ABSTRACT
Contamination of dietary supplements with toxic metals is a potential health hazard that has received increasing attention in recent years. The majority of studies assessing the metals content of mineral supplements concern the lead content of calcium supplements. Metal contamination of dietary supplements is becoming a concern in other countries as use of dietary supplements increases. Studies analyzing the metal content of single vitamin supplements are limited. Metal concentrations have been shown to vary by product batch. When estimating daily metal intake from dietary supplement consumption, it is also important to consider the chemical form of the metal of interest. The potential for chemical interaction between metal contaminants and the composition of the dietary supplement should also be considered. Future investigations assessing the metal content of dietary supplements will help to better characterize the range of contamination and potential for adverse health impacts, information that is essential to ensure public health protection.
