The inevitability of getting older is hitting baby boomers fast. And because of this, many doctors of chiropractic are considering dedicating part of their practice to anti-aging.

On a theoretical basis, the science of anti-aging is the management of constantly evolving hypotheses that explain why we age. Some aging theories focus on free radicals. Others state that aging occurs because of the body-wide loss of mitochondrial ‘spark.’

And still others postulate that aging is caused by a loss of hypothalamic sensitivity, which causes a gradual and ever-worsening loss of hormonal balance.

On a clinical basis, the practice of anti-aging simply and diligently targets degenerative disease, which is any disease that causes the body to age faster than normally. Anti-aging practices use advanced, condition-specific nutritional supplementation and other supporting therapies to address degenerative diseases, such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and elevated cholesterol.

If you decide that establishing an anti-aging practice is right for you, a key to your success will be to select the best supplement suppliers. Many companies have entered the anti-aging market, so it can be confusing to try to select the best company to meet your needs. As you investigate the qualifications of these vendors, ask these questions and then compare the answers:

1) 'Do you manufacture your own products?’ One criteria that should be high on your list is a company that does its own research and manufacturing for quality-control purposes.

2) ‘How long has your company been in business?’ Maturity “counts” in the anti-aging market! A company’s reputation, built on a record of time, can tell you how dedicated the company is to its chosen discipline.

3) ‘How extensive is your product line?’ Look for a product line that addresses degenerative disease with thoughtfully designed formulas designed to mitigate symptoms of disease. It should also utilize multiple forms of nutrients.

4) ‘How long

is your manufacturing cycle?’ Quality-minded companies select short-run manufacturing cycles, which ensure product quality and optimal freshness.

5) ‘Do you provide clinical protocols?’ High quality, condition-specific nutritional formulas can be effective when used independently of other supplements as stand-alone medicines. But the best nutritional formulas deliver stellar results when they are used from within a well-designed regimen called a clinical protocol.

6) ‘Who is at the helm?’ Clinical protocols are therapeutic blueprints and they are only as good as their author, the medical director.

Look for a company whose medical director not only oversees the design, formulation and manufacture of nutritional supplements, but also helps set the company’s strategic position in the marketplace.

Review the medical director’s academic and professional credentials: Is the individual published in either professional journals and/or as an author of books? Make sure that anti-aging is this person’s chosen field discipline. The science and practice of anti-aging takes years to master.

7) ‘What kind of educational support do you provide?’ Quality-minded anti-aging companies dedicate a large part of their budgets to developing information for doctors and their patients. Look for the availability of patient-education material, as well as monthly or bi-monthly newsletters.

8) ‘What kind of access do I have to your experts?’ Internet access is important, with 24-hour access to information and research. Look for a company that has a large database of original articles and papers on its Web site.

Asking these questions will help you select the best supplier for your needs — and get you off to a good start in building your own anti-aging practice.

James Eudy is national director of sales for Vitamin Research Products, www.vrp.com. He has more than eleven years of experience building anti-aging clinics in the nutritional supplement industry. He can be reached at 888-303-4665 or at jameseudy@vrp.com.