JAMA study shows AHPA’s commitment to quality

August 28, 2008 — A study in the Aug. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) concludes that Ayurvedic medicine products made by American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) members are significantly “less likely to contain metals.”

While the study by Robert B. Saper, MD, found 20 percent of U.S.- and Indian-manufactured Ayurvedic medicines purchased on the Internet contained detectable levels of lead, mercury, or arsenic. The researchers also found products made by AHPA members were nearly four times less likely to contain these trace elements.

“A company’s decision to become a member of AHPA represents an investment in quality and a sustained interest in improving standards at the company and industry level,” said AHPA President Michael McGuffin. “The area of trace elements in dietary supplements is one the association has dedicated time and attention to, and, through the work of our committees, we will continue to assist AHPA companies in reaching their quality standards.”

Source: American Herbal Products Association, www.ahpa.org