How much does a bottle of dietary supplement cost?

Currently, the price of a single bottle of compliant dietary supplements on sale in China ranges from a dozen yuan to several thousand yuan, with a huge span, and there is no unified pricing standard at all.

If you often visit pharmacies or browse the nutrition section of e-commerce, you will find out how outrageous the price difference can be - for the same vitamin C supplement, the most basic blue hat vitamin C tablets may only cost 19.9 yuan for 100 tablets. If you switch to the so-called imported natural acerola extract vitamin C effervescent tablets, 20 tablets can be sold for 168 yuan. Moving up to the high end, there are now anti-aging NMN supplements on the market, and a single bottle is sold for 2,000 to 3,000 yuan.

Last month, I helped the elderly at home pick up ammonia for joint protection. Products of the same specifications (1500 mg ammonia content per tablet, 90 tablets) in offline chain pharmacies were sold for 89 yuan by a domestic brand, and 379 yuan by a well-known imported sports nutrition brand. The teller repeatedly emphasized to me that the imported version The sulfate glucosamine is less irritating than the domestic sulfate glucosamine hydrochloride. I went back and checked the clinical nutrition information. In fact, the difference in the absorption and utilization rate of the two glucosamine is less than 5%. However, people with severe stomach problems are more suitable for the sulfate type. For ordinary people with common joint discomfort, the cheaper one is enough.

A friend of mine who works in the dietary supplement raw material supply chain always complains that the cost difference of 90% of basic supplements is less than 20 yuan, and the price is all due to marketing fees and brand premiums.； But I also asked the clinical nutritionist at the hospital, and the other person said that this is a bit too absolute. For example, iron supplements with patented encapsulation technology and high-purity Omega3 fish oil endorsed by clinical trials are indeed much more expensive to produce, have fewer side effects after taking them, and have a higher effective absorption rate. They are expensive for a reason.

In fact, we ordinary people don’t need to blindly chase expensive products when choosing. First, check whether there is a formal blue hat label, and then check the content of core ingredients according to your needs. The one that meets your needs is the best value. After all, if you are really deficient in nutrients to the extent that you need intervention, you must first follow the doctor’s advice. There is no need to just take supplements for peace of mind.