Ingredient Database

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is a fat-soluble secosteroid essential for calcium absorption, bone mineralization, immune regulation, and neuromuscular function. Deficiency is highly prevalent globally.

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and an essential micronutrient vital for numerous physiological processes, including vision, immune function, reproduction, and cellular communication. It exists in several forms, including preformed vitamin A (retinol, retinyl esters) found in animal products, and provitamin A carotenoids (e.g., beta-carotene) found in plants, which are converted to retinol in the body. Retinol is the active form used by the body.

Beta-carotene is a red-orange pigment found in plants and fruits, especially carrots and colorful vegetables. It is a a precursor to vitamin A (retinol), meaning the body can convert it into vitamin A as needed. As an antioxidant, it plays a role in neutralizing free radicals.

Vitamin B1, or Thiamine, is a water-soluble vitamin essential for various metabolic processes, particularly carbohydrate metabolism. It acts as a coenzyme in the conversion of food into energy.

Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is a water-soluble vitamin essential for numerous metabolic processes. It plays a crucial role in cellular growth, energy production, and the metabolism of fats, drugs, and steroids. Riboflavin is a precursor to flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), two coenzymes vital for enzyme functions including those involved in the electron transport chain.

Vitamin B3, or niacin, is a water-soluble vitamin essential for metabolism and cell function. It exists in several forms, primarily nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. Nicotinic acid is well-known for its potent lipid-modifying effects at pharmacological doses, while nicotinamide is more commonly used in general nutrition and has fewer vasodilatory side effects.

Niacinamide is one of two primary forms of Vitamin B3, the other being nicotinic acid. It is a water-soluble vitamin and a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+), which are crucial coenzymes involved in numerous cellular metabolic processes.

Pantothenic acid, commonly known as vitamin B5, is a water-soluble vitamin that is an essential nutrient. It is a precursor to coenzyme A (CoA), a crucial molecule involved in numerous metabolic pathways, including the synthesis and degradation of fatty acids, cholesterol, steroid hormones, and acetylcholine. It is also involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins. As a water-soluble vitamin, it is not stored in significant amounts in the body, requiring regular dietary intake.

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that exists in several forms, with pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P) being the active coenzyme form. It is crucial for numerous metabolic processes, including amino acid metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, and red blood cell formation. Unlike pyridoxine HCl, P5P does not require conversion by the liver, which may be beneficial for individuals with impaired liver function or genetic polymorphisms affecting pyridoxine metabolism.

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in various metabolic processes, predominantly as a coenzyme for carboxylase enzymes. It is involved in fatty acid synthesis, gluconeogenesis, and amino acid metabolism. While often marketed for hair, skin, and nail health, the evidence supporting these benefits in non-deficient individuals is limited.

Vitamin B9, commonly known as folic acid in its synthetic form, is a water-soluble vitamin essential for numerous bodily functions. It plays a critical role in nucleotide synthesis (DNA and RNA), amino acid metabolism, and red blood cell formation. Folate is the naturally occurring form found in foods such as leafy green vegetables, fruits, and legumes, while folic acid is typically found in fortified foods and supplements.

L-Methylfolate (5-MTHF) is the biologically active, methylated form of folate (Vitamin B9). Unlike synthetic folic acid, 5-MTHF does not require enzymatic conversion by the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzyme, making it directly usable by the body. This is particularly relevant for individuals with genetic polymorphisms (e.g., MTHFR) that impair folic acid metabolism. Folate is essential for numerous physiological processes, including DNA synthesis and repair, methylation reactions, and the metabolism of homocysteine.

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin essential for various metabolic processes, including DNA synthesis, fatty acid and amino acid metabolism. Methylcobalamin is one of the two active coenzyme forms of Vitamin B12 in the human body, the other being adenosylcobalamin. It plays a crucial role in methylation reactions.

Adenosylcobalamin is one of the two active coenzyme forms of Vitamin B12 in the human body, the other being methylcobalamin. It is particularly crucial for mitochondrial function, specifically as a cofactor for methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, an enzyme involved in the metabolism of odd-chain fatty acids and branched-chain amino acids, and the succinyl-CoA pathway. Unlike cyanocobalamin, which requires conversion to an active form, adenosylcobalamin is directly utilized by the body and plays a vital role in energy production and maintaining cellular health.

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for numerous physiological functions, including immune system functioning, collagen synthesis, and antioxidant protection. Humans, unlike most animals, are unable to synthesize vitamin C endogenously due to the absence of the enzyme gulonolactone oxidase. Therefore, it must be obtained through diet or supplementation.

Liposomal Vitamin C is a formulation of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) encapsulated within liposomes. Liposomes are microscopic lipid vesicles composed of a phospholipid bilayer, structurally similar to cell membranes. This encapsulation is intended to protect the Vitamin C from degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and enhance its absorption and bioavailability compared to traditional unencapsulated forms.

Vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol, is one of the two major forms of vitamin D, the other being vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). It is produced in plants and fungi upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) B radiation. Ergocalciferol can be obtained through the diet from fortified foods or supplements. Like vitamin D3, vitamin D2 must undergo hydroxylation in the liver and kidneys to become its biologically active form, calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D).

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin group comprising eight chemically distinct compounds: four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically active form and the one primarily measured in human plasma. Mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols are often used in supplements to provide a broader spectrum of Vitamin E's beneficial effects.

Tocotrienols are a group of four compounds (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) that are part of the vitamin E family, found in natural sources such as palm, annatto, and rice bran oils. Unlike tocopherols, tocotrienols possess an unsaturated isoprenoid side chain, which confers unique biological properties, including superior antioxidant activity and distinct effects on cholesterol metabolism and cellular signaling. They are often studied for their potential benefits beyond those typically associated with alpha-tocopherol.

Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, is a fat-soluble vitamin primarily found in green leafy vegetables. Its most well-known function is its crucial role in blood coagulation, acting as a cofactor for the enzyme gamma-glutamyl carboxylase, which is essential for the activation of several clotting factors. Beyond coagulation, Vitamin K1 is also involved in bone metabolism and vascular health, although its role in these areas is less extensive compared to Vitamin K2 forms.

Vitamin K2 (menaquinone-4, MK-4) is one of the forms of vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin essential for blood clotting and bone health. While vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) is found primarily in leafy green vegetables and is crucial for coagulation, vitamin K2 encompasses a group of menaquinones (MK-n) mostly found in animal products and fermented foods, playing a significant role in calcium metabolism and cardiovascular health. MK-4 is a short-chain menaquinone and is the most common form of vitamin K2 found in the body's tissues, primarily through conversion from vitamin K1.

Vitamin K2, specifically menaquinone-7 (MK-7), is a fat-soluble vitamin crucial for activating proteins involved in blood clotting, bone metabolism, and vascular health. Unlike Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone), which is primarily found in leafy green vegetables and is essential for coagulation, MK-7 has a longer half-life and plays a more significant role in extrahepatic tissues, particularly in bone and arteries.

Choline is an essential nutrient, often grouped with B vitamins due to its structural similarities and functional roles in metabolism. Choline bitartrate is a salt form of choline that is commonly used in supplements due to its stability and high choline content (approximately 41% by weight). It serves as a precursor for acetylcholine, a crucial neurotransmitter, and is vital for lipid transport, cell membrane integrity, and liver function.

Benfotiamine is a synthetic, lipid-soluble derivative of thiamine (vitamin B1) used orally with the aim of increasing tissue thiamine availability. Clinical trials and reviews have tested it for diabetic complications, peripheral neuropathy and cognitive decline in early Alzheimer-type disease.