Supplement Buyers: Beware

Do you pop vitamin C at the first sign of sniffles? Swallow ginkgo biloba to stay sharp? Here's some disconcerting news: Chances are, the label on the bottle is lying to you.

Recent tests by ConsumerLab.com - the largest independent tester of dietary supplements sold in the United States - reveal that more than 15 percent of the vitamin C products analyzed did not deliver the labeled amount of vitamin C. Nearly one quarter of the ginkgo biloba brands tested did not contain the promised levels of ginkgo biloba extract.

In fact, approximately one-third of the vitamins, minerals, and herbs evaluated did not pass ConsumerLab.com's tests.

Other products being examined by ConsumerLab.com include calcium, CoQ10, Echinacea, garlic, ginseng, multivitamins, SAMe, saw palmetto, and St. John's Wort.

Considering the steep price of supplements, you want to get what you pay for. Check out ConsumerLab.com's independent reviews at www.consumerlab.com, or look for the ConsumerLab.com Buyer's Guide to Dietary Supplements in supermarkets, drug stores, health food stores, and bookstores.

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