Delicious Living did such a great job distilling this information into the handy infographic you see below that I wanted to share it with you.

Keep in mind that although the regulations mentioned in the infographic help ensure the safety of the supplements, they don’t necessarily indicate high quality.  Just as a gourmet chocolate is better than dollar store chocolate, so there are higher and lower quality supplement options.

Using brands that are trusted for their quality is one way to ensure you’re getting good ones.  Another way is to know what you’re looking for on the labels — which can be easier said than done.

Is your vitamin B12 cyanocobalamin (synthetic), or methylcobalamin, hydroxycobalamin, or adenosylcobalamin (natural and/or active forms).  Is the folate in your vitamin folic acid (synthetic — and concerning) or naturally-derived?  Is your vitamin B6 active (pyridoxal-5-phosphate, also known as P5P)?  Is it even needed?  (Several B vitamins, including folate and vitamin B6, are added to foods in unnaturally high quantities and synthetic forms, and appear to potentially build up in the body and block our ability to use the naturally-occurring versions.)

When you buy probiotics, do you know which strains are in them?  Are they meeting your needs or just passing through your belly?  (This can be a complex issue; I know!  A Mother’s Guide to Probiotics is very helpful here!)

Bottom line: you can trust that your supplements are generally safe, but you might need to do some research to ensure they’re good quality.