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The following Q & A has been prepared by Jamieson Laboratories to answer your questions regarding the February 17, 2010, publication of an article “Influence of Simultaneous Variations in Temperature and Relative Humidity on Chemical Stability of Two Vitamin C Forms and Implications for Shelf Life Models,” that appeared in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. On March 4, 2010, CTV.ca reported on this study.
Question: What is the best environment for storing natural health products?
Answer: The biggest stressors that affect vitamin potency are moisture, light, heat and air. Each of these factors affects every supplement and formulation differently. A good rule of thumb is to minimize exposure by storing natural health products in a dark, cool and dry environment.
Q: This study looked at two Vitamin C ingredients — sodium ascorbate and ascorbic acid. Should Jamieson customers be concerned about their Vitamin C formulas?
A: The antioxidant power of Vitamin C is directly linked to stability: the better the antioxidant, the lower its stability. Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties, therefore, are inextricably linked to it being a relatively unstable compound. Jamieson takes steps— during the formulation, manufacturing and packaging of its products — to compensate for these natural chemical behaviours.
Q: What measures does Jamieson employ to improve the shelf life and to increase stability of its vitamins, including Vitamin C?
A: All our formulations are placed within our stability program. We study each formulation under normal and stressed conditions, such as high temperature and high humidity. The data from these studies gives us a thorough understanding of our products. We use this knowledge to build mechanisms and processes that will assure the optimal strength of all active ingredients up to the expiry date.
For Vitamin C, in particular, we employ the following quality-assurance steps:
• based on laboratory testing, we include Health Canada sanctioned overages — up to 5 percent — of the active ingredients in each formula to compensate for any potency loss due to time or environmental conditions
• in support of maximum stability, we establish very stringent acceptability criteria — for moisture, heat and humidity etc. — and then thoroughly test each ingredient to ensure conformation
• our manufacturing facility has sophisticated temperature and humidity environmental controls and these protect all actives throughout the manufacturing process
• our Vitamin C packaging has been meticulously researched to provide the best exposure protection: the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles have been matched with a foil induction seal and polypropylene cap to keep the active ingredients fresh
• we test each finished lot of products to ensure that every Vitamin C product on the market will maintain maximum performance
Q: Are other natural health products as vulnerable as Vitamin C to environmental conditions?
A: The instability of Vitamin C is somewhat unique and the factor that makes it an effective antioxidant. As part of our 360 Pure protocol, Jamieson employs a minimum of 360 potency, purity and safety standards for all its formulas.
Q: The study specifically looked at deliquescence (or dissolving) of Vitamin C? How hot or humid must a room be to cause such deterioration?
A: Vitamin C that appears to be dissolved and reformed has not been treated in a normal fashion and you would recognize a change in the appearance of the formula should such extreme conditions occur. Consumers should store vitamins according to recommended conditions. Exposing vitamins to extreme conditions, and then questioning their stability, is no different than placing ice cream in a hot room and questioning why it melts.
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