The Root Cause Medicine Podcast The Truth About Supplement Safety with Dr. Eric Viegas
Jul 3, 2025
46:04
In this episode of the Root Cause Medicine Podcast, Dr. Kate Kresge sits down with Dr. Eric Viegas, a naturopathic doctor and Fullscript’s Medical Product Manager, to pull back the curtain on the world of supplement quality and safety.
From raw ingredient sourcing to manufacturing audits, Dr. Viegas explains what CGMP really means, how Fullscript ensures product integrity, and why certifications like NSF and third-party testing matter. You’ll learn how to evaluate your supplements for quality, what common industry terms really mean (or don’t), and what to avoid—like potentially dangerous sports nutrition products and under-tested trendy gummies.
Whether you’re a clinician or a supplement-savvy consumer, this episode offers practical insights to help you navigate the supplement landscape with confidence.
You’ll hear them discuss:
- What CGMP certification actually means—and why it matters
- The hidden dangers of poor manufacturing practices and counterfeit products
- Why Fullscript’s catalog is CGMP-certified across all 375+ brands
- How and why supplements like turmeric are tested for purity, potency, and contamination
- The surprising problems with gummies and “pharmaceutical grade” claims
- Which third-party certifications actually mean something (and which don’t)
- Why the supplement industry is regulated—but not in the way most people assume
- How Fullscript handles recalls, audits, and adverse event reports
- What every provider and consumer should know before recommending or taking a supplement
Guest Bio:
Dr. Eric Viegas is a naturopathic doctor and a Medical Product Manager at Fullscript, where he leads initiatives related to supplement quality, safety, and education. Before joining Fullscript, he worked directly with supplement companies to educate providers about clinical applications, product quality, and manufacturing standards. At Fullscript, Dr. Viegas plays a pivotal role in vetting brands, reviewing third-party certifications, and educating practitioners on how to choose safe and effective supplements. His work ensures that thousands of clinicians and their patients have access to a curated catalog of rigorously vetted products.
Guest Details:
Dr. Eric Viegas
- Role: Medical Product Manager, Fullscript
- Education: Naturopathic Doctor (ND), Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
- Focus: Supplement quality, functional ingredients, CGMP standards, third-party testing
- Website: www.fullscript.com
- Quality Program: Fullscript Quality Standards
Rupa Health Details:
Labs Mentioned
- CGMP
- NSF and NSF Certified for Sport
- Informed Sport / Informed Choice
- B Corp
- Friend of the Sea (fish oil)
- USP methods (United States Pharmacopeia)
- Prop 65 (California heavy metal limits)
- Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program
- Microbial, heavy metal, and pesticide testing
Timestamps
00:00 – Meet Dr. Eric Viegas and his path to Fullscript
02:05 – Why supplement quality matters more than you think
05:10 – What CGMP means and why third-party audits matter
08:23 – Fullscript’s vetting process and catalog standards
13:50 – The turmeric example: testing for identity, potency, and purity
18:03 – Stability testing and why overages are sometimes added
19:10 – The issue with gummies and water-based supplements
22:04 – Clinical safety vs. manufacturing safety
24:48 – Contaminants in supplements: what providers should know
30:02 – Making it easier to find high-quality products in a big catalog
32:30 – Vegan, organic, non-GMO, and sustainability filters
34:06 – Friend of the Sea and oxidation testing for fish oils
36:11 – Rapid fire: fish oil, collagen hype, and what "pharmaceutical grade" really means
43:03 – Should a good diet make supplements unnecessary?
46:24 – Final rule of thumb: see your provider and check for CGMP