We read the human trials
Peer-reviewed studies conducted in people at academic institutions. Animal and cell research informs which ingredients we investigate. It never supports a claim.
Open any formulation to read the research behind it — what the human trials measured, what we specified from them, what we rejected, and where the evidence runs out. You can also filter this catalog by how strong that evidence is.
Every product in this catalog was produced by the same four-step process, starting from research that already existed and that we did not commission.
Peer-reviewed studies conducted in people at academic institutions. Animal and cell research informs which ingredients we investigate. It never supports a claim.
Not the headline finding. The molecular form, the exact dose, the duration, the cofactors, and the specific material the investigators administered.
Same form. Same dose. Same branded material where the trial used one. Where we deviate, we state that we are matching a protocol rather than reproducing a product.
Numbered, linked to PubMed, with the institution, study design, participant count and duration shown. Including the trials that found nothing.
Helps fill common gaps in vitamin and mineral intake.*
Formulated to Daily Value levels rather than megadoses. The largest long-term trials of daily multivitamins used similar, modest doses.
The Physicians’ Health Study II followed 14,641 men for a median of 11.2 years on a daily multivitamin. The COSMOS trial reported effects of a daily multivitamin on memory in older adults.
Supports normal calcium absorption, bone maintenance, and immune function.*
D3 rather than D2, which raises serum 25(OH)D less efficiently. MK-7 rather than MK-4 for a longer serum half-life suited to once-daily use.
A dose-response study established how much serum 25(OH)D rises per unit of daily cholecalciferol. A three-year trial of MK-7 in postmenopausal women measured bone mineral density and strength.
Supports normal immune function, calcium absorption, and muscle function.*
Cholecalciferol in oil for absorption. 2,000 IU is a daily maintenance dose for most adults without a need for testing first.
A dose-response study quantified the rise in serum 25(OH)D from daily cholecalciferol. A meta-analysis of 25 randomized trials examined daily or weekly vitamin D and acute respiratory infections.
Supports normal muscle and nervous system function and restful sleep.*
Glycinate rather than oxide. Oxide is poorly absorbed and commonly causes loose stools. Elemental magnesium is stated separately from compound weight.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in older adults with insomnia gave 500 mg magnesium daily for 8 weeks and measured sleep and serum markers.
Supports normal immune function.*
The nutrients with the strongest human evidence for immune function, at Daily Value levels, with elderberry as a supporting botanical.
A Cochrane review of 29 trials examined regular vitamin C and the duration of colds. A meta-analysis of individual participant data examined vitamin D and acute respiratory infections.
Supports normal red blood cell formation and energy.*
A strip for people who have difficulty swallowing iron tablets. 19 mg is close to the 18 mg Daily Value for women.
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial at the University of Lausanne gave 80 mg daily iron to menstruating women with fatigue and low ferritin but no anemia, and measured fatigue scores. The MRC Vitamin Study established the role of folic acid before conception.
Supports healthy hair, skin, and nails.*
Covers the nutrients whose deficiency is linked to hair, skin and nail problems.
A review of published cases found that biotin improved hair and nails in people with an underlying deficiency or condition.
Supports healthy vision and eye function as you age.*
Vitamin C at 500 mg and zinc at 80 mg match the AREDS formula. Copper is included because high-dose zinc can lower copper.
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study, a randomized trial sponsored by the National Eye Institute, tested antioxidants and zinc over a mean of 6.3 years. AREDS2 tested adding lutein and zeaxanthin.
Supports normal bone maintenance and normal mineral metabolism.
Trial-matched dose, with the mechanism described as incompletely characterised, because it is. Boron is heavily over-claimed elsewhere.
Small human intervention trials on mineral balance and hormone markers. Sample sizes are modest and are disclosed rather than obscured.
Supports normal sulphur amino acid metabolism.
Included in the Foundation Multivitamin at requirement level for genuine completeness. We do not sell it standalone, because there is no defensible standalone case.
Human requirement literature. There is no body of standalone supplementation trials, which is precisely why we do not sell it as a standalone product.
Supports normal macronutrient metabolism and maintenance of normal blood glucose concentrations.
We publish the null trials alongside the positive ones. The human evidence in non-diabetic populations is genuinely mixed, and we present it that way.
Human glucose and insulin sensitivity RCTs — including the trials that found no effect, listed in the same reference section as the positive ones.
Supports normal energy-yielding metabolism, connective tissue formation, and bone maintenance.
Dosed to requirement with the accumulation ceiling published. Several bone and greens products carry manganese well above need.
Human requirement and status studies, reviewed alongside the chronic accumulation literature that set our upper limit.
Supports normal ovarian function and normal glucose metabolism.
The 40:1 ratio used in the published human trials and found in plasma physiology. Single-isomer products depart from the trial protocol without justification.
Human RCTs on reproductive and metabolic endpoints conducted at the 40:1 ratio. Much of this literature sits in clinical populations, which our copy reflects.
Supports normal protein metabolism, homocysteine metabolism, psychological function, and red blood cell formation.
The phosphorylated coenzyme, supplied directly. Dose capped well below the neuropathy threshold documented in the pyridoxine literature.
Human trials on plasma P-5-P status and homocysteine endpoints, plus the dose-response literature defining the safety ceiling.
Supports normal lipid metabolism, maintenance of normal liver function, and homocysteine metabolism.
Citicoline has the human cognitive-endpoint trials behind it. Choline bitartrate is cheaper and comparatively unstudied for these outcomes, so we did not use it.
Human RCTs on citicoline cognitive endpoints, supported by population intake data showing most adults fall short of the adequate intake.
Supports normal cognitive function and normal nervous system function.
The exact branded material the human trials were conducted on, at the trial dose. Generic threonate has not been trialled, and citing branded studies for generic material is not acceptable.
Human cognitive-endpoint RCTs conducted specifically on the branded material we use. Generic threonate has no trial record of its own.
Supports normal energy-yielding metabolism, nervous system function, cardiac function, and psychological function.
Water-soluble thiamine saturates its active transporter. Lipid-soluble benfotiamine bypasses that ceiling and reaches higher tissue levels in comparative studies.
Comparative human bioavailability studies between thiamine salts and benfotiamine, with erythrocyte transketolase activity as the endpoint.
Supports normal thyroid function and thyroid hormone production, normal cognitive function, and nervous system function.
A defined chemical source assayed per lot. The therapeutic window is genuinely narrow, and kelp-based products have variable content that cannot be dosed accurately.
Human urinary iodine concentration studies and thyroid function endpoint trials, including the excess-intake data that set our ceiling.
Supports normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal mental performance, and the reduction of tiredness.
Pantethine is the more direct coenzyme A precursor. Where the evidence justifies the higher cost, we use it rather than defaulting to the cheapest salt.
Human coenzyme A precursor studies and metabolic marker trials comparing pantothenate salts with pantethine.
Supports normal energy-yielding metabolism, iron metabolism, and the maintenance of normal red blood cells.
Phosphorylated form, dosed at a level that supports MTHFR function rather than treated as filler. Riboflavin status is directly linked to folate metabolism.
Human erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation studies, plus the riboflavin–MTHFR interaction literature.
Supports normal blood formation, homocysteine metabolism, and cell division. Supports maternal tissue growth in pregnancy.
The metabolically active form. Synthetic folic acid requires a conversion step that is rate-limited in humans and varies by genotype.
Comparative bioavailability trials of 5-MTHF against folic acid, with plasma folate response as the measured endpoint.
Protects cells from oxidative stress and supports maintenance of normal skin.
Natural d-alpha with the full gamma and delta fractions. Synthetic dl-alpha is a racemic mixture of eight isomers, and alpha-only dosing displaces gamma-tocopherol.
Human stereoisomer bioavailability trials comparing natural and synthetic tocopherol, plus the gamma-tocopherol displacement studies.
Supports normal blood coagulation and the maintenance of normal bones.
All-trans isomer verified by HPLC and published on the certificate. The cis isomer common in commodity MK-7 is biologically inactive.
Multi-year human intervention trials measuring vitamin K carboxylation status and bone mineral density endpoints.
Supports normal red blood cell formation, nervous system function, and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Both active coenzyme forms, because they serve two different enzymes in two different cellular compartments. Cyanocobalamin requires conversion and was rejected.
Human trials measuring serum B12, holotranscobalamin, methylmalonic acid and homocysteine response by form.
Supports normal immune function and collagen formation for normal skin and blood vessels. Increases non-heme iron absorption.
Split-dosed against the published absorption saturation point. Intestinal uptake saturates above roughly 200 mg per dose, which single-serve 1000 mg products ignore.
Human pharmacokinetic saturation studies, alongside RCTs on immune endpoints and collagen synthesis markers.
Supports heart health and normal triglyceride levels.*
Each softgel provides 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA. Taking three provides 900 mg combined, within the range used in many heart health studies.
The American Heart Association scientific statement reviewed the human trial evidence on fish oil intake and heart health. A later advisory reviewed omega-3 doses for triglyceride lowering.
Supports hydration and normal muscle function.*
Ten calories per serving, with no added sugar. Suited to daily hydration and moderate training.
A controlled human study showed that drinks containing sodium restored fluid balance after exercise-induced dehydration more effectively than water alone.
Supports cognitive function and focus.*
Standardized polysaccharide content stated on the label, with 1,000 mg per serving.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in older adults with mild cognitive impairment gave lion’s mane for 16 weeks and measured cognitive scores. A trial in healthy young adults examined acute and 28-day effects on cognition and stress.
Supports memory, attention, and mental performance.*
Ginkgo standardized to 24% flavones, the specification used in most human trials. Ginseng standardized to 7% ginsenosides.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trials tested a ginkgo and Panax ginseng combination in healthy young adults and measured memory and attention. A separate trial examined Panax ginseng alone on cognitive performance and fatigue during demanding mental tasks.
Increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high-intensity exercise.*
Monohydrate is the form used in nearly all human trials. Buffered, hydrochloride and ethyl-ester forms have not outperformed it.
The International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand reviewed hundreds of human trials on creatine for performance, lean mass and safety. A systematic review of randomized trials examined creatine and memory in healthy adults.
Supports high-intensity performance and hydration during training.*
A full 5 g creatine dose, plus 1,000 mg sodium for athletes with heavy sweat losses. Sweetened with stevia.
Creatine efficacy at 3 to 5 g daily is established across human trials. Sodium replacement improves restoration of fluid balance after sweating.
Helps the body manage everyday stress and supports restful sleep.*
KSM-66 is a full-spectrum root extract standardized to 5% withanolides. Using the same extract and dose as the trials matters, because ashwagandha preparations vary widely.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial gave 300 mg KSM-66 twice daily for 60 days to adults with chronic stress and measured stress scales and serum cortisol. A trial at the same dose measured sleep quality and sleep onset over 10 weeks.
Supports falling asleep and restful sleep.*
2 mg melatonin rather than the 5 to 10 mg doses common in stores. Lower doses were effective in trials.
A meta-analysis of 19 randomized trials found melatonin reduced sleep onset latency and increased total sleep time. A meta-analysis of valerian trials reported possible improvement in sleep quality, with methodological limitations.
Supports cellular NAD+ levels and healthy aging.*
500 mg sits inside the 250 to 900 mg range tested in human trials.
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial at Washington University gave 250 mg NMN daily for 10 weeks to postmenopausal women with prediabetes and measured muscle insulin sensitivity. A dose-ranging trial tested 300, 600 and 900 mg daily for 60 days in healthy middle-aged adults.
Provides antioxidant support and supports healthy blood vessel function.*
Trans-resveratrol content is stated. Taking it with food improves absorption.
A randomized crossover trial at Maastricht University gave 150 mg resveratrol daily for 30 days and measured energy metabolism in obese men. An acute trial measured flow-mediated dilation after single doses of resveratrol.
Supports cellular energy production and heart health.*
200 mg is within the dose range of the larger human trials. Ubiquinone is the form used in most of them.
Bioavailability studies describe how dose and food affect plasma CoQ10. The two-year Q-SYMBIO trial used 300 mg ubiquinone daily in adults under cardiology care.
Supports joint comfort and mobility.*
Standardized curcuminoids with piperine for absorption, combined with the joint ingredients most studied in humans.
A meta-analysis of randomized trials examined turmeric extracts for joint comfort. The GAIT trial at the University of Utah tested glucosamine and chondroitin over 24 weeks.
Supports digestive health and a balanced gut microbiome.*
A broad multi-species formula at a daily dose within the range used in human studies.
An international expert consensus defined probiotics and summarized the human evidence for general digestive health benefits.
Supports digestive health and normal immune function.*
Named strains rather than species only, so the formula can be matched to the human trials that used them.
A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial tested seven probiotic strains, including Bl-04 and La-14, on immune responses to vaccination in healthy adults. Probiotic definitions and evidence standards follow the international consensus.
Supports normal immune function and gut health.*
IgG content is standardized and stated: 575 mg per serving.
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial gave bovine colostrum to physically active men for 12 weeks and recorded upper respiratory symptoms and salivary immune markers.
Supports comfort during menopause.*
Combines the botanicals that have been tested most in menopausal women.
A Cochrane review assessed black cohosh trials for menopausal symptoms. An open-label trial at a Swiss clinical center gave sage leaf extract to menopausal women and recorded hot flush frequency.
Supports muscle growth and maintenance.*
Isolate rather than concentrate for lower lactose and fat. Three ingredients only.
A meta-analysis of 49 randomized trials at McMaster University found protein supplementation increased gains in muscle mass and strength with resistance training.
Supports muscle growth and maintenance on a plant-based diet.*
Soy-free and dairy-free, with 20 g protein per serving.
A meta-analysis of 49 randomized trials found protein supplementation increased gains in muscle mass and strength with resistance training. A review compared the anabolic response to plant and animal proteins.
Supports skin elasticity and joint comfort.*
Hydrolyzed for solubility and absorption. Doses in human trials range from 2.5 g to 10 g, which this tub supports.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at the University of Kiel gave 2.5 or 5 g collagen peptides daily for 8 weeks and measured skin elasticity. A 24-week trial at Penn State gave 10 g collagen hydrolysate daily to athletes and measured joint discomfort.
Supports joint comfort and flexibility.*
Boswellia standardized to boswellic acids, and plant-based glucosamine with no shellfish.
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial tested MSM over 12 weeks and measured joint discomfort and function.± The GAIT trial at the University of Utah tested glucosamine over 24 weeks.
Protects cells from oxidative stress and supports normal skin condition.
Natural algal source, esterified as it occurs in the algae. Synthetic astaxanthin has a different stereoisomer profile and was not used in the human trials.
Human RCTs on skin elasticity, moisture and oxidative stress markers, conducted on natural algal-derived material.
Supports mental performance during periods of occasional fatigue and supports the body's stress response.
Species authenticated by DNA barcoding and published. Rhodiola is among the most adulterated botanicals in the supply chain.
Human RCTs on fatigue and cognitive performance under load, conducted on authenticated Rhodiola rosea rather than substituted species.
Every formulation above opens to the research it was specified from. All of it was published independently, before this company existed, and remains available to anyone who wants to read it. We would rather you check than trust us.
Our Research StandardThese statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
University Vitamins is an independent company. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any university or academic institution. Institution names appear solely to identify the source of the research referenced.
Full numbered citations — with institution, study design, participant count and duration — appear on the product page. Every reference is verified against the primary source before publication.
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