So when shopping for supplements, look for the USP symbol. This symbol indicates that the U.S. Pharmacopeia, an independent testing organization, has tested the supplement to make sure it will dissolve in your stomach. The absorption of nutrients in pill form is not well studied, but if they dissolve in the stomach, they are probably well absorbed. Look for a supplement that contains about 100 percent of the daily values for nutrients. The supplement industry is not well regulated and claims can be made without much scientific proof.
Foods contain substances other than vitamins and minerals for good health.
Fruits, vegetables and whole grains contain phytochemicals, or plant chemicals, that can help to fight the development and progression of many chronic diseases, including cancer. Pharmaceutical manufacturers have singled out the most useful and most stable forms of each vitamin over the past 100 years for use in vitamin pills. With only a few exceptions, the vitamins in pills are utilized and handled by the body just as efficiently, or more so, than the vitamin forms found in foods.