Article Summary:
Have you tried the traditional Japanese breakfast of fermented soybeans called natto? Although the slimy texture might be unfamiliar to some, natto is widely considered to be a so-called “superfood” for benefiting the heart, gut, and brain. The beneficial effects of natto are derived from nattokinase — an enzyme produced by the bacteria Bacillus subtilis as boiled soybeans are fermented.
As a nutritional supplement, nattokinase displays several pharmacologic properties that can provide significant beneficial health effects.* This post highlights the health benefits of nattokinase, how it supports several functions in the body, and why you should include an advanced nattokinase supplement in your diet.
Natto is a rich source of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers. Chemically, natto contains 18 amino acids, of which eight are essential amino acids. The fermentation of natto results in the production of several bioactive factors, including nattokinase, bacillopeptidase F, vitamin K2, and dipicolinic acid.
Nattokinase is a single polypeptide chain of 275 amino acids. Nattokinase is known for its pharmacologic properties that promote healthy cardiovascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal functions.* The beneficial effects of nattokinase include:
The pharmacologic properties of nattokinase contribute to the following health benefits.
Health Benefits of Nattokinase |
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Heart health: Nattokinase has several beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, including:
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Brain health: Nattokinase plays a potential role in the peripheral blood-to-brain axis, having been found to promote neurogenesis in animal models, which informs that it may help maintain normal cognitive functions.* The enzyme is also associated with maintaining normal inflammatory responses in brain cells.*8 | |
Gut health: Limited evidence from animal studies on the effect of nattokinase on the gastrointestinal microbiota shows that consuming natto fermentation products can enhance the richness, diversity, and uniformity of gut microbiota.*9 |
Various studies have established the overall safety of nattokinase as a nutritional supplement with little or no adverse health effects. The relative safety of nattokinase over other thrombolytic agents contributes to its preference as an supplement for promoting healthy blood circulation.* Although the health benefits of nattokinase are well-researched, its potential contraindications with prescription medications are unknown; therefore, it is recommended that you consult with your healthcare provider before including a nattokinase supplement in your diet.
Because the molecular size of nattokinase is too large for oral absorption through the gastrointestinal tract, it can undergo chemical oxidation and subsequent inactivation in the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, nattokinase absorption through the oral route is challenging. Fortunately, an advanced nattokinase supplement can resolve nattokinase’s absorption and bioavailability challenges to accomplish the targeted delivery of the enzyme.
NattoGuard is an innovative and advanced nattokinase formulation developed by Tesseract Medical Research that promotes your overall health and wellbeing. Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology ensures the optimal absorption and bioavailability of nattokinase, thus achieving its many health-promoting benefits.* CyLoc® technology surrounds each nattokinase molecule in its smart delivery system to protect them from being degraded during the transit through the stomach, and the accompanying DexKey® reactors release each molecule at the desired point in the intestinal tract to achieve maximum absorption.
All Tesseract nutritional supplements are made with the highest-quality nutrients and follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and industry standards. The cutting-edge delivery system and a well-designed quality control system make NattoGuard a superior nattokinase supplement for promoting your heart, brain, and gut health.*
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption, and bioavailability, and micro-dosing a single or multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support cardiovascular health.*
References
1Hsia C-H, et al. Nattokinase decreases plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII in human subjects. Nutrition Research (New York, N.Y.) vol. 29,3 (2009):190-196. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2009.01.009
2Fujita M, et al. Thrombolytic effect of nattokinase . . . . Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin vol. 18,10 (1995):1387-1391. doi:10.1248/bpb.18.1387
3,7Iwai K, et al. Antioxidative functions of natto, a kind of fermented soybeans: effect on LDL oxidation and lipid metabolism . . . . Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry vol. 50,12 (2002):3597-3601. doi:10.1021/jf0117199
4Okamoto A, et al. . . . [S]ubstances in fermented soybean, natto. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands) vol. 47,1 (1995):39-47. doi:10.1007/BF01088165
5Suzuki Y, et al. Dietary supplementation of fermented soybean, natto, . . .” Life Sciences vol. 73,10 (2003):1289-1298. doi:10.1016/s0024-3205(03)00426-0
6Jang, J-Y, et al. Nattokinase improves blood flow . . . . Laboratory Animal Research vol. 29,4 (2013):221-225. doi:10.5625/lar.2013.29.4.221
8Ji H, et al. Mechanisms of nattokinase . . . . European Journal of Pharmacology vol. 745 (2014):144-151. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.10.024
Adverse cardiovascular health conditions account for leading causes of death worldwide. Unfortunately, limited alternative approaches are available to control and manage heart-related conditions. The effect of specific diets – such as the Mediterranean, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and plant-based diets – on the gut microbiome and heart health has led to extensive research on the cardioprotective benefits of certain compounds in food.
Natto, a traditional Japanese food product made from fermented whole soybeans, is associated with promoting cardiovascular health and is believed to contribute to the longevity of Japanese people. Nattokinase, the most active ingredient of natto, displays various cardioprotective effects and is emerging as a promising alternative in responding to adverse cardiovascular health conditions.* This post discusses the association between nattokinase and heart health and why you should consider adding an advanced nattokinase supplement to your diet. Use the links below to jump ahead to different topics on the page.
In Japan, natto, or fermented soybeans, is often served as a breakfast food with rice. It is a so-called “superfood” and has a distinct smell, texture, and nutty flavor. Nattokinase is produced by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis during the fermentation of soybeans. The traditional process of fermenting soybeans to make natto uses the bacterial strain as the starter. Nattokinase was first extracted from fermented soybeans in 1987.
Natto is also a rich source of vitamins, proteins, minerals, and dietary fibers. Recent research has established that nattokinase has several beneficial cardiovascular effects, including a strong fibrinolytic activity that helps maintain optimal clot formation.* Nattokinase can also help slow down the formation and growth of undesirable clotting (thrombolytic activity), thereby promoting heart health. Additionally, nattokinase has been found to have lipid-lowering and neuroprotective effects.
Nattokinase is a single polypeptide chain of 275 amino acids. The following table highlights the pharmacologic effects of nattokinase that contribute to its potential health benefits.
Pharmacologic Effects of Nattokinase |
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It helps maintain optimal clotting (fibrinolytic effect).* |
Fibrin is an insoluble protein produced in response to bleeding and helps stop bleeding by forming blood clots. Although fibrin is critical to wound healing and repair, an excess of it poses a risk of forming blood clots that could adversely affect heart or brain functions. Nattokinase degrades fibrin directly, as well as indirectly by increasing the release of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)—an enzyme that converts plasminogen into its active form, plasmin, which breaks down blood clots.*1 Nattokinase also activates other fibrinolytic enzymes, such as pro-urokinase.* |
It helps prevent unwanted blood clots from forming (antithrombotic effect).* |
Thrombosis is the forming of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a blood vessel that can obstruct the blood flow. In an animal study, the thrombolytic activity of nattokinase was found to be stronger than that of other thrombolytic agents, such as plasmin or elastase.*2 |
It mitigates oxidative stress (antioxidant effect).* |
Nattokinase has been reported to exert beneficial cardiovascular effects by helping to3 maintain a healthy inflammatory response.* |
It limits lipid peroxidation and enhances lipid metabolism (lipid-enhancing effects).* |
Nattokinase’s direct antioxidant effect inhibits the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), reduces lipid peroxidation, and enhances lipid metabolism.*4 |
It exerts neuroprotective effects.* |
The neuroprotective effect of nattokinase is associated with its ability to relax vascular smooth muscle, protect endothelial cells through enhanced fibrinolytic activity, and facilitate thrombolysis.*5 |
The pharmacogenic effects of nattokinase promote a healthy cardiovascular system.* The following table highlights how nattokinase benefits heart health.*
Nattokinase and Heart Health |
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It helps maintain healthy blood pressure.* Angiotensin II, a hypertensive peptide hormone, causes the muscular walls of small arteries to constrict, which increases blood pressure. Nattokinase has been found to suppress angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) — a key enzyme responsible for the production of angiotensin II.*6 | |
It helps maintain smooth and healthy arteries. Nattokinase’s thrombolytic activity is associated with helping to maintain smooth and healthy blood vessels.*7 | |
It helps maintain healthy platelet activity.* Nattokinase exhibits beneficial activity in helping to maintain the optimal function of platelets in the blood.*8 | |
It helps improve lipid metabolism. In a clinical study on the effect of nattokinase on individuals with an excess of fat or lipids in the blood, nattokinase helped maintain healthy lipid levels and lipid metabolism.*9 |
Nattokinase supplements are widely used to enhance circulation.* The convenience of oral intake of nattokinase is a distinct advantage over thrombolytic agents that are injectable and might cause adverse side effects, such as bleeding.
Commercial nattokinase production optimizes fermentation conditions, including temperature, pH, and fermentation time, to maximize the yield of nattokinase produced by the bacteria. The ease of mass production of the enzyme makes it relatively inexpensive, making nattokinase an economically viable nutritional supplement.
Natto is a rich source of vitamin K2 (MK-7), an essential nutrient that inhibits calcium accumulation in the blood vessels. However, some commercial nattokinase supplements might not contain vitamin K2 when the enzyme is extracted from the natto. In a clinical study, the co-supplementation of nattokinase with vitamin K2 and aspirin exerted synergistic effects in enhancing the enzyme’s lipid-benefiting effects.*10 In a rabbit study, co-supplementation of nattokinase with red ginseng was found to benefit cardiovascular health.*11
Nattokinase has a proven safety profile and a long history of human consumption. Toxicology studies and several Good Laboratory Practice-compliant studies in rodents and humans have established the safety of the oral consumption of nattokinase.12
The collective data from various studies confirm nattokinase is safe for oral intake with minimal or no toxicologic concerns.
However, limited data exist on the potential drug interactions and contraindications of nattokinase. Because concurrent use of multiple drugs is common among individuals experiencing cardiovascular conditions, it is recommended to consult with your health-care provider before including a nattokinase supplement in your diet.
Nattokinase’s molecular size is too large for its oral absorption through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Therefore, it can be susceptible to chemical oxidation and subsequent inactivation in the GI tract. As a result, the targeted delivery of nattokinase through the oral route is challenging.
Various nano-delivery methods have been researched and developed to increase the stability and targeted delivery of nattokinase. Advanced formulations utilizing such delivery technologies can achieve the nattokinase’s health-promoting benefits.
Tesseract Medical Research has developed an innovative nattokinase formulation NattoGuard to support heart health.* The proprietary CyLoc® —DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology enhances nattokinase’s bioavailability by protecting it from degradation during transit through the stomach and ensuring its targeted delivery at the desired point in the intestinal tract. The resulting unprecedented absorption and optimal bioavailability make NattoGuard a health-promoting reality.*
The association between nattokinase and heart health is well-researched. Although nattokinase is considered safe for oral intake, its potential contraindications with prescription drugs, such as blood thinners, and resulting side effects are relatively unknown. Consult with a healthcare provider before taking a nattokinase supplement with any prescription medication.
A nattokinase supplement formulated for optimal absorption and bioavailability can achieve its cardioprotective benefits.* Always look for a supplement formulation developed through advanced production and purification technologies that follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), including well-designed quality control. With Tesseract’s nutritional supplements, you can be assured of the highest-quality nutrients delivered through cutting-edge delivery systems.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption, and bioavailability, and micro-dosing a single or multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support cardiovascular health.*
References:
1Hsia C-H, et al. Nattokinase decreases plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII in human subjects. Nutrition Research (New York, N.Y.) vol. 29,3 (2009):190-196. doi:10.1016/j.nutres.2009.01.009
2Fujita M, et al. Thrombolytic effect of nattokinase . . . . Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin vol. 18,10 (1995): 1387-1391. doi:10.1248/bpb.18.1387
3,4Iwai K, et al. Antioxidative functions of natto, a kind of fermented soybeans: effect on LDL oxidation and lipid metabolism in cholesterol-fed rats. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry vol. 50,12 (2002):3597-3601. doi:10.1021/jf0117199
5Ji H, et al. Mechanisms of nattokinase . . . . European Journal of Pharmacology vol. 745 (2014):144-151. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.10.024
6Okamoto A, et al. “. . . [S]ubstances in fermented soybean, natto. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands) vol. 47,1 (1995):39-47. doi:10.1007/BF01088165
7Suzuki Y, et al. Dietary supplementation of fermented soybean, natto, . . . . Life Sciences vol. 73,10 (2003):1289-1298. doi:10.1016/s0024-3205(03)00426-0
8Jang J-Y, et al. Nattokinase improves blood flow . . . . Laboratory Animal Research vol. 29,4 (2013):221-225. doi:10.5625/lar.2013.29.4.221
9Ren NN, et al. Zhonghua yi xue za zhi vol. 97,26 (2017):2038-2042. doi:10.3760/cma.j.issn.0376-2491.2017.26.005
10Chen H, et al. “. . . [N]attokinase: A clinical study with 1,062 participants.” Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine vol. 9 964977. 22 Aug. 2022, doi:10.3389/fcvm.2022.964977
11Kang, Shin-Jyung, Yunsook Lim, Ae-Jung Kim. Korean red ginseng combined with nattokinase . . . .” Food Science and Biotechnology 23 (2014):283-287.
12L BJ, English JC. Toxicological assessment of nattokinase derived from Bacillus subtilis var. natto. Food and Chemical Toxicology: An international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association vol. 88 (2016):87-99. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2015.12.025
When considering building a supplement routine, the first question that often comes to mind is which nutritional supplements can be taken together. Commercially available nutritional supplements can contain various nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and botanicals. You might have heard about the synergistic relationship between certain nutrients that can enhance their health-promoting benefits. However, there are risks associated with mixing certain nutrients because of potential contraindications, adverse side effects, and interactions with other supplements or medications.
Here’s what you should know about which supplements can be taken together to promote various health functions and overall well-being. Use the links below to jump ahead to a topic of interest.
Nutrient synergy is the dynamic interaction between different nutrients in the body, where their combined effect is more beneficial than their individual contributions. |
The concept of co-supplementation is to achieve nutrient synergy — when the combined benefits of two or more nutrients have a more significant physiological impact on the body than when each nutrient is consumed individually. Nutrition science traditionally focuses on isolating single nutrients to study their effects. For example, the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) you see on product labels provide guidelines to prevent a nutrient deficiency or an excessive intake, but they are not designed to assess the potential synergistic effects of consuming nutrients together. Nevertheless, it is recognized that nutrients interact in complex ways, and their combined intake can have important additive effects.
For example, human trials demonstrate that combining the various B vitamins (vitamin B12, folate, and vitamin B6) helps lower homocysteine levels, which promotes optimal brain and cardiovascular functions.1 Similarly, co-supplementation of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and vitamin E has been shown to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol2.
There is growing evidence that certain nutrients are more effective when consumed together than when consumed alone. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of nutrient synergy can develop dietary strategies to support various health functions.
A nutrient-rich, balanced diet should ideally provide all the nutrients a person needs. However, the reason for taking nutritional supplements is to fill the nutrient gaps in your diet. Multi-vitamin/multi-mineral supplements are among the most commonly used supplements to address the body’s nutrient needs. Additionally, botanical ingredients, such as curcumin, CoQ10, and berberine, have gained popularity as supplements.
The following table highlights some supplements that can be taken together to achieve their beneficial effects.
What Supplements Can Be Taken Together: An Overview |
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Vitamin C and Iron: Iron supports the production of red blood cells and is a component of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Iron is also involved in enzymatic reactions that produce cellular energy. Vitamin C, as an antioxidant, enhances iron absorption from plant-based food sources and supplements.3 | |
Vitamin D and Calcium: Vitamin D maintains calcium homeostasis for optimal skeletal health. It is also recognized for extraskeletal functions, such as immune function. A minimum 25(OH)D (vitamin D3) level of 32 ng/mL is necessary for achieving optimal intestinal absorption of calcium.4 | |
Vitamin D and Magnesium: Magnesium must be present for the body to metabolize vitamin D. But taking too large doses of vitamin D can induce severe magnesium depletion. Co-supplementation of vitamin D and magnesium is more effective in enhancing serum 25(OH)D concentrations.5 | |
Vitamin D and Probiotics: There is emerging evidence that combined supplementation of vitamin D and probiotics benefits the gut microbiota. Co-supplementation with vitamin D and probiotics has been found to enhance metabolic parameters, including insulin sensitivity and antioxidative capacity.6 | |
Vitamin B12, Folate, and Vitamin B6: Co-supplementation of these three B vitamins has been found to lower homocysteine levels and slow the progression of brain matter loss.7 | |
Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2: Calcium supplementation, especially at higher doses, may lead to vascular calcification and increase cardiovascular risk. Co-supplementation of vitamin D3 and vitamin K has been found to facilitate proper deposition of calcium in bones and teeth instead of arteries.8 | |
Omega 3 fatty acids and Alpha Lipoic Acid: A clinical trial has shown that taking an omega 3 fatty acid and alpha lipoic acid together promotes brain functions and slows down cognitive and functional decline.8 | |
Curcumin and Quercetin: The antioxidant effects of curcumin and quercetin in combination, have been found to promote wound healing by stimulating the migration of fibroblasts to the wound site.9 | |
Quercetin and Magnesium: The free radical scavenging activity of quercetin increases after its complexation with magnesium (Mg(+2)) cation.10 | |
Glutathione and CoQ10: Glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant. Combined with CoQ10, it can enhance antioxidant capacity to address oxidative stress |
A significant concern about consuming nutritional supplements together is the potential interactions between supplements and other ingested substances, such as other nutritional supplements, conventional foods, and prescription medications. The following are some possible interactions between supplement ingredients, medications, and other nutrients.11
The following are various nutrients, when taken in supplement form, that can affect the efficacy of prescription medications.
Most patients do not disclose their supplement usage to their doctors. However, it is critical to consult with your healthcare provider to learn about the potential benefits and side effects of supplements before including them in your diet. Before taking two or more nutritional supplements together or taking them with prescription medications, you should:
The efficacy of a nutritional supplement depends on how well its nutrients are absorbed and how the formulation enhances their bioavailability. Certain nutrients, such as glutathione and curcumin, are considered to be difficult-to-absorb molecules. Therefore, nanodelivery of such nutrients through carriers, such as cyclodextrins, has been found to enhance both their absorption and bioavailability, thereby tapping their health-promoting benefits.
Tesseract Medical Research has formulated a wide range of nutritional supplements with multiple proven nutrients that promote various health functions. Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology enables the delivery of active nutrient molecules through the gastrointestinal tract — one palatable molecule at a time. CyLoc® technology encases each molecule and creates nano-sized particles, thereby protecting them from breaking down during transit through the stomach. DexKey® technology accompanies each CyLoc® molecule and releases it at the desired point in the intestinal tract for maximum absorption and effectiveness.
The unprecedented optimal absorption of nutrient molecules in the gastrointestinal tract enables micro-dosing, which means using a lesser amount of the active ingredients in supplement formulations than previously required.
When considering which supplements can be taken together, remember that not all supplements marketed as ‘natural’ are safe. Even when a supplement contains plant-derived compounds, it is essential to know how the ingredients have been formulated to ensure their safety. If a formulation does not contain the right amount of ingredients, then it can cause adverse side effects.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has established Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) that manufacturers should follow to ensure the purity, strength, and composition of their nutritional supplements. At Tesseract Medical Research, we are committed to GMPs. We utilize the most appropriate and scientifically advanced analytical techniques and a well-designed quality control system to develop the finest-quality nutritional supplements.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support your health and wellness.*
1,7VITATOPS Trial Study Group. The VITATOPS (Vitamins to Prevent Stroke) Trial: rationale and design of an international, large, simple, randomised trial of homocysteine-lowering multivitamin therapy in patients with recent transient ischaemic attack or stroke.” Cerebrovascular Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 13,2 (2002):120-126. doi:10.1159/000047761
2Izadi A, et al. Independent and additive effects of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E on cardiometabolic outcomes and visceral adiposity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Archives of Medical Research vol. 50,2 (2019):1-10. doi:10.1016/j.arcmed.2019.04.004
3Lynch SR, Cook JD. Interaction of vitamin C and iron. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences vol. 355 (1980):32-44. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1980.tb21325.x
4Khazai N, et al. Calcium and vitamin D: skeletal and extraskeletal health. Current Rheumatology Reports vol. 10,2 (2008):110-117. doi:10.1007/s11926-008-0020-y
5Cheung MM, et al. The effect of combined magnesium and vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status, systemic inflammation, and blood pressure: A randomized double-blinded controlled trial. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) vol. 99-100 (2022):111674. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2022.111674
6Abboud M, et al. The health effects of vitamin D and probiotic co-supplementation: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Nutrients vol. 13,1 111. 30 Dec. 2020, doi:10.3390/nu13010111
7Aaseth, Jan O et al. “The Importance of Vitamin K and the Combination of Vitamins K and D for Calcium Metabolism and Bone Health: A Review.” Nutrients vol. 16,15 2420. 25 Jul. 2024, doi:10.3390/nu16152420
8Shinto L, et al. A randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial of omega-3 fatty acids and alpha lipoic acid in Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease vol. 38,1 (2014):111-120. doi:10.3233/JAD-130722
9Chittasupho C, et al. Effects of quercetin and curcumin combination on antibacterial, antioxidant, in vitro wound healing and migration of human dermal fibroblast cells.” International Journal of Molecular Cciences vol. 23,1 142. 23 Dec. 2021, doi:10.3390/ijms23010142
10Ghosh N, et al. Synthesis, characterization and study of antioxidant activity of quercetin-magnesium complex. Spectrochimica Acta. Part A, Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy vol. 151 (2015):807-813. doi:10.1016/j.saa.2015.07.050
11National Academies Press (US). Interactions. Dietary Supplements – NCBI Bookshelf, 2005, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK216072.
12Bushra R, et al. Food-drug interactions. Oman Medical Journal vol. 26,2 (2011):77-83. doi:10.5001/omj.2011.21
13Sica D A. Antihypertensive therapy and its effects on potassium homeostasis. Journal of Clinical Hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.) vol. 8,1 (2006):67-73. doi:10.1111/j.1524-6175.2006.05139.x
Article Summary:
Are you considering boosting your health and wellness with a combination of quercetin and magnesium supplements? Both of these nutrients have been individually linked to a variety of health benefits, and together, they may offer even more powerful effects.* Naturally, quercetin and magnesium are often found together, especially in foods like onions. Onions, in particular, are a major source of quercetin with 100 grams of raw onion containing between 28.4 – 48.6 mg of quercetin. Along with quercetin, raw onions are an excellent source of vitamin C, which play a key role in supporting immune health.
But can quercetin and magnesium be effectively and safely combined in supplements? This post explains the potential benefits of taking quercetin and magnesium together, examining the evidence that suuports their synergistic effects. We will also explore why choosing advanced supplement formulations may be an effective way to include these nutrients in your diet and how they can contribute to overall health and wellness.
Quercetin, one of the most abundant dietary flavonoids, is well known for its antioxidant properties and its ability to help maintain the body’s natural inflammatory response processes.* Due to its potent antioxidant activity, quercetin plays a role in scavenging free radicals to protect cellular components from oxidative stress.*
This flavonoid inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines and leukotrienes, downregulates the release of histamine, and enhances the balance between T-helper cells to address adverse immune responses.* Quercetin also exerts cardioprotective effects, including beneficial effects on blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and endothelial function.*
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant positively-charged ion in the body. Magnesium is a cofactor for more than 300 enzymatic reactions and facilitates the active transport of calcium and potassium ions across cell membranes. It also plays a beneficial role in the formation of bones, proteins, several enzymes, and cellular components, such as mitochondria, DNA, and RNA.*
Magnesium is crucial to various immunological functions, including the activation of immune cells (T helper, B cell, and macrophages), lymphocyte proliferation, and immune cell adherence.* In the heart, magnesium exerts beneficial activity on neuronal excitation and intracardiac conduction, and regulates the proliferation and migration of endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells.*
Several studies have explored the potential benefits of taking quercetin and magnesium together and have established the therapeutic effects of the co-supplementation. The following table highlights several such studies.
Studies Exploring the Combined Beneficial Effects of Quercetin and Magnesium |
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Quercetin has a low chemical stability and an inherent metal-chelating ability. Novel approaches to enhance its biological activity at a lower concentration include forming a quercetin complex with magnesium-doped calcium silicate ceramic that improves bone regeneration.*3
Can I take quercetin and magnesium supplements together? Yes, you can. However, you should consider the following factors before including two or more nutritional supplements in your diet:
Tesseract Medical Research has developed an innovative quercetin formulation that promotes healthy immune function and good cardiovascular health.* Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology ensures the delivery of quercetin molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract to maximize absorption. Unprecedented absorption enables micro-dosing; that is, using less quercetin than previously required to achieve the desired health benefits.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support your health and wellness.*
1Jin S, et al. The association of dietary flavonoids, magnesium and their interactions with the metabolic syndrome in Chinese adults: a prospective cohort study. The British Journal of Nutrition vol. 126,6 (2021):892-902. doi:10.1017/S0007114520004754
2Ghosh N, et al. Synthesis, characterization and study of antioxidant activity of quercetin-magnesium complex. Spectrochimica Acta. Part A, Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy vol. 151 (2015):807-813. doi:10.1016/j.saa.2015.07.050
3Preethi AM, Bellare, JR. Concomitant effect of quercetin- and magnesium-doped calcium silicate on the osteogenic . . . activity of scaffolds for bone regeneration. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 10,10 1170. 27 Sep. 2021, doi:10.3390/antibiotics10101170
Article Summary:
Oxidative stress occurs when the body’s natural antioxidant defenses are insufficient to neutralize its free radical load. This imbalance is a key underlying contributor to several health ailments adversely affecting various organs in the body. Elevated levels of oxidative stress could indicate a greater need for antioxidant supplementation.
Glutathione, a tripeptide known as the body’s master antioxidant, is a critical molecule that helps the liver to detoxify, neutralizes free radicals, acts as a co-factor for several antioxidant enzymes, and is vital to mitochondrial function.*
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10 or ubiquinone) is a fat-soluble molecule that facilitates the transfer of electrons within the mitochondrial oxidative respiratory chain to produce cellular energy (ATP). CoQ10 also enhances the production of vital antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase, to mitigate oxidative stress.* Furthermore, CoQ10 can lower lipid peroxidation levels by inhibiting pro-oxidative compounds.*
Both nutrients have immense therapeutic potential. The question can be asked whether glutathione and CoQ10 can be taken together, and the answer is yes. This post discusses the benefits of taking them together as supplements, supported by several studies that establish their synergistic effects.
The body has several enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms that scavenge free radicals (also called reactive oxygen species, or ROS). The major antioxidative enzymes in the enzymatic mechanism are glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD-1). The beneficial influence of CoQ10 on the activities of these two antioxidative enzymes to lower the level of ROS underscores the idea of taking CoQ10 and glutathione together.
The following table highlights several studies that explore the combined beneficial health effects of glutathione and CoQ10.*
Combined Effects of Glutathione and CoQ10 |
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Ongoing research continues to explore the synergistic effects of glutathione and CoQ10. Although some studies remain inconclusive, the beneficial effects of glutathione and CoQ10 to enhance the body’s antioxidant defense system have been established.
Can glutathione and CoQ10 supplements be taken together? The answer is yes. However, when co-adminstering, the efficacy and safety of the supplement formulation should be considered.
Tesseract Medical Research has developed glutathione and CoQ10 formulations that incorporate the advanced CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology. Molecules such as glutathione are naturally difficult to absorb, while supplemental CoQ10 has traditionally exhibited limited natural bioavailability. Using the Tesseract proprietary technology to deliver these nutrients at the desired point in the intestinal tract achieves optimal absorption. In addition, the unprecedented absorption of active nutrients enables micro-dosing — using a lesser amount of ingredients than previously required to achieve the desired therapeutic outcomes.
Tesseract combines the highest-quality nutrients with cutting-edge delivery systems to better support health and wellness. Tesseract follows Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), including scientifically advanced analytical techniques and quality control systems, to ensure the efficacy and safety of its supplement formulations.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support the body’s antioxidant defense system..*
1Kopets R, et al. Dietary supplementation with a novel l-carnitine multi-micronutrient in idiopathic male subfertility involving oligo-, astheno-, teratozoospermia: A randomized clinical study. Andrology vol. 8,5 (2020): 1184-1193. doi:10.1111/andr.12805
2Turunen M, et al. Metabolism and function of coenzyme Q. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta vol. 1660,1-2 (2004):171-199. doi:10.1016/j.bbamem.2003.11.012
Article Summary:
“Can I take quercetin and curcumin supplements together?”
If you are considering co-supplementation, then you should want to know about any potential contraindications and side effects.
Interestingly, your regular diet might already contain these two phytocompounds. You could be taking quercetin and curcumin together by eating an apple or drinking a turmeric latte or having a curry with onion and turmeric (as a flavoring agent). But what about taking them together as nutritional supplements?
Quercetin and curcumin are natural ingredients in human nutrition and exhibit immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties. The health-promoting benefits of these two natural polyphenols are well established with a relatively favorable safety profile. In this post, we discuss the potential benefits of taking quercetin and curcumin together and why you should consider advanced supplement formulations that optimize the absorption and bioavailability of these nutrients.
Quercetin is a flavonoid polyphenol found in the highest concentrations in red onions, apples, grapes, green tea, parsley, dark cherries, and dark berries. It is an antioxidant that promotes immune functions, helps maintain the body’s normal inflammatory response, and supports a healthy heart.*
Curcumin is the primary bioactive constituent of turmeric root. Its antioxidant properties address exercise-induced muscle soreness, promote immune health, and provide cardiovascular, hepatic, metabolic, and gastrointestinal support.*
Several studies highlight the potential benefits of taking quercetin and curcumin together to promote the immune and antioxidant defense systems.* The following table highlights studies that describe the benefits of co-supplementation of quercetin and curcumin.
Studies Suggesting Benefits of Co-Supplementation of Quercetin and Curcumin |
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Combined effects of quercetin and curcumin on wound healing: The mixture of quercetin and curcumin can inhibit the activities of harmful bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, that may be responsible for certain skin infections.* Additionally, quercetin and curcumin synergistically induce cell migration, which is critical in wound healing.*1 |
Combined effects of quercetin and curcumin on respiratory system: Daily co-supplementation of curcumin and quercetin downregulates hyper-inflammatory responses in the respiratory system, offering the potential to address specific respiratory conditions.*2 |
Combined effects of quercetin and curcumin on abnormal cell growth: Quercetin and curcumin synergistically influence cell signaling pathways to downregulate adverse inflammatory responses by cells and inhibit their abnormal growth.*3 |
Now that you know the potential benefits of taking quercetin and curcumin together, two key factors determine if you should consider co-supplementing them.
Although the positive safety profiles of quercetin and curcumin are well-established, there have been reports about side effects of these two compounds.
Side effects of quercetin: Based on animal studies involving oral intake of quercetin, some potential safety aspects include possible nephrotoxic effects of quercetin in pre-damaged kidneys. Also, there is no adequate scientific data on the long-term use (longer than 12 weeks) of high supplemental quercetin doses (greater than 1,000 mg daily). Animal and human studies with short-term supplemental quercetin intake revealed potential interactions between quercetin and certain medications, resulting in altered drug bioavailability.
Side effects of curcumin: The Allowable Daily Intake (ADI) value of curcumin is 0-3 mg/kg body weight. In a dose-response study, seven subjects receiving 500 – 12,000 mg daily experienced diarrhea, rash, and headache.4 In another study, some subjects receiving 0.45 – 3.6 g/day curcumin for 1-4 months reported nausea and diarrhea.5
The efficacy of taking quercetin and curcumin supplements together depends to a great degree on how they are formulated. Both antioxidants have poor natural absorption and bioavailability, which can make conventional formulations ineffective. Advanced nutrient delivery nanotechnology, such as using cyclodextrins, has been shown to enhance the absorption and solubility of these compounds.
Tesseract Medical Research has developed innovative quercetin and curcumin supplement formulations that optimize their bioavailability, thus tapping their significant health-promoting properties. Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology enables unprecedented absorption of quercetin and curcumin while protecting them from being degraded during their transit through the stomach. The optimal bioavailability of these two nutrients helps in micro-dosing — using them in lesser amounts than previously required to achieve their health benefits.
So, coming back to the original question, “Can I take quercetin and curcumin supplements together?” The answer is, yes! However, always consult with your healthcare provider to understand potential contraindications, if any, with your prescription medications.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, bioavailability and absorption, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they can support your gastrointestinal health.*
1Chittasupho C, et al. Effects of quercetin and curcumin combination on . . . antioxidant, in vitro wound healing and migration of human dermal fibroblast cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences vol. 23,1 142. 23 Dec. 2021, doi:10.3390/ijms23010142
2Ujjan ID, et al. The possible therapeutic role of curcumin and quercetin in the early-stage of COVID-19. Results from a pragmatic randomized clinical trial. Frontiers in Nutrition vol. 9 1023997. 18 Jan. 2023, doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.1023997
3Srivastava NS, Srivastava RAK. Curcumin and quercetin synergistically . . . modulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling and apoptotic pathways in A375 cells. Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology vol. 52 (2019): 117-128. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.224
4Lao CD, et al. Dose escalation of a curcuminoid formulation. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine vol. 6 10. 17 Mar. 2006, doi:10.1186/1472-6882-6-10
5Sharma RA, et al. Phase I clinical trial of oral curcumin: biomarkers of systemic activity and compliance. Clinical Cancer Research: an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research vol. 10,20 (2004): 6847-54. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-0744
Are you considering building a supplement routine?
The first step toward building a supplement routine is to consult your healthcare provider to understand the nutrients your body needs, their advantages, any side effects, and potential contraindications, if any, with prescription medicines. After you have determined the nutrients you should take to accomplish specific health goals, the next step is building a supplement routine.
Here’s what you need to know about how to build a supplement routine for promoting various health functions and overall well-being. Use the links below to jump ahead to a topic of interest.
A supplement routine refers to your daily intake of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to support various health functions and to achieve various wellness goals. Establishing a supplement routine can help you fill nutrient gaps in your diet arising from a specific health condition, dietary restrictions, or a busy schedule. The following table highlights several essential nutrients that should be added to a supplement routine.
Essential Nutrients to Build A Supplement Routine |
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In addition to these essential nutrients, you should consider including botanicals (plant-derived compounds) to provide your body with much-needed antioxidant support.
What are your health, wellness, and fitness goals? Is it boosting your immune system, strengthening your muscles and bones, aiming for healthy aging, achieving cardiovascular fitness? Irrespective of your goals in these areas, you should never forget that a balanced diet, an active lifestyle consisting of moderate-intensity exercises, and adequate sleep are the keys to good health. A supplement routine can further promote health, wellness, and fitness goals by filling nutrient gaps in your diet.
While determining your health, wellness, and fitness goals and building a supplement routine, you should follow some tips, including:
Botanical supplements are formulated with nutrients extracted or derived from plant parts (phytonutrients) and used in traditional and complementary therapies. Botanicals have been historically used across cultures in the form of teas, fresh or dried herbs, decoctions, infusions, and tinctures. Botanical supplements are commercially available as capsules, tablets, softgels, liquids, powders, and gelcaps.
The following table highlights several proven phytonutrients that promote various health functions and should be included in your supplement routine.
Phytonutrients to Support Various Health Functions |
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This nutrient in the body’s endocannabinoid system helps regulate emotional responses to stress, balances immune responses in the gut, induces appetite, enhances learning and memory processes in the brain, and increases adenosine levels, a sleep-inducing molecule in the brain.*1,2,3,4 |
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This phytochemical is extracted from the roots, rhizomes, and stem bark of barberry trees. It promotes glucose and lipid metabolism, supports immune health, and helps in weight management.*5,6,7 |
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Butyric acid benefits the activity of the gut microbiome and helps maintain healthy gastrointestinal inflammatory responses.* Growing evidence on how the gut microbiome influences brain functions suggests the potential role of butyric acid in regulating behavior, including social communication.* |
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CoQ10 is best known for its cardioprotective benefits, which include improving lipid profiles, protecting cardiac muscular tissues from oxidative stress, maintaining normal blood pressure, and countering muscle soreness and cramping caused by statin intake.* |
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It is an amino acid that enhances the levels of L-arginine and nitric oxide (NO), which increases blood flow and induces vasodilation.8 |
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Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that helps maintain the body’s natural inflammatory response.* It promotes optimal functioning of the heart, liver, joints, immune system, and gastrointestinal system.* |
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As a detoxifying agent and the body’s primary antioxidant, glutathione promotes immune functions, the gastrointestinal, nervous, and endocrine systems, and healthy skin and hair.* |
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R-lipoic acid is an antioxidant that supports the endocrine and immune systems and promotes normal heart and brain functions.* |
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Quercetin displays antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties that help maintain normal blood pressure levels, promote healthy kidney function, maintain healthy skin, and enhance gut microbial diversity.* |
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Saw palmetto extract is well known for promoting prostate health, limiting hair loss, regulating testosterone levels, and addressing the urinary discomfort associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).* |
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Thymoquinone helps limit oxidative stress by up-regulating cell signaling pathways and increasing the activity of the cells’ antioxidant system.* |
Your efforts toward building a supplement routine will be futile if you do not use supplement formulations that achieve optimal absorption. Nutrients such as glutathione and curcumin are naturally difficult for the body to absorb and therefore require advanced nutrient delivery technology. The efficacy of a supplement’s active ingredients depends on the following:
Nanodelivery of nutrient molecules through carriers such as cyclodextrins has been found to enhance nutrient absorption and bioavailability, thereby achieving their health-promoting benefits.
Tracking your health, wellness, and fitness results enables you to understand the efficacy of the supplement formulations you are taking. The following are ways to track your health, wellness, and fitness goals.
Building a successful supplement routine relies on including advanced supplement formulations that will transform active nutrients into a therapeutic reality. Tesseract Medical Research has formulated a wide range of supplements with proven nutrients that promote various health and wellness functions. Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology enables the delivery of active nutrient molecules through the gastrointestinal tract — one palatable molecule at a time. CyLoc® technology encases each molecule and creates nano-sized particles, thereby protecting each molecule from breaking down during transit through the stomach. DexKey® technology accompanies each CyLoc® molecule and releases it at the desired point in the intestinal tract for maximum absorption and effectiveness.
This unprecedented absorption of nutrient molecules in the gastrointestinal tract enables micro-dosing, which means using lower amounts of the active ingredients in supplement formulations than previously required.
Tesseract Medical Research is committed to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). We utilize the most appropriate and scientifically advanced analytical techniques, as well as a well-designed quality control system, to develop the finest quality nutritional supplements.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, solubility, maximizing absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support your health, wellness, and fitness goals.*
1Gobbi G, et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2005;102,51:18620-18625. doi:10.1073/pnas.0509591102
2Pandey R, et al. Endocannabinoids and immune regulation. Pharmacological Research 2009;60,2:85-92. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2009.03.019
3Jamshidi N, Taylor DA. British Journal of Pharmacology 2001;134,6:1151-1154. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704379
3Murillo-Rodriguez E, et al. Sleep 2003;26,8:943-947. doi:10.1093/sleep/26.8.943
4Stone NL, et al. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2018;12;269. doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00269
5Li Z, et al. Antioxidant …activities of berberine… Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2014:289264. doi:10.1155/2014/289264
6Yin J, et al. Berberine improves glucose metabolism…. American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism 2008;294(1):E148-E156. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00211.2007
7Rong Q, et al. Berberine reduces lipid accumulation by promoting fatty acid oxidation …. Frontiers in Pharmacology 2022;12:729384. doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.729384
8Miyatake S, et al. Oral administration of L-citrulline alters the vascular delivery of substances to rat skeletal muscles. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports 2021;28:101149. doi:10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.101149
Butyrate, also known as butanoic acid or butyric acid, is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) that is produced in the intestinal tract by microbial fermentation of undigested dietary carbohydrates—in other words, it comes from the gut as the gut breaks down fiber. It exerts beneficial effects on gastrointestinal health by serving as the primary energy source of colonocytes and influencing the gut-brain axis. As the primary metabolic regulator for the energy used in those cells, butyrate has beneficial effects for other body functions both inside and outside the intestinal tract.* In fact, emerging studies have highlighted its impact on various other functions in the body, making it a supplement of significant interest among healthcare practitioners, patients, researchers, and consumers.
Here’s what you need to know about this remarkably versatile nutrient for promoting gut health and beyond.
Interesting Quick Facts About Butyric Acid:
Butyrate provides beneficial effects for several distinct bodily systems. A growing number of studies have revealed new results and nutritional support benefits of butyrate on a wide range of health functions. The table below lists several examples in which butyrate plays an important role in benefiting not just the gastrointestinal environment, but also overall health and wellness.
Beneficial Effects of Butyrate |
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Metabolic Regulation |
Butyrate stimulates the colon to absorb sodium chloride (NaCl), which helps prevent dehydration.* |
Cell Regulation |
Butyrate regulates the cell cycle (growth and division) by inducing beneficial changes in gene expression associated with multiple signaling pathways.* |
Intestinal-Barrier Support |
Butyrate stimulates the MUC2 gene to produce mucin — the glycoproteins (mucus) produced by colonocytes that act as a protective internal coating.* |
Oxidative Stress |
Studies1 show that butyrate down-regulates oxidative stress in the colonic mucosa — the glands and connective tissue that cover the inside of the colon.* |
Immune Regulation |
Butyrate can influence immune responses in intestinal mucosa by up-regulating the migration of beneficial immune cells, their adhesion, and their cellular functions.* |
Intestinal Motility |
Butyrate can enhance colonic motility — the peristaltic motion of the intestine that keeps you “regular.”* |
Beyond the gastrointestinal environment, butyrate has been found to display a wide range of benefits, like maintaining equilibrium through the gut-brain axis, which highlights its potential for addressing various health-related issues.*
You’ve probably heard that including fiber (“roughage”) in your diet helps with digestion, bowel regularity, and weight management. It’s true – the presence of undigested dietary fiber in the intestines is closely associated with the gut’s production of butyrate. Continue reading to learn how.
Dietary fiber refers to edible plant parts that are resistant to digestion or absorption in the small intestine.
These digestion-resistant dietary carbohydrates are made up of:
These carbohydrates are fermented into SCFAs by bacteria in the large intestine. Any remaining dietary fiber not broken down by bacteria travels intact to the colon and adds bulk and weight to stool, making it easier to pass.
A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of butyrate-rich food sources supports the intestinal ecosystem. The following table highlights several food sources that can add fiber to the diet and enhance butyrate production in the gut.
Building a Butyrate-Rich Diet |
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The American Heart Association and Academey of Nutrition and Dietetics recommend 38 grams of dietary fiber daily for men and 25 grams daily for women.
Butyrate Supplements: An Alternative to Fiber-Rich Diets?
While a fiber-rich diet is generally recommended for its numerous helath benefits, there are specific considerations where high fiber intake may not be advisable. In such situations, particularly for individuals expereiencing GI discomfort or issues with gut motility, butyrate supplementation may be beneficial for the following reasons:
In each case, butyrate supplemetation could be a beneficial option for providing comprehensive gut health support. Hether it’s oral ingestion of butyrate mineral salts or sodium butyrate enemas, it is important to tailor its use based on individual tolerance and specific health needs.
Although research studies are inconclusive about the optimal intake of butyrate supplementation, 150-300 mg/day is usually the suggested amount of butyrate to supplement.
When considering an oral butyrate supplement, a question to ask is whether it will really work. Several animal studies have established the beneficial effects of butyrate supplementation in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome.
Even in significantly high amounts, clinical evidence indicates good tolerance of oral butyrate with no adverse reactions or side effects2. The following table indicates how a butyrate supplement can benefit you compared to the oral intake of raw butyric acid.
Comparison: Raw Butyric Acid versus Butyrate Supplement |
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Raw Butyric Acid |
Butyrate Supplement |
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Palatability |
Raw butyric acid has a highly pungent odor and acrid taste, making it difficult to tolerate. |
Advanced supplement formulations make butyrate more palatable, resulting in excellent patient compliance. |
Absorption |
Raw butyric acid is quickly absorbed in the upper part of the GI tract, which reduces its beneficial effects lower down in the colon. (Ineffective delivery.) |
Encapsulated butyrate supplements have the capability to address the utility limitation of raw butyric acid if they are properly designed and formulated to enhance both absorption and release timing. (Target acquired.) |
These significant butyrate supplement benefits make this short-chain fatty acid a reality for maintaining optimal gut health.*
Determining the right butyrate supplement can be challenging while analyzing the various products available on the market. The efficacy of a butyrate supplement depends on the following:
ProButyrate® — a hypoallergenic butyrate formulation developed by Tesseract Medical Research, uses the revolutionary CyLoc® – DexKey® delivery system to enhance the bioavailability and palatability of butyrate molecules.
Tesseract’s proprietary nutrient delivery technology enables the delivery of butyrate molecules through the gastrointestinal tract — one palatable molecule at a time. CyLoc® technology encases each butyrate molecule and creates nano-sized particles, thereby masking butyrate’s unpalatable taste and smell and protecting each molecule from breaking down during transit through the stomach. Tesseract’s DexKey® technology accompanies each CyLoc® molecule and releases the molecule at the desired point in the intestinal tract for maximum absorption and effectiveness.
This unprecedented absorption of butyrate molecules in the gastrointestinal tract enables micro-dosing — the ability to use a lower amount of the active ingredient in the ProButyrate® formulation to achieve and help maintain a healthy inflammatory response in the gastrointestinal tract.* With ProButyrate®, you can take control of your gut health and introduce butyrate supplementation in your diet with ease.*
Tesseract Medical Research is committed to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). We utilize the most appropriate and scientifically advanced analytical techniques, along with a well-designed quality control system, to develop the finest quality nutritional supplements.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support your gastrointestinal health.*
References:
1Hamer HM, Jonkers DM, Bast A, et al. Clinical Nutrition 2009 Feb;28(1):88-93. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2008.11.002. Epub 2008 Dec 23. PMID: 19108937.
2Banasiewicz T, Domagalska D, Borycka-Kiciak K, Rydzewska G. Prz Gastroenterology 2020;15(2):119-125. doi: 10.5114/pg.2020.95556. Epub 2020 Jun 8. PMID: 32550943; PMCID: PMC7294979.
Article Summary:
A supplement stack typically refers to combining two or more nutritional supplements to achieve specific training goals, to enhance athletic performance, or to better leverage a specific health and wellness goal. Supplement stacks can ensure that your body receives the vital nutrients needed to achieve the results you desire.
Interestingly, biological aging, characterized primarily by progressive cellular deterioration, begins right after an individual’s reproductive peak. In particular, oxidative stress, along with out-of-balance inflammatory responses, contributes significantly to aging. Supplement stacks contain a wide range of nutrients that can provide antioxidant support and help maintain normal inflammatory response in cells, which limits the impact of cellular deterioration on various health functions.
This article explains the benefits of combined supplementation, highlighting several research studies, and how to build the best supplement stack for overall health and wellness with Tesseract’s innovative supplement formulations.
A supplement stack can achieve the benefits of combined supplementation. The active nutrients in multiple supplements reinforce each other, with their synergistic activity providing optimal support to various health functions.
It is worth noting that there is no one best supplement stack for overall health and wellness, because it so much depends on an individual’s specific nutritional support requirements. Some of the most common nutrients included in supplement routines are:
The following table summarizes several studies that highlight the benefits of combined supplementation.
Clinical Studies Highlighting the Benefits of Combined Supplementation |
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Combined supplementation of CoQ10 and other nutrients: A combined supplementation of coenzyme Q10, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B12, folic acid, and niacin has been found to enhance cardiac functions and influence insulin resistance.1 | |||
Combined effects of citrulline and beetroot extract: Citrulline and nitrate-rich beetroot extract are nitric oxide precursors. The combined effects of these two compounds can potentially enhance maximal and endurance strength.2 | |||
Effects of a five-ingredient nutritional supplement and resistant exercise: A randomized clinical trial on free-living elderly individuals studied the efficacy of daily intake of a five-ingredient supplement (whey, micellar casein, creatine, vitamin D3, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids), in combination with home-based, unsupervised resistant exercise. The regimen was found to enhance lean mass strength, muscle-to-fat ratios, and muscle quality in the healthy older men.3 |
Although the benefits of combined supplementation have been established through research, before considering a supplement stack, you should focus on a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and moderate exercise.
Supplement stacks might not suit everyone and can cause adverse side effects if you consume the wrong mix of nutrients in too high amounts. Consult your healthcare provider before considering a supplement stack for overall health and wellness.
Tesseract Medical Research has developed a wide range of supplement formulations with trusted nutrients, many of which have traditionally been difficult to absorb. Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® —DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology enhances the palatability, absorption, and bioavailability of these nutrients to help achieve their therapeutic benefits.
The following are several of Tesseract’s innovative formulations to help you build the best supplement stack for overall health and wellness.
Tesseract’s supplement formulations assure unprecedented absorption and bioavailability of nutrients to make achieving their benefits a reality.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support your long-term health and wellness.*
References:
1Tippairote T, et al. Combined supplementation of coenzyme Q10 and other nutrients in specific medical conditions. Nutrients 2022;14,20;4383. doi:10.3390/nu14204383
2Burgos J, et al. Combined effects of citrulline plus nitrate-rich beetroot extract co-supplementation on maximal and endurance-strength and aerobic power in trained male triathletes: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrients 2021;14,1:40. doi:10.3390/nu14010040
3Nilsson MI, et al. A five-ingredient nutritional supplement and home-based resistance exercise improve lean mass and strength in free-living elderly. Nutrients 2020;12,8:2391. doi:10.3390/nu12082391
Originally published 4/11/2023; updated 1/24/2025
Article Summary
High blood pressure increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is diagnosed when systolic blood pressure (SBP) is consistently ≥130 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is consistently ≥80 mmHg.
Curcumin, the main bioactive compound in turmeric, can exert beneficial effects on blood pressure.* The interaction of curcumin with multiple molecular targets has been extensively researched to understand its cardioprotective effects.*
If you are considering a curcumin supplement to support your heart health and help maintain normal blood pressure, here are several research-backed answers to frequently asked questions:
Nitric oxide plays an active role in dilating blood vessels, which helps maintain healthy blood pressure. Curcumin supplementation has been found to enhance the availability of vascular nitric oxide.* The following studies highlight the role of curcumin in promoting heart health:
Amlodipine is a widely used anti-hypertensive drug that blocks the movement of cellular calcium, which relaxes smooth muscles in the heart and blood vessels. As smooth muscles relax, it reduces the amount of pressure exerted by the heart to eject blood during the contraction of the heart’s ventricles. This pressure is recorded as systolic blood pressure.
The results of an animal study evaluating the effect of the co-administration of curcumin with amlodipine suggest that hypertensive individuals taking amlodipine can also consume curcumin without inhibiting amlodipine’s blood-pressure-lowering effect and may derive additional benefit from taking curcumin.*3
Nutrition and lifestyle are critical to maintaining healthy blood pressure and overall heart health. Turmeric has been traditionally incorporated into the diet as a spice or food additive, lending a distinctive yellow color and “curry” flavor to the food. However, curcumin exists in relatively small amounts for the standard use of turmeric for culinary purposes and it undergoes (in rapid succession) rapid absorption, rapid metabolism, and rapid elimination from the body, resulting in poor bioavailability. This is why eating turmeric in foods often does not result in achieving curcumin’s important health benefits.Studies show that various strategies used in formulating curcumin supplements can enhance curcumin’s absorption and bioavailability, making a curcumin supplement the best way to incorporate curcumin into the diet.4
Strategies to Enhance Curcumin Absorption and Bioavailability |
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Lipid additions |
Turmeric oil, piperine, and turmeric oleoresin |
Particle size reduction |
Micellar and nanoparticle formulations |
Enhanced delivery systems |
Solid-lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, and microgels |
The Allowable Daily Intake Value of curcumin, as determined by the European Food Safety Authority, is up to 3 mg/kg of body weight daily (1 kg = 2.2 lbs).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration categorizes turmeric as a ‘Generally Recognized as Safe’ (GRAS) food ingredient, with curcuminoids used as antioxidant and flavoring agents at maximum levels of <20 mg per serving in specific foods.
It is worth noting that there are no definitive statistics on effective amounts of curcumin or turmeric for helping to maintain normal blood pressure and supporting heart health.* However, clinical studies involving the daily administration of single doses of 500 mg to 12,000 mg of curcumin to healthy volunteers show excellent tolerance of curcumin in humans.5
The efficacy of using a curcumin supplement for maintaining a healthy blood pressure level is determined by how well the curcumin is absorbed by the body.* The best curcumin supplement formulation not only enhances curcumin’s bioavailability, it also makes it more palatable and easily tolerated.
Tesseract Medical Research’s TetraCumin® contains tetrahydrocurcumin, a highly bioactive derivative of curcumin. Because of its stable chemical structure and solubility in water, tetrahydrocurcumin exhibits superior potential to curcumin. Tetrahydrocurcumin’s chemical stability contributes to its enhanced bioavailability and absorption in the body, thereby boosting its efficacy.
Tesseract’s revolutionary CyLoc®-DexKey® nutrient delivery technology further enables targeted delivery of active ingredients while masking their unpalatable taste and smell to achieve unprecedented absorption. With TetraCumin®, you can obtain curcumin’s blood pressure-supportive properties for maintaining optimal heart health.*
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support cardiovascular health.*
References:
1Santos-Parker JR, et al. Curcumin supplementation improves vascular endothelial function in healthy middle-aged and older adults by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress. Aging 2017; 9,1:187-208. doi:10.18632/aging.101149
2Hadi A, et al. The effect of curcumin/turmeric on blood pressure modulation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pharmacological Research 2019;150:104505. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104505
3Lee S, et al. Effect of co-administration of curcumin with amlodipine in hypertension. Nutrients 2021;13,8;2797. doi:10.3390/nu13082797
4Stohs SJ, et al. Highly bioavailable forms of curcumin and promising avenues for curcumin-based research and application: A review. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 2020;25,6:1397. doi:10.3390/molecules25061397
5Lao CD, et al. Dose escalation of a curcuminoid formulation. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2006;6:10. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-6-10