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Goji Dosage
It is difficult to determine a dosage for goji, as the product often comes in the form of health foods and drinks. Even if good dosing information were available for the supplements, there may be significant variability of content, purity, and strength between different brands of the same dietary supplement, making it difficult to determine a consistently safe and effective goji dose.
It is difficult to recommend a dosage for goji that is both safe and effective. The best doses have not been scientifically established yet, as is common with natural products and dietary supplements. For some uses, such as an ingredient in health foods or drinks, there really isn't a goji "dosage," per se.
What Is a Reasonable Goji Dose?
Because dietary supplements and foods do not need to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), studies to find the safest and most effective dosages for dietary supplements or foods are rarely performed. Without such studies, typically, only vague "trial and error" information is available. Even if good dosing information were available, there may be significant variability of the content, purity, and strength between different brands of the same dietary supplement, making consistently safe and effective dosing difficult. Also, there are several different ways to use goji (such as eating the berries, drinking the juice or a tea, or taking goji berry or bark supplements), leading to further problems in recommending an appropriate dosage.Since there is really no good information on goji dosing, it is reasonable to follow the instructions provided on the label of your particular product.
Some considerations for people taking goji include the following:
- If you decide to take a goji supplement, it is important to choose a trustworthy manufacturer, since supplements are not regulated as closely as drugs. Your pharmacist is a good source for information about which supplement manufacturers are most reliable. Products that are more expensive are not necessarily of a higher quality.
- If you have any chronic health problems or take any prescription medications, it is a good idea to check with your healthcare provider before taking goji.
- If you are unsure about anything related to your dosage or goji dosing in general, please talk with your healthcare provider.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD