ABSTRACT
In the early 1960s vitamin and mineral formulations were products of major pharma-
ceutical companies. Products like Theragran, Unicaps, and various products intended for
use by children and pregnant women were actually thought of as quasi-drug products and
were routinely prescribed by physicians. Decavitamin tablets and capsules were the
subject of a United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) monograph where test methods and
acceptance standards were set. In the late 1960s or early 1970s these products in multiple
ingredient form were no longer subjects of USP monographs. Very soon thereafter the
market was flooded with every possible combination of vitamin and mineral products,
including some containing herbals.
