Most chemists will tell us that molecule by molecule, synthetic vitamins are identical to natural vitamins. The isolated factor of each may be identical, but these man-made synthetic supplements are merely a combination of separate factors. The synthetic vitamins never contain the whole complex of the factors found in nature. Remember vitamins B, C and E are known to "complexes." Synthetic vitamins are quite popular because they are so much easier and cheaper to produce in the lab. Obviously it is much harder to grow and harvest these whole complexes than it is to set it up in the lab.
Research is indicating that these synthetic vitamins are actually causing nutritional deficiencies. Did you realize that most people do not know the difference from a whole food nutrient versus a synthetic vitamin? The problem with synthetic vitamins is they need the co-factors normally found in whole foods to complete the action in your body. You may feel good for a while on your new program but when the co-factors in your body are used up, you will begin to feel worse. The extended use of synthetic vitamins mimics the actions of drugs. Like drugs, they have a tendency to over-stimulate rather than nourish or feed your body. There is absolutely no way science will ever be able to duplicate nature. Dietary ignorance can result in many illnesses, pain and needless suffering. Synthetic vitamins will never have the same effects of natural vitamins simply because they lack many parts of the whole complex.
Each cell in the body requires certain nutrients to maintain its basic metabolic function to keep healthy. If the body is given proper nutrients to maintain the basic building blocks it can manufacture everything it needs. In essence, if you give your body what it needs, it will make everything else from that! Your good health depends on your cells having all the elements they need to perform the jobs of growth and tissue repair.
In a "nutshell," you can identify natural by reading the label and finding a listed food source such as fish, carrot, beet, etc. If a chemical is listed or the source is left blank, it is synthetic. For instance, vitamin A will have a natural source from carrots, whereas a synthetic form of vitamin A may list it with either acetate or palmitate.
God bless America and all of our troops. Yours in good health.