3. Summary Watch for Percent age of Vitamins Be Mindful of Minerals Don't Overdo A Watch Out for Iron Find the Small Print (expiration, lot or batch number) and ingredient statement Get a Form that Suits You Look for Quality Marks http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_2_33/ai_97177918/pg_2

4. NNFA: A seal from the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA), a nonprofit trade group in Newport Beach, Calif., signals that the supplement company adheres to good manufacturing practices (GMPs). A company with GMPs tests its raw materials to confirm what they are, keeps careful records so all ingredients and products can be tracked, and maintains certain standards of cleanliness at its plant.

5. NSF International: A mark from NSF International, a nonprofit certification organization in Ann Arbor, Mich., confirms that the supplement maker follows GMPs. But the seal also means that NSF International tested the product and found that it contains what it should and disintegrates properly.

6. USP: The mark from the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), a nonprofit, nongovernment organization in Rockville, Md., means the supplement company follows GMPs. It also signals that the USP has run tests on the product and confirmed that it contains what the label says it should.

7. Consumer Lab: This testing company in White Plains, N.Y., checks supplements to confirm their ingredients and ensure that they disintegrate properly. A seal from Consumer Lab does not mean that the supplement maker follows GMPs. Unlike the other programs, this one is not necessarily voluntary. Consumer Lab usually tests products because they're widely available. But some companies do volunteer to have their products tested.