugs, and now encompasses vitamin and mineral supplements. A product’s purity, strength or potency, disintegration, dissolution, and expiration date are assessed under USP standards.

This means that it is a national brand equivalent and the active ingredients must be derived from the same source and be the same potency as the national brand to which it compares.

The FDA will not / cannot define “natural”. The definition of “natural” for our products is: “no salt, no sugar, no chemical solvents, no preservatives, no artificial colors, and at least one active ingredient in the product is derived from a natural source.”

Scientific studies have shown that larger doses of vitamins help our bodies work better and achieve maximum health. Leiner’s formulas have been well researched and are balanced so that there is not an excess of an isolated vitamin or mineral.

All animals and plants contain small amounts of lead, as does the soil from which plants are grown. Therefore, virtually everything we eat or drink contains some lead (ie. water grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products). Since lead is naturally present in the earth’s soil, water, and atmosphere, removing it completely is impossible. However, a noted calcium osteoporosis expert pointed out that calcium supplements can actually protect the body against lead by 3 different mechanisms: (1) Extra calcium can block the absorption of lead from food and supplements; (2) Extra calcium can increase the removal of lead from the body by increasing the amount that is excreted in the urine; and, (3) Extra calcium can block the release of lead stored in the bones as people get older and lose bone mass.

Pharmaceutical grade means that the product meets specifications of the California law known as Proposition 65. The maximum lead content is 1.5 mcg per 1,000 mg of elemental calcium. At this level, each 500-600 mg table is considered “essentially lead free.” However, if the product is not designated pharmaceutical grade or essentially lead free, the maximum amount of lead that may be present in calcium carbonate raw material must not exceed 7.5 mcg per 1,000 mg of calcium.

Glucosamine is derived from chitin the specially processed exoskeleton of shrimp, crabs and lobsters.

Chondroitin is extracted from animal cartilage, specifically cow trachea.

It is a sulfur-containing compound. Note that it is not a sulfite or sulfa drug.

If it is a tablet, it is used as a lubricant so that the tablet is released from the punch during the manufacturing process. If it is a softgel, it is used as a suspension agent and for viscosity to evenly disperse the active ingredient within the softgel. In addition, hydrogenation extends the shelf life of the product and helps prevent rancidity of the oils.

Our raw material suppliers for fish oil have assured us that they conduct regular and extensive analyses, which include monitoring and testing for pollutants, including PCBs, mercury, cadmium, pesticides, etc. In addition to the stringent controls, a high-temperature, vacuum process (molecular distillation) is utilized to further reduce any small amounts of PCBs and pesticides that may be present. The process is either steam stripping or inert gas stripping (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) under vacuum. It is a process used only for vitamin and omega-3 concentration.

Commonly used fish include salmon, sardines, anchovy, sprat, clupea, herring, and mackerel because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

The concentrated fish oil products are cholesterol free.

Fish oil may contain trace amounts of iodine because it comes from the sea. If you are allergic to iodine and wish to supplement with omega-3 fatty acids, you may wish to consider taking flaxseed oil.

We recommend that you consult with your health care provider or physician, who is familiar with your medications and possible interactions with other substances. A pharmacist is also likely to have this information.

All of our products are packaged following Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made it mandatory for products containing 30 mg or more of elemental iron to be packaged in unit dose form (i.e., blister strips). If the total elemental iron per package exceeds 250 mg, the package must meet Child Resistant Packaging Requirements. Title 16 (Consumer Practices) of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) houses the regulations enforcing the Consumer Product Safety Act. This title lists substances that require child resistant closures, among which iron is included. This regulation was passed because high potencies of ingested iron are toxic to children.

The shelf life of the product is determined by stability testing, which determines the quantity of vitamins and minerals in the product over a period of time. However, the potency of supplements degrade over time. Although vitamin & mineral supplements are not harmful when taken after the expiration date, the potency of the product cannot be guaranteed beyond the date of expiration.

The size of the tablet is often directly related to the strength / potency of the product. High potency supplements thus will contain greater quantities of each active ingredient in order to supply the % Daily Value per tablet of each nutrient as declared on the labeling. As such, it is not possible to make some tablets smaller.

We do not sell directly to consumers however Your Life products are available in most of your major food and drug stores. See “where to buy” of this site to find a store in your area.

Our fish oil is processed using molecular distillation to reduce the amount of contaminants, including mercury, to levels that are considered safe. There are 0.05 mcg of Hg per daily serving (6 soft gels) of fish oil. However, one 6 oz. can of tuna contains approximately 935.55 mcg of Hg. To achieve the same amount of mercury as one can of tuna, you would have to consume the following: 18,700 servings of fish oil (6 soft gels per serving) or 112,200 softgels or 1,122 bottles (100 count).

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) the safe levels of Mercury are 0.01 mcg of Hg/Kg of body weight or 5-7 mcg of Hg/day for a 100-154 pound individual.