Ingredient guide
50 editorially and evidence-reviewed monographs are published.
Published (50)
Vitamin A
A fat-soluble vitamin required for vision, immunity, and epithelial differentiation.
Thiamin
A water-soluble vitamin supporting carbohydrate metabolism and nerve function.
Riboflavin
Forms flavin coenzymes used in energy metabolism and redox reactions.
Niacin
A precursor of NAD/NADP involved in energy metabolism and DNA repair.
Pantothenic acid
A component of coenzyme A needed across fatty-acid and other metabolic reactions.
Vitamin B6
Supports amino-acid metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, and hemoglobin formation.
Biotin
A carboxylase cofactor involved in fatty-acid, glucose, and amino-acid metabolism.
Folate
Required for one-carbon metabolism, DNA synthesis, and red-blood-cell formation.
Vitamin B12
Required for DNA synthesis, red-cell formation, and maintenance of nerve myelin.
Vitamin C
A water-soluble vitamin used in collagen synthesis, antioxidant defense, and nonheme-iron absorption.
Vitamin D
Regulates calcium absorption, bone mineralization, and muscle function.
Vitamin E
Alpha-tocopherol activity protects membrane lipids from oxidation.
Vitamin K
Required to carboxylate clotting factors and bone-related proteins.
Calcium
Provides bone and tooth structure and enables muscle contraction and nerve signaling.
Magnesium
Participates in more than 300 enzyme reactions, neuromuscular function, and bone metabolism.
Iron
Required for oxygen transport, electron transfer, and enzymes, but excess is harmful.
Zinc
A trace element required by many enzymes, immunity, wound healing, and taste.
Copper
Required for iron metabolism, connective tissue, and antioxidant enzymes.
Selenium
Functions in selenoproteins for thyroid-hormone metabolism and antioxidant defense.
Iodine
A thyroid-hormone component regulating growth and metabolism.
Potassium
The principal intracellular electrolyte supporting nerves, muscles, and blood-pressure regulation.
Chromium
The essentiality and requirement for trivalent chromium remain uncertain; deficiency is rare.
Manganese
A cofactor for enzymes in bone formation and carbohydrate and amino-acid metabolism.
Whey protein
A rapidly digested dairy protein rich in essential amino acids and leucine.
Casein protein
A dairy protein that clots in the stomach and releases amino acids relatively slowly.
Soy protein
A plant protein providing all essential amino acids.
Pea protein
A plant protein rich in lysine but relatively low in methionine.
Rice protein
A lower-lysine plant protein that can complement legume proteins.
Creatine
Raises muscle phosphocreatine and supports ATP resynthesis during brief high-intensity exercise.
EPA
A long-chain omega-3 affecting eicosanoid production and triglycerides.
DHA
A long-chain omega-3 concentrated in brain and retinal membranes.
Alpha-linolenic acid
An essential omega-3 with limited conversion to EPA and DHA.
Lactic acid bacteria
A group of lactic-acid-producing bacteria whose effects must be judged strain by strain.
Bifidobacteria
Anaerobic colon bacteria whose clinical effects depend on strain and population.
Inulin
A fermentable fructan fiber serving as a substrate for gut microbes.
Resistant dextrin
A soluble nondigestible fiber studied for post-meal responses and bowel regularity.
Psyllium
A viscous fiber that absorbs water and forms a gel.
Oligosaccharides
An umbrella term for nondigestible carbohydrates such as FOS and GOS, not one ingredient.
Nattokinase
An enzyme produced during natto fermentation; oral prevention of clinical thrombosis is unproven.
Coenzyme Q10
A fat-soluble compound involved in mitochondrial electron transport and antioxidant activity.
Glucosamine
An amino sugar with formulation-dependent osteoarthritis evidence.
Chondroitin
A sulfated polysaccharide with inconsistent joint-symptom effects across products and trials.
Collagen peptides
Hydrolyzed collagen that is not a complete protein and lacks tryptophan.
Hyaluronic acid
A water-binding glycosaminoglycan; oral products are distinct from injections.
L-theanine
A tea amino acid studied for relaxation without marked sedation.
GABA
An inhibitory neurotransmitter, though brain entry and clinical effects of oral GABA are uncertain.
Tea catechins
Green-tea polyphenols; brewed tea and concentrated EGCG extracts have different safety profiles.
Sesamin
A sesame lignan with limited small human outcome studies.
Astaxanthin
A red carotenoid studied for antioxidant markers, not established as disease treatment.
Turmeric / curcumin
A turmeric polyphenol; enhanced-absorption formulations may also increase interactions and harms.