While many people take supplements, most do not know that supplements can be bought in bulk. What are the differences between bulk supplements and brand supplements? And which is the healthier option?
Here is the comparison of the nutritional labels of two protein isolate supplements, one in bulk and one as a brand. This chart compares them by concentration (comparisons weren’t made on a per serving basis because the supplements had different serving recommendations.)
Below is a comparison of a two Vitamin D3’s, with one being a bulk supplement and the other a brand supplement. Since Vitamin D3 is the only ingredient in these supplements, price was compared per 100,000 IU.
According to a basic analysis of the product’s Supplement Facts labels, almost all ingredients were present in similar or identical quantities. The largest difference was in price, with the brand supplement costing significantly more than the bulk supplement. While saving money can be a great benefit for those choosing to buy bulk supplements, there are also advantages to buying brand supplements. Below’s our summary of advantages for both:
Notes:
- Protein isolate is based on PureBulk Whey Protein Isolate 90% and Now Foods Whey Protein Isolate – Natural Unflavored (1.2 lbs).
- Vitamin D3 is based on PureBulk Vitamin D3 and Nutrigold Vitamin D3 Gold (1,000 IU) (Nutrigold is currently Labdoor’s #1 Best Value for Vitamin D).
- Capsule price based on Clear Gelatin Capsules Size 3 from Capsuline.com.
- All comparisons are solely based on their nutritional label and their lowest price on Amazon.com or Pure Bulk’s website.
- Note that this is not representative of all bulk and brand supplement comparisons. Other bulk and brand supplements may vary by price and nutritional labels, so consumers may need to do their own research before buying any dietary supplements.
- Header Image: Stacy Spensley (Flickr)
- Co-author: Shoua Kue