When you hear the word “organic,” it likely brings to mind wholesome, natural foods that seem superior for your health. However, when it comes to supplements, the debate between organic and synthetic ingredients is not as straightforward.

Many instinctively lean toward organic as the better choice, but the reality is much more nuanced. The truth is, whether organic ingredients are better than synthetic ones isn’t black and white—it’s a diplomatic “it depends.”

This article will unravel the complexities of this debate, offering you the insights needed to make informed decisions about the supplements you choose.

By exploring four key considerations, we’ll guide you through the critical factors that determine the quality and effectiveness of your supplements. This is a dense topic, but I hope it will leave you with several “aha moments!”

Understanding “Synthetic” and “Organic” in the Context of Supplements

First, in the world of supplement ingredients, the word “synthetic” doesn’t automatically mean ‘heavily processed’ or unnatural. In fact, many synthetic ingredients are designed to replicate the active forms of nutrients that naturally occur in our bodies.

These synthetic versions can be just as effective, if not more so, than their natural counterparts in delivering the nutrients our bodies need.

In the wellness community, the term “organic” often triggers a positive reaction, especially when it comes to food. Organic farming practices are indeed beneficial when shopping for whole foods and minimally processed products.

This designation serves as a guiding light in navigating the often dismal state of our national food supply. If you have the option and the means, organic is definitely the way to go—when it comes to food sources.

However, as the word “organic” relates to supplements, it’s essential to approach the topic with a more nuanced perspective. While "organic" is a gold standard for food, the same principles don’t always correlate well with quality supplement creation. 

So, the best mantra here is “go with organic when possible and practical.” Here’s why.

4 Key Considerations for Effective Supplements

Practicality of Serving Sizes in Multivitamins

One of the primary objectives of supplementation is to deliver meaningful, preventative or even therapeutic dosages of ingredients in a manageable serving size. However, an inherent challenge with organic ingredients in supplements is that whole foods are often less nutrient-dense than we might think. 

This means it takes a relatively large volume of food to deliver a therapeutic dosage of many key nutrients.

Take vitamin C, for example. Acerola cherries, one of the most potent natural sources of vitamin C, contain about 1-4.5% vitamin C, depending on the source. Even when concentrated to about 30%, which still qualifies as organic, you would need 333 mg of this acerola cherry extract just to meet the minimum daily requirement of vitamin C—let alone higher, more therapeutic doses.

The challenge becomes even more apparent when considering minerals like magnesium. The most concentrated organic form of magnesium comes from lantana, at about 4% potency. To achieve a modest dosage of 100 mg of magnesium, you’d need 25 grams of lantana extract. You’d have to swallow 33 standard-sized capsules just to get a therapeutic dose of this single ingredient!

As a result, creating a quality, bioavailable multivitamin from organic, whole-food ingredients becomes nearly impossible. You’d either have to take hundreds of capsules or compromise on the therapeutic dosage of ingredients.

Bioavailability and “Active Forms” of Ingredients

We’ve touched on bioavailability, but it’s worth exploring further. Bioavailability refers to the extent and rate at which an active ingredient is absorbed and becomes available for use in the body. In the context of supplements, this is crucial—and often overlooked.

Interestingly, some synthetic forms of vitamins are actually more readily absorbed and bioavailable than food-based forms. To illustrate this, let’s consider the concept of “activated” or “active” forms of vitamins using B vitamins as an example.

Take folate (vitamin B9), for instance. Folate from spinach, meats, and brussels sprouts must be converted by the body into its active form, 5-MTHF (5-methyltetrahydrofolate), to be used effectively. However, a significant portion of the population—estimated between 20-40% of white and Hispanic individuals—carry a genetic variation (SNP) that makes this conversion process inefficient or even completely ineffective.

For these individuals, a synthetic version of folate, such as 5-MTHF in Cielo’s Rise, is not just a better option—it’s a necessity. This synthetic form of folate is already in the biologically active form, making it immediately usable by the body. This is just one example of how synthetic forms of vitamins can sometimes be more effective than their organic counterparts.

Complexities of USDA Organic Certification 

Even with USDA organic certification, it's important to recognize that not all ingredients in "organic" supplements are truly organic. In fact, certain non-organic and synthetic ingredients are allowed under organic certification, but this can come at the cost of quality and bioavailability.

Consider magnesium as an example—a nutrient in which over 50% of Americans are deficient. The only form of magnesium permitted in USDA-certified organic supplements is synthetic magnesium oxide.

However, magnesium oxide has a very low bioavailability, with only about 4% of the ingested magnesium being absorbed by the body. This means that even if you take 100 mg of magnesium oxide, your body might only absorb 4 mg. 

This highlights a crucial point: when it comes to supplements, dosage and absorbability are everything. A supplement may be labeled organic, but if it relies on less bioavailable forms of nutrients, its effectiveness can be significantly compromised.

Cost and Practicality of Ingredients

Creating a multivitamin using only organic, whole-food ingredients isn’t just impractical for the above reasons—it’s often cost-prohibitive. The large amounts of organic material required to achieve effective doses makes such supplements extremely expensive for most consumers.

This is where the economic realities come into play. For many Americans, especially those in food deserts or facing financial constraints, accessing a variety of organic whole foods and supplements is simply not feasible. Combining organic ingredients where possible with effective synthetic ones might just be the most practical solution.

Balancing Bioavailability, Convenience, and Quality

Think of the ingredients in supplements as “packaged forms of nutrients.” Whether synthetic or organic, the goal is to deliver the nutrient in a form that the body can easily access and use. Some packages are simple, like a gift bag with a bit of tissue paper on top, while others are more complex, like a series of Russian Matryoshka dolls, with the nutrient hidden deep inside.

In the end, supplement creation is about striking a balance between bioavailability, convenience, and quality. A supplement that combines the best of both organic and synthetic ingredients, chosen based on evidence and effectiveness, can provide the most practical benefits.

Conclusion: The diplomatic “it depends”

So, are organic ingredients better than synthetic ones in supplements? The answer is, it depends. When it comes to food, organic is often the gold standard. But in supplements, the situation is more complex. The practicality of serving sizes, the bioavailability of nutrients, USDA guidelines complexities, and the cost all play crucial roles in determining the best approach.

In an ideal world, we would get all our vitamins and minerals from a variety of organic whole food sources. However, the realities of modern life—costs, food availability, and access—mean that supplements are often necessary.

The key is to find a trustworthy supplement company that prioritizes quality, evidence-based formulations, and transparency. Organic certification is powerful, but it’s not always the best fit for effective and practical supplement creation. Sometimes, a thoughtful blend of organic and synthetic is the best way to go.

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