Glutathione is a powerful natural antioxidant that supports multiple health functions throughout the body, including the heart, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. Although glutathione (GSH) is produced by the body, its levels can be depleted in response to protein malnutrition, oxidative stress, aging, and several other adverse health conditions. Dietary sources alone might not maintain an optimal glutathione level. A high-quality glutathione nutritional supplement can fill a glutathione gap in your daily diet and promote your overall health and wellness.

With many glutathione supplements on the market it can be challenging to know which supplement will provide the most therapeutic benefit. In the post, we discuss how to look for the best glutathione supplement.

Finding the Best Glutathione Supplement 

Clinical evidence⁵ indicates that consuming glutathione orally, even in a high amount, will create only a limited rise in the level of glutathione in blood and cells because of its poor natural absorption. This can mean a nutritional supplement formulation that contains a high amount of glutathione might not yield the desired health outcome.

Nutritional supplement formulations typically contain 150 mg-1,000 mg of glutathione.

So, how do you determine the best glutathione supplement that will ensure both optimal absorption and a significant rise in the level of glutathione in the systemic circulation? The following table highlights what you should look for on the product label to find the best glutathione supplement. 

What to Look for to Find the Best Glutathione Supplement
Features	What to Look for		Why it’s Important	How to Tell
Absorbability	The formulation should contain S-acetyl-glutathione, a more readily absorbed and effective form of glutathione1.		The body absorbs it more effectively, making it easy to quantify intracellular glutathione.	The product label should list S-acetyl-glutathione as the active ingredient.
Palatability	The formulation should be palatable to achieve user compliance.		Because glutathione supplements can have an unpleasant taste, formulations that use encapsulation techniques can mask the taste and odor.	The product label should indicate an encapsulated glutathione formulation.
Innovative nutrient delivery	Innovative delivery methods, such as nanoformulations, enhance the likelihood of glutathione molecules crossing the plasma membrane, thereby enhancing their absorption in the body.		A nanostructured nutrient delivery method maintains the integrity and stability of the formulation.	The product label should indicate a solubility-enhanced glutathione complex.

Different Delivery Routes of Glutathione Supplementation

There are several different methods to supplement glutathione. The following table highlights the benefits and drawbacks of each glutathione supplement delivery method. 

Glutathione Supplementation Delivery Routes
Oral	Advantage: Most popular, easy to use, and cost-effective.	Drawback: Rapid metabolism of glutathione in the intestine, limiting intact absorption.
Sublingual (under the tongue)	Advantage: Bypasses transit through the stomach by being absorbed directly into the bloodstream through small blood vessels.	Drawback: Noticeable unpleasant taste that compromises user compliance.
Intravenous (IV)	Advantage: Bypasses glutathione dilution in the gastrointestinal tract that otherwise slows glutathione metabolism.	Drawback: Expensive and requires medical supervision.
Intranasal	Advantage: Bypasses the blood-brain barrier to slow glutathione degradation.	Drawback: Nasal congestion adversely affects the efficacy of intranasal glutathione drops/spray.
Nebulized	Advantage: An adjunctive therapy for addressing certain respiratory conditions.	Drawback: Limited data is available on the efficacy of this delivery method.

In most cases, considering the above advantages and disadvantages, the oral route is the most popular and convenient form of glutathione supplementation. However, the type of oral supplementation you choose will make a big difference in therapeutic effects.

Types of Oral Glutathione Supplements

Although the oral route is not considered the most effective delivery method for glutathione supplements, it is the most common method. Glutathione powder, tablets, and capsules are preferred because of their ease of usage. Also, most clinical research on glutathione’s bioavailability and absorption is based on oral supplementation. 

The orobuccal and sublingual routes have been explored to overcome oral glutathione’s absorption and bioavailability challenges:

• Orobuccal formulations: Glutathione is absorbed directly in the oral cavity, which generates much quicker absorption and considerably higher bioavailability. Orobuccal compositions can be formulated as capsules, tablets, or granules. 

• Sublingual formulations: Sublingual glutathione is formulated as lozenges and spray preparations, administered under the tongue, thus directly entering the systemic circulation.  

• Glutathione-cyclodextrin complex formulations: Cyclodextrin-encapsulated glutathione formulations protect the integrity of the active nutrient, thereby increasing its solubility, stability, and bioavailability. 

The following table compares the efficacy of oral glutathione formulations based on their absorption.  

Oral Glutathione Supplement Types
Orobuccal fast-slow glutathione release capsules/ tablets/ granules	Fastest absorption into systemic circulation Rapid rise in serum concentrations2Best alternative to intravenous glutathione
Sublingual glutathione lozenges/ sprays	Better absorption than the oral routeSignificantly increases glutathione level in the bloodDiscernible health effects after four weeks of intake3
Glutathione-cyclodextrin complex tablets/ powders/ capsules	One of the best glutathione supplement formulations for oral intake. The stable complex protects the integrity of glutathione molecules during transit through the stomachEnables targeted delivery of glutathione molecules

Glutathione Absorption Challenges

Glutathione’s poor absorption because of enzymatic degradation and its subsequent rapid elimination from the body results in its oral bioavailability being less than one percent.¹ Consequently, less than one percent of glutathione enters the systemic circulation to exert its beneficial effects. 

The following table highlights several primary challenges of glutathione absorption through the oral route:

Glutathione Absorption Challenges
Rapid metabolism		Most oral glutathione is absorbed in the small intestine, where the activity of the enzyme γ-glutamyltransferase results in its rapid metabolism. The enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in the gastrointestinal tract recycles GSH precursors, which limits glutathione’s intact absorption through the oral route.
Excretion of circulating glutathione		Extracellular glutathione conjugates formed in the liver are excreted through the bile or the urine.

SafeCell® — An Advanced Glutathione Supplement 

An advanced glutathione supplement can enhance the solubility and absorption of the active nutrient, even in microdoses. 

Tesseract Medical Research’s SafeCell® is an innovative, hypoallergenic S-Acetyl-Glutathione complex formulated for optimal bioavailability and absorption. Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology encases each glutathione molecule, protecting it from degradation during transit through the stomach. 

The accompanying DexKey® reactors enable targeted delivery of the active ingredient molecules for enhanced absorption. The result is unprecedented absorption of glutathione in lesser amounts than previously required to achieve the desired health and wellness outcome. 

Why is SafeCell® the Best Glutathione Supplement?
	It contains S-acetyl glutathione for optimal absorption of glutathione molecules.
	It is a glutathione-cyclodextrin complex formulation for enhanced bioavailability and targeted delivery of glutathione.
	The unprecedented glutathione absorption achieved by the formulation enables micro-dosing.
	The formulation is manufactured following Good Manufacturing Practices, including the most appropriate and scientifically-advanced analytical techniques, and a well-designed quality control system.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Glutathione Supplements 

The following are several frequently asked questions about oral glutathione supplements:

Is it safe to take a glutathione supplement during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Limited data exist on the safety and efficacy of prolonged glutathione supplementation during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Consult your health-care provider before including a glutathione supplement in your daily diet during these times.   

Can I take a glutathione supplement with a prescription medicine?

Limited data exists on the potential contraindications of glutathione with prescription medicines. Consult your health-care provider before taking a glutathione supplement with a prescription medicine.

References:

¹Yin N, Harris PWR, Liu M, et al. Enhancing the Oral Bioavailability of Glutathione Using Innovative Analogue Approaches. Pharmaceutics. 2025;17(3):385. Published 2025 Mar 18. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics17030385

²Yin N, et al. Pharmaceutics vol. 17,3 385. 18 Mar. 2025, doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics17030385

²Sharma DK, Sharma P. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology vol. 15 1853-1862. 10 Sep. 2022, doi:10.2147/CCID.S378470

³Giustarini D, et al. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 12,5 1094. 13 May. 2023, doi:10.3390/antiox12051094

⁴Campolo J, et al. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) vol. 38 (2017):41-47. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2016.12.018

⁵Richie JP Jr, et al. Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione. European Journal of Nutrition vol. 54,2 (2015):251-263. doi:10.1007/s00394-014-0706-z

(Note: The term ‘anxiety’ used in this article only refers to non-General Anxiety Disorder anxiety and does not promote supplement products that address any anxiety disorders. Please consult your healthcare provider before including these supplements in your diet.)

Article Summary:

• Multiple social and environmental factors can contribute to stress and anxiety, including nutrient deficiencies that can impact brain and gut health. 
• Nutritional supplements are not a replacement for a balanced diet, but they can help fill nutrient gaps that may ease stress and anxiety.
• Tesseract’s innovative supplement formulations utilize proprietary nutrient delivery nanotechnology to promote optimal neurological and gastrointestinal health.

Stress and anxiety are the occasional queasy feelings of worry or fear that come from dealing with the daily rigors and ups and downs of life. This type of stress or anxiety is different from the severe or persistent anxiety that can adversely impact an individual’s mental well-being and overall health. 

Nutritional supplements, such as anandamide, promote the healthy functioning of the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which in turn supports a healthy response to stress and anxiety¹. Additionally, gut health supplements and antioxidants can help maintain a healthy intestinal microbiome, which can indirectly help alleviate occasional feelings of stress and anxiety².

This blog post highlights several supplements that can help adults navigate the stress of daily life while promoting both neurological and gastrointestinal health.

Anxiety Supplements for Adults: An Overview

What causes stress and anxiety? The exact factors causing stress and anxiety are not fully understood. Various social and environmental factors are certainly potential causes of occasional feelings of stress and anxiety. While nutritional supplements are not a replacement for a well-balanced diet, nutritional supplements may help address nutrient deficiencies, which can result in improved brain and gut health–thus helping to alleviate occasional stress and anxiety..

The body’s endocannabinoid system regulates an individual’s emotions, behavior, mood, and stress responses. The endocannabinoid system is the central integrator linking the perception of external and internal stimuli to specific behavioral outcomes, such as fear, stress, and anxiety. In addition to the ECS system, gut health and oxidative stress have also been attributed to influencing responses to fear, stress, and anxiety. 

The following table highlights the relationship between anxiety, endocannabinoid signaling, gut health, and oxidative stress. 

Correlation between Anxiety, Endocannabinoid System, Gut Health and Oxidative Stress
Stress, anxiety, and endocannabinoid signaling	The human body produces two important endocannabinoids:  anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG).  Enhanced anandamide signaling can alleviate stress and help manage the behavioral signs of anxiety.*3
Stress, anxiety, and gut health	Current evidence supports a functional link between the gut and brain, with significant implications for mood, cognition, and mental health4. Imbalances in the gut microbiome (dysbiosis) can contribute to functional gastrointestinal disruptions. These disruptions are mechanistically linked to stress and anxiety through the gut-brain axis5. Short-chain fatty acids, such as butyric acid, help stabilize the gut microbiome, thus promoting better neurological health6.
Stress, anxiety, and oxidative stress	Oxidative stress is the imbalance between the body’s production of reactive oxygen species (or free radicals) and the ability of the body’s defense mechanism to detoxify these free radicals.  The gene expression involved in antioxidative metabolism is closely associated with anxiety-related phenotypes, suggesting that oxidative stress may play a role in triggering stress, anxiety, and emotional distress7.  Glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant, helps modulate oxidative stress and supports optimal neurological functions8.

When considering the efficacy of nutritional supplements such as butyric acid, and glutathione to better manage stress and anxiety levels, it is also worth noting that these compounds have naturally low bioavailability. Advanced supplement formulations utilize innovative nutrient delivery technology for enhanced absorption.

Selecting the Best Anxiety Supplements

Tesseract Medical Research, a pioneer in advanced supplement manufacturing, has developed a wide range of stress and anxiety supplements. Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology optimizes the solubility and absorption of the active nutrients in Tesseract supplements. The CyLoc® technology surrounds each nutrient molecule in a dextrin fiber matrix, and the accompanying DexKey® reactors release the molecules at the most desirable location in the intestinal tract. 

Tesseract’s innovative smart delivery system enables unprecedented absorption of active nutrients, making these formulations the best choice among the various stress and anxiety supplements on the market. The following table highlights several stress and anxiety supplement formulations developed by Tesseract Medical Research.  

Stress and Anxiety Supplements for Adults
AnaQuell®	This revolutionary and hypoallergenic formulation is developed for enhanced anandamide absorption.  AnaQuell® contains anandamide and L-citrulline for promoting a healthy response to stress, mood changes, mild (non-GAD) anxiety, and emotional upset.* Anandamide exerts an inhibitory effect on mild anxiety9. L-citrulline enhances blood flow and the accompanying nutrient delivery to the brain, thereby beneficially influencing the body’s response to stress, mild anxiety, and emotional upset10.
ProButyrate®	The proprietary complex contains natural butyric acid to promote gut health.   Tesseract’s nutrient delivery system overcomes the palatability, bioavailability, and absorption challenges associated with butyric acid. ProButyrate helps maintain a healthy inflammatory response in the gut, thus supporting gastrointestinal and neurological health.* The advanced formulation makes obsolete the conventional method of butyrate supplementation, such as sodium butyrate enemas or oral ingestion of butyrate mineral salts.
SafeCell®	The formulation contains an acetylated form of glutathione.  The body’s ‘master antioxidant’ is traditionally a difficult-to-absorb molecule through oral administration.  Tesseract’s nutrient delivery technology enables targeted delivery of glutathione molecules for optimal absorption.  SafeCell supports the body’s natural detoxification pathways and neutralizes free radicals, thus promoting optimal neurological health.*

All Tesseract formulations are developed using the highest-quality nutrients, advanced analytical techniques, and a well-designed quality control system and are manufactured following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). 

References:

¹Morena M, et al. The Journal of Neuroscience: the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience vol. 39,7 (2019):1275-1292. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2251-18.2018

²Khan MT, et al. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2025;607:112599. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2025.112599

³Cryan JF, et al. Physiol Rev. 2019;99(4):1877-2013. doi:10.1152/physrev.00018.2018

⁴Kalkan AE, et al. Nutrients. 2025;17(8):1305. Published 2025 Apr 9. doi:10.3390/nu17081305

⁵Hassan W, et al. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2014;12(2):120-139. doi:10.2174/1570159X11666131120232135

⁶Pizzorno, Joseph. “Glutathione!.” Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.) vol. 13,1 (2014): 8-12.

⁷Scherma, Maria et al. Acta pharmacologica Sinica vol. 40,3 (2019): 309-323. doi:10.1038/s41401-018-0075-x

⁷Appleton J. Integrative Medicine (Encinitas, Calif.) vol. 17,4 (2018):28-32.

⁸Bouayed J, et al. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity vol. 2,2 (2009):63-67. doi:10.4161/oxim.2.2.7944

¹⁰Li, Aiqin et al. Journal of exercise science and fitness vol. 23,3 (2025): 222-228. doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2025.04.004

Mental health is defined by your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Your mental health affects your thoughts, emotions, and ability to cope with life’s normal stresses and anxieties. 

An important aspect of supporting your mental health is daily nutrition. Nutritional supplements can be a great consideration to fill any gaps in the daily diet. In addition to nutrition, the endocannabinoid system– a complex cell-signaling system in the body that helps regulate various physiological processes, including mood, sleep, and pain– has been a recent target for mental health supplementation. So, which supplements for mental health support should you consider? 

Endocannabinoids are endogenous lipid-based neurotransmitters (such as anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol) produced naturally within the body, acting on cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) to regulate physiological processes including mood, stress response, and synaptic plasticity. 

In contrast, cannabinoids is a broader term that includes phytocannabinoids (plant-derived, e.g., THC and CBD from Cannabis sativa), synthetic cannabinoids, and endocannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids are exogenous compounds that can activate or modulate the same receptors but have distinct pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and side effect profiles compared to endogenous endocannabinoids. 

Get the answers to common questions about mental health supplements, including the role of endocannabinoids and the benefits of including advanced supplement formulations in your routine. Use the links below to jump ahead to different topics on the page.

Neurological Health: An Overview	Neurological and Gastrointestinal Health: The Relationship
Food Sources That Promote Neurological Health	Endocannabinoids: What is Their Role in the Body?
Anandamide: The Endocannabinoid Produced by the Body	Tesseract’s Advanced Mental Health Support Supplement Formulations
Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health Support Supplements

Neurological Health: An Overview

Neurological health is defined as the healthy functioning of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system (the nerves). 

Your neurological system accounts for your: 

• Intelligence
• Thoughts
• Memory
• Learning
• Emotions
• Perception
• Sensations
• Physical movement
• Autonomic body functions 

Mental health refers to the state of an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. 

Mental health is greatly dependent on the health of the nervous system, in addition to overall physical health.

Emerging research has highlighted the correlation between nutrient deficiencies and adverse neurological conditions.¹ Several studies highlight the potential impact of diet on mood disorders, including depression and anxiety.^2,3

Both macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants) play vital roles in the proper functioning of the nervous system and promote mental well-being. 

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Neurological and Gastrointestinal Health: The Relationship

A growing body of research suggests that disturbances in the gut-brain axis (the communication system that connects the gut and the brain) can contribute to mental health disorders. We know that the gastrointestinal tract is lined with trillions of beneficial microbes (like bacteria, fungi, and viruses) collectively known as the gut microbiome. These microbes are necessary for many essential functions, including digesting food, producing vitamins, regulating the immune system, protecting against harmful pathogens, metabolizing drugs, maintaining gut health, regulating metabolism, and influencing mood and mental health.⁴

Dysfunction in the gut microbiome is associated with poor cognitive performance.⁵ Conversely, certain neurological conditions can adversely affect gut function and cause imbalanced inflammatory responses in the gastrointestinal environment⁶. Micronutrients, as well as prebiotic and probiotic supplements, have been shown to support a healthy gut microbiome,  indicating their potential beneficial role for promoting mental health.^7,8  

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Food Sources That Promote Neurological Health

Food sources rich in vitamins (such as folic acid, vitamin D), minerals (such as zinc and magnesium), polyunsaturated fatty acids (such as omega-3 fatty acids), amino acids (such as glycine and N-acetylcysteine), and probiotics (as well as postbiotics) are known to promote mental health. The following table highlights food sources that promote good neurological health:

Foods that Promote Healthy Brain Function
Vegetables and fruits	Vegetables and fruits contain kaempferol, a flavonoid with antioxidant and neuroprotective effects.9 Examples of vegetables containing kaempferol include cruciferous, yellow, and green leafy vegetables, such as kale, cabbage, green beans, cucumber, squash, tomatoes, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.  Examples of fruits containing kaempferol include berries (gooseberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries), apples, grapes, citrus fruits, peaches, and grapefruit.
Proteins	Meat, fish, seafood, and eggs are rich sources of arachidonic acid — an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid that displays immuno-modulating properties and plays a critical role in neurodevelopment.10
Spices and herbs	Spices, such as black pepper and long pepper, contain a novel plant compound, guineensine, that can help maintain normal inflammatory responses in the nervous system.11 Herbs like dill, chives, saffron, and tarragon contain kaempferol.
Beverages	Beverages like tea — particularly green and black Kenyan tea — also contain kaempferol.
Chocolates and Truffles	The mood-boosting effects of unprocessed chocolate are attributed to cacao beans or nibs, which contain various beneficial compounds, including anandamide (an endocannabinoid neurotransmitter produced in the body).  Truffles are underground mushrooms that contain endocannabinoid metabolic enzymes that enhance the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the body (a system that regulates neurotransmitters, immune function, metabolism, pain and sensory perception, and protection of the nervous system).
Probiotics & Postbiotics	Foods rich in probiotics, like yogurt, cheese, and kombucha, support the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome, indirectly promoting mental wellness.  Certain microbiome imbalances can lead to low levels of butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid produced by certain bacteria in the gut when they break down fiber.  Butyric acid plays an important role in keeping the gut healthy by providing energy to the cells lining the intestines and by helping to maintain a strong barrier against harmful substances.  Supplementation can be useful in conditions where levels are low. Postbiotic nutrients, such as butyric acid, support brain health by countering gastrointestinal disturbance caused by microbiome imbalances.

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Endocannabinoids: What is Their Role in the Body?

You may have heard of cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are a class of compounds with psychoactive properties (substances that affect your mind, mood, emotions, and behavior) that exert an overall modulatory effect on the brain reward circuitry, thereby supporting mental and emotional health.¹² Cannabinoids can be derived both from plants and are also produced by our bodies (referred to as ‘endocannabinoids’). Examples of plant-derived cannabinoids include Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol are two endocannabinoids produced in the body. 

The plant-derived cannabinoid THC interacts directly with the body’s endocannabinoid receptors to mimic the functions of endocannabinoids. CBD, on the other hand, works indirectly with endocannabinoid receptors to enhance endogenous anandamide signaling. 

It should be noted that the use of cannabinoids THC and CBD products as nutritional supplements or food additives is much debated. In contrast, anandamide supplements are a suitable alternative to THC/CBD to promote mental health.*

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Anandamide: The Endocannabinoid Produced by the Body 

Let’s understand what anandamide is before considering its beneficial effects. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the body consists of a group of neuro-modulatory lipids that influence emotional processing. The key components of the ECS are —

• Endocannabinoids: Anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol

• Endocannabinoid receptors: Including the CB1 and CB2 receptors

• Associated enzymes: Including fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol acid lipase  

Chemically, anandamide is arachidonyl-ethanolamide, a lipid-based neurotransmitter that binds to the cannabinoid receptors in different regions of the body and brain. The following table highlights the potential benefits of anandamide on brain health:

How Does Anandamide Promote Mental Health?
Anandamide binds to CB1 receptors that induce dopamine release in the brain, resulting in a sense of temporary pleasure.*13Anandamide participates in maintaining serotonin levels, which beneficially influences stress-related behaviors.*14Anandamide modulates vigilance states and benefits sleep cycles.*15,16Anandamide supports the release of endorphins, thereby promoting a sense of well-being.*15

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Tesseract’s Advanced Mental Health Support Supplement Formulations

Tesseract Medical Research’s AnaQuell^® is an innovative nutritional supplement formulation that supports the body’s natural response to stress.* The proprietary complex contains a combination of anandamide and L-citrulline to promote mental health. The addition of L-citrulline to the formula supports nitric oxide (NO) production, which helps maintain healthy blood flow and promotes good cardiovascular health⁴.

AuRx® is a gold-standard medical food (designed or formulated) to support those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), featuring a stabilized butyric acid complex delivered in a palatable powder to ensure user compliance, especially in children. 

Tesseract’s proprietary and innovative CyLoc^® – DexKey^® technology enhances the solubility and absorption of the active nutrients in the above two formulations to achieve their health-promoting benefits. This nanomolecular nutrient delivery system maintains the integrity of nutrient molecules during transit through the stomach, thereby enabling their targeted delivery at the desired point in the intestinal tract for optimal absorption. 

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FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health Support Supplements 

Why should you consider taking a mental health support supplement?

You should consider a mental health support supplement to:

1. Complement an inadequate diet or support low plasma levels of a specific nutrient. 
2. Fill common nutritional gaps of specific nutrients lacking in the typical Western diet. 
3. Enhance the bioavailability and absorption of nutrients to achieve their health benefits. 

Are there side effects to taking a mental health support supplement?

Mental health support supplements are generally safe. However, research shows that the overstimulation of CB1 receptors can disrupt the brain’s reward circuitry*. Hence, it is always best to consult your health-care provider before starting a new supplement for mental health support. 

Can I take a mental health support supplement with a prescription medicine?

There can be interactions between mental health support supplements and prescription medications. Limited data exist on the use of these supplements with prescription medications and on the prolonged intake of these supplements with prescription medications. Therefore, consult your healthcare provider before taking a mental health support supplement with a prescription medication.  

What are the features of an advanced mental health support supplement?

When considering an advanced mental health support supplement, you should look for the following features:

1. Optimal absorption: Formulations with advanced nutrient delivery systems enhance the bioavailability of the supplement’s active nutrients, resulting in optimal absorption.  

2. Targeted delivery: Targeted delivery of the supplement’s active nutrients at the desired point in the intestinal tract enables the controlled release of the nutrient molecules.  

3. Micro-dosing: Micro-dosing refers to achieving the desired health benefits of an active nutrient in a lower dose than previously required. Micro-dosing allows for multiple nutrients to be highly efficacious via a single capsule.  

Tesseract’s mental health support supplement formulations have these three features to achieve the benefits of active nutrients to promote emotional and mental well-being.*

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References:

¹Tsalamandris G, et al. The role of nutrition in neurological disorders. Nutrients vol. 15,22 4713. 7 Nov. 2023, doi:10.3390/nu15224713

²Carabotti M, et al. The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Annals of Gastroenterology vol. 28,2 (2015):203-209.

³Scherma M, et al. Brain activity of anandamide: a rewarding bliss? Acta Pharmacologica Sinica vol. 40,3 (2019):309-323. doi:10.1038/s41401-018-0075-x

⁴Ahmad, Ashfaq et al. International journal of molecular sciences vol. 19,9 2605. 3 Sep. 2018, doi:10.3390/ijms19092605

Curcumin nutritional supplements are among the top-selling supplements on the market and are widely popular because of curcumin’s numerous health-promoting benefits. Curcumin, the yellow pigment in turmeric, is an antioxidant that promotes the health of the heart, bones, muscles, liver, immune system, and gut.*

Several curcumin supplement formulations are available commercially, which can make selecting a high-quality supplement challenging. So what should you consider when searching for the best curcumin supplement? What are the features of an advanced curcumin formulation that can support your health and help meet your wellness goals?

In this guide, we’ll explore curcumin’s absorption challenges, features that make a formulation high-quality for achieving optimal benefits of curcumin supplements, and why including an advanced curcumin supplement in your regimen can support your health goals. Use the links below to jump ahead to different topics on the page.

Curcumin Supplementation: The Health Benefits	Types of Curcumin  Products
Common Challenges with Curcumin Supplements	What Makes A Formulation the Best Curcumin Supplement?
How to Increase Curcumin Absorption	Types of Innovative Curcumin Supplement Formulations
Including An Innovative Curcumin Supplement in Your Diet

Curcumin Supplementation: The Health Benefits

Turmeric has been used for centuries across different cultures because of the health-promoting benefits of its main component, curcumin. Let’s understand how curcumin supplementation supports different health functions. 

The Health Benefits of Curcumin Supplementation
Cardiovascular health	The cardioprotective benefits of curcumin are closely associated with its role in the signaling pathways involved in cellular proliferation, cell death, and the body’s inflammatory response.*  Multiple systematic reviews1 indicate the  ability of curcumin to help improve lipid profiles and maintain a normal cholesterol level.*
Musculoskeletal health	Curcumin promotes a healthy inflammatory response to non-chronic musculoskeletal and joint discomfort2.  Several clinical trials indicate the role of curcumin in supporting joint health3.
Gastrointestinal health	Curcumin and its metabolites positively influence the gut microbiota by supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria strains, such as butyrate-producing bacteria.4
Immune health	Curcumin is a potent immuno-supportive agent that up-regulates the activation of beneficial immune cells5.  Curcumin down-regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, the signaling molecules that can cause an imbalanced inflammatory response6.*
Hepatic health*	Studies indicate that curcumin helps lower lipid levels in the blood, which further limits the concentration of lipids and fatty acids in liver cells.7 The antioxidant properties of curcumin positively influence various cell signaling pathways, including the NF-κβ signaling pathway, that promote liver health8.

The health-promoting effects of curcumin are attributed to its: 

• Antioxidant effects: As an antioxidant, curcumin acts to limit oxidative stress — the imbalance at the cellular level when harmful reactive oxygen species overwhelm the body’s natural antioxidants.  Curcumin also up-regulates the activity of antioxidant enzymes that strengthen the body’s antioxidant defence mechanism. 

• Inflammatory response support: Curcumin up-regulates the action of the immune cells that help maintain balanced inflammatory responses. In addition, it down-regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines — proteins that can cause an imbalance in the immune system’s normal response.

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Types of Curcumin Products

You might be using products that contain curcumin as a flavoring agent or as a coloring agent in teas, energy drinks, soaps, and cosmetics. Commercially available curcumin nutritional supplements are available in different forms for oral intake, as well as in topical applications. 

Types of Curcumin Products
Powders	Tablets
Capsules	Liquid turmeric
Sprays	Ointments

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Common Challenges with Curcumin Supplements

When you are looking for a high quality oral curcumin supplement, you should be aware of the common challenges with most formulations. 

• Palatability: Have you ever tasted raw turmeric or turmeric powder? Its bitter and pungent taste can make it difficult to ingest even when added to juice or other drinks. This natural unpalatable taste of curcumin remains in most commercially available oral supplements, too. 
  
  Some supplement formulations are recommended to be held under the tongue for a period of time to enhance curcumin’s absorption. Several other formulations require a considerable amount of curcumin to be taken to experience the desired benefits. In these instances, the unpleasant taste of curcumin can make it difficult to achieve user compliance. 
• Absorption: Because curcumin is a fat-soluble molecule, it does not dissolve well in the aqueous environment of the gastrointestinal tract, a major factor leading to its rapid metabolism and elimination from the body. The poor absorption of curcumin lowers its bioavailability — the amount of curcumin that enters the circulation to exert health-promoting effects. 

These factors contribute to the minimal absorption of curcumin and its rapid elimination from the body. 

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What Makes An Oral Curcumin Formulation the Highest Quality Supplement? 

When considering a curcumin supplement, determine whether the formulation contains actual curcumin extract instead of whole turmeric root. Although turmeric root in a supplement formulation might seem all-natural, it would not achieve the desired benefit for the following reasons. 

• Curcumin is the principal compound responsible for turmeric’s anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. 
• Standardized curcumin supplements provide a consistent and higher dose of curcumin, whereas whole turmeric root contains only 2–5% curcumin by weight, resulting in much lower and variable curcumin intake.⁽⁹⁾ 
• Lastly, curcumin’s poor oral bioavailability—due to low absorption, rapid metabolism, and rapid systemic elimination—limits its effectiveness when consumed as turmeric root or standard curcumin powder.⁽¹⁰⁾ 

The following table highlights several key features of a high quality oral  curcumin supplement: 

Key Features of A High Quality Oral Curcumin Supplement
Palatability: The formulation should be palatable to help achieve user compliance.
Absorption: The formulation should utilize a nutrient delivery system that optimizes the absorption of curcumin.
Bioavailability: The formulation should contain the most bioavailable form of curcumin for optimal solubility.

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How to Increase Curcumin Absorption

Have you wondered why traditional recipes call for using turmeric powder in milk (instead of water) or putting it in oil while making a curry? Curcumin’s poor absorption has been known for ages and various methods have been tried to enhance its bioavailability.  

Conventional Methods

Traditional dietary practices involve taking curcumin with digestible lipids, such as milk, or heating curcumin in oil and then mixing it with food. 

1. Curcumin intake with a fatty meal. Have you wondered why the ‘super drink’ Turmeric Latte contains turmeric mixed with milk instead of water? Curcumin, being fat-soluble, mixes relatively well with the fats in milk to increase its absorption. As a spice, turmeric powder is added to oil-based curry to enhance absorption. 

2. Curcumin intake with piperine. Piperine, a natural compound in black pepper, can improve the bioavailability of curcumin. Such compounds, known as adjuvants, help optimize the solubility of an active nutrient. Piperine, when taken along with curcumin, stimulates the gastrointestinal system for better absorption of the active nutrient; however, this may potentially cause adverse digestive side effects. 

3. Turmeric oil intake. Turmeric oil is used for oral intake and topical applications and has been found to enhance curcumin’s absorption.

Innovative Nutrient Delivery Technology

Innovative nutrient delivery techniques look beyond adjuvants and conventional dietary practices to enhance curcumin’s bioavailability. Some of the common techniques include liposomal encapsulations, powder nanoparticles, and phospholipid complexes.

A Stable Curcumin Metabolite As An Active Ingredient

Tetrahydrocurcumin, a primary metabolite of curcumin, displays pharmacological activities similar to curcumin, but it is more stable and bioavailable. As a result, tetrahydrocurcumin is easily absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract. 

Research suggests that tetrahydrocurcumin is more bioactive than curcumin and appears to be a superior antioxidant because of its enhanced bioavailability¹¹.

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Types of Innovative Curcumin Supplement Formulations

The poor natural bioavailability of curcumin is due to several factors, including — 

• Low water solubility of the molecule
• Poor permeability in the gastrointestinal tract
• Instability of the curcumin molecule
• Fast metabolism of curcumin in the body

Although adjuvants, such as piperine and turmeric oil, can inhibit or delay curcumin metabolism, innovative formulations offer longer circulation, enhanced permeability, and resistance to metabolic processes. 

How do you identify an innovative curcumin supplement formulation? Read the product label, and if it says the formulation contains liposomes, micelles, nanoparticles, or phospholipid complexes, then it is an innovative supplement formulation. 

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Including An Innovative Curcumin Supplement in Your Diet

TetraCumin,^® developed by Tesseract Medical Research, is an innovative curcumin formulation. Why? 

• TetraCumin contains tetrahydrocurcumin — the stable curcumin metabolite — as an active ingredient.

• TetraCumin utilizes Tesseract’s innovative CyLoc^® – DexKey^® technology — a nutrient delivery nanotechnology that enhances curcumin’s palatability , maximizes absorption, and enables micro-dosing. 

Tesseract’s nutrient delivery technology makes TetraCumin® an excellent curcumin nutritional supplement.

Tesseract’s CyLoc® technology encases each curcumin molecule in a dextrin fiber delivery cage to mask the unpalatable taste while maintaining its molecular integrity during transit through the stomach. Tesseract’s DexKey^® technology releases the tetrahydrocurcumin molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract, allowing for optimal absorption and bioavailability of each molecule. 

As one of the best curcumin supplements, TetraCumin® makes curcumin a health-promoting reality, in lesser amounts than previously required, to better promote your health and wellness.*  

References:

¹Unhapipatpong C, et al. Nutr Rev. 2025;83(8):1520-1536. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuaf012

²Peng, Ying et al.Drug design, development and therapy vol. 15 4503-4525. 2 Nov. 2021, doi:10.2147/DDDT.S327378

³Gupta, Subash C et al.The AAPS journal vol. 15,1 (2013): 195-218. doi:10.1208/s12248-012-9432-8

⁴Dulbecco P, Savarino V. Therapeutic potential of curcumin . . . . World Journal of Gastroenterology vol. 19,48 (2013):9256-9270. doi:10.3748/wjg.v19.i48.9256

^5,6Allegra A, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(23):14710. Published 2022 Nov 25. doi:10.3390/ijms232314710

⁷Vera-Ramirez L, et al. Curcumin . . . . BioFactors (Oxford, England) vol. 39,1 (2013):88-100. doi:10.1002/biof.1057

⁸Xie YL, et al. Biomed Pharmacother. 2017;91:70-77. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2017.04.070

⁹Akaberi M, et al. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1291:15-39. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-56153-6_2

¹⁰Liu S, et al. Molecules. 2022;27(14):4400. Published 2022 Jul 8. doi:10.3390/molecules27144400

¹¹Aggarwal BB, et al. Curcumin differs from tetrahydrocurcumin for molecular targets, signaling pathways and cellular responses. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 20,1 185-205. 24 Dec. 2014, doi:10.3390/molecules20010185

Article Summary:

• Curcumin, widely known for its many health benefits, including its ability to support the body’s natural inflammatory response and strengthen immune function
• Curcumin’s poor natural absorption and bioavailability compromise its health-promoting benefits.
• Tesseract’s unique curcumin supplement formulation utilizes a proprietary nutrient delivery nanotechnology to achieve optimal solubility of curcumin. 

Curcumin, the key metabolite derived from the underground stem of the turmeric plant, is well known for its health-promoting benefits. From mitigating oxidative stress to maintaining normal inflammatory responses in cells, curcumin promotes various health functions, including immune, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal health^1,2. However, ingesting curcumin by itself does not lead to its associated health benefits because of its poor natural absorption, rapid metabolism, and rapid elimination from the body. 

The unpleasant bitter taste of curcumin may be a barrier to achieving its use in supplement form. So, what are some of the most effective strategies to take curcumin as an oral supplement? This blog post answers several frequently asked questions about curcumin intake, how its bioavailability can be optimized, and why you should include an advanced curcumin supplement in your healthcare routine. 

Challenges to Curcumin Absorption — An Overview

Although pure curcumin has immense health benefits, it is not chemically stable under physiological conditions. Before determining the effective ways to take curcumin, it is critical to understand the challenges to its absorption. The following are the causes of the poor absorption and bioavailability of curcumin: 

• Because curcumin is a fat-soluble molecule, it does not absorb well in the gastrointestinal tract’s aqueous environment. 
• Curcumin undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism in the intestinal mucosa and liver, which rapidly converts curcumin into inactive metabolites and further reduces its systemic availability.³
• Curcumin’s rapid elimination through the liver results in its poor bioavailability, even when ingested in high amounts⁴. 

What are Some Effective Strategies to Take Curcumin as an Oral Supplement? 

To achieve curcumin’s health-promoting benefits, the best way to take curcumin is to overcome its palatability and solubility challenges. Bioavailability-enhancers, such as piperine, and lipid addition, such as turmeric oleoresin and turmeric oil, can enhance the bioavailability of curcumin to a certain extent. 

The following table highlights several ways to take curcumin as an oral supplement:

How Should You Take Curcumin as an Oral Supplement?
Consuming curcumin with a meal rich in healthy fats	It is a traditional dietary practice of taking turmeric, containing curcumin, with digestible lipids, such as milk, or heating curcumin in oil and then mixing it with food. Since curcumin is lipophilic, consuming it with a meal containing healthy fats enhances its absorption 5.
Combining curcumin with enhancing agents	Piperine is a major active component of black pepper and can increase the bioavailability of curcumin by 2,000 percent. 6
Taking curcumin supplement formulations	Free curcumin molecules naturally cluster together, hindering cellular absorption. In contrast, curcumin formulations containing powder nanoparticles and loaded emulsions display higher cellular uptake and bioaccessability 7,8.

Including An Advanced Curcumin Supplement Formulation in Your Healthcare Routine

When considering taking a curcumin supplement, it is best to choose a formulation that enhances its absorption and bioavailability. Although curcumin is chemically unstable in the gastrointestinal environment, tetrahydrocurcumin, an active metabolite of curcumin, is both more stable and more water-soluble than curcumin. As a result, tetrahydrocurcumin displays enhanced absorption and bioavailability, making it more effective than curcumin⁹. 

TetraCumin^® is an innovative curcumin supplement developed by Tesseract Medical Research. It contains the bioactive tetrahydrocurcumin for helping to maintain a healthy inflammatory response and for promoting joint and muscle health.*

Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc^® – DexKey^® nutrient delivery system further enhances tetrahydrocurcumin’s absorption, enveloping each tetrahydrocurcumin molecule in its smart delivery system to protect its integrity and to deliver each molecule at the desired point in the gastrointestinal tract. 

The targeted delivery of nutrient molecules results in unprecedented absorption and enables micro-dosing, achieving faster physiological responses with lower amounts of the active ingredients. The targeted delivery, unprecedented absorption, and micro-dosing of the active ingredient make TetraCumin one of the best ways to achieve curcumin’s positive health outcomes.

References:

¹Dehzad MJ, et al. Cytokine. 2023;164:156144. doi:10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156144

³Pan-On S, Dilokthornsakul P, Tiyaboonchai W. Trends in advanced oral drug delivery system for curcumin: A systematic review. J Control Release. 2022;348:335-345. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.05.048

⁴Pan-On S, Dilokthornsakul P, Tiyaboonchai W. Trends in advanced oral drug delivery system for curcumin: A systematic review. J Control Release. 2022;348:335-345. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.05.048

⁵Schönenberger KA, et al. The influence of food matrices on the bioavailability of curcuminoids from a dried colloidal turmeric suspension: a randomized, crossover, clinical trial. Food Funct. 2025;16(2):774-784. Published 2025 Jan 20. doi:10.1039/d4fo03414g

⁶Shoba G, et al. Planta Medica vol. 64,4 (1998):353-356. doi:10.1055/s-2006-957450

⁷Nelson KM, et al. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry vol. 60,5 (2017):1620-1637. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00975

⁸Luo H, Li Z, Yao M, McClements DJ, Xiao H. Impact of excipient emulsions made from different types of oils on the bioavailability and metabolism of curcumin in gastrointestinal tract. Food Chem. 2022;370:130980. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130980

⁹Zhou M, Li R, Hua H, et al. The role of tetrahydrocurcumin in disease prevention and treatment. Food Funct. 2024;15(13):6798-6824. Published 2024 Jul 1. doi:10.1039/d3fo05739a

Article Summary:

• Glutathione is considered to be the ‘master antioxidant’ because of its significant role in several biochemical processes that limit oxidative stress and support detoxification pathways.* 
• Natural glutathione is known for its poor absorption and low bioavailability, which hinders its efficacy as a nutritional supplement.  
• Tesseract’s innovative glutathione supplement formulation enables optimal absorption of glutathione through proprietary nutrient delivery nanotechnology.

When the body produces and accumulates an excess of free radicals, the balance between free radicals and antioxidants is disrupted. The resulting state of imbalance, known as oxidative stress, results in free radicals targeting cellular organelles, damaging lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. 

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation and the production of free radicals, thereby protecting cells from damage caused by oxidative stress.* The body can generate its own antioxidants, such as glutathione, coenzyme Q10, uric acid, bilirubin, L-arginine, lipoic acid, melatonin, and transferrin. Some antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, flavonoids, carotenoids, trace metals, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, can be consumed in the diet or taken as nutritional supplements.

Glutathione — The ‘Master Antioxidant’

Glutathione, a key antioxidant produced in the cells, consists of three amino acids — cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid. Glutathione is present in almost every cell in the body at the same concentration as some other vital nutrients, such as potassium and glucose. Glutathione is the primary antioxidant, detoxifying agent, and critical redox regulator that helps maintain normal inflammatory responses,* making it the ‘master antioxidant.’ 

This blog post explains glutathione’s antioxidant properties, its bioavailability challenges, and why you should include an advanced glutathione supplement in your wellness plan or health routine.   

Glutathione’s Antioxidant Properties

A glutathione deficiency in the body is linked to cognitive decline, mitochondrial dysfunction, and other age-associated degeneration of health functions.* Recent research suggests that nutritional interventions, including amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals through diet and nutritional supplements, can help maintain an optimal circulating level of glutathione in the body.*¹ 

Glutathione exerts its antioxidant effects primarily through reduction, conjugation, and interaction with other antioxidants.* The following table highlights glutathione’s antioxidant properties and how it eliminates toxins from the body and helps maintain the body’s antioxidant defense system.*²

Glutathione’s Antioxidant Properties: An Overview
Function	Description
Reduction	Glutathione reductase (GRx) reduces glutathione disulfide (GSSG) into GSH through enzyme reduction. GSH directly acts as an antioxidant to protect cells against free radicals and pro-oxidants.* GSH is a cofactor for antioxidant and detoxification enzymes.*
Conjugation	GSH combines with foreign substances, such as heavy metals, toxins, electrophiles, and others, and eliminates them from the body.* GSH is a cofactor for glutathione S-transferases (GST) during the detoxification of electrophilic substances and xenobiotics.*
Interaction	GSH interacts with other antioxidants, like vitamin C, to replenish and recycle one another.* GSH can regenerate vitamin E following detoxification reactions of vitamin E with lipid peroxyl radicals.*

In addition, glutathione is involved in other beneficial cellular processes, such as protein folding, degradation of proteins with disulfide bonds, cell cycle regulation and proliferation, and beneficial cell death (apoptosis).*   

Although glutathione is a critical antioxidant and is endogenously produced by the body, its absorption is generally poor when taken orally as a supplement. Intestinal enzymes break down glutathione during its transit through the gastrointestinal tract, leading to poor absorption and low bioavailability. Glutathione is conventionally known as a ‘difficult-to-absorb’ molecule. However, advanced nutrient delivery technologies have overcome glutathione’s solubility challenges.³ 

Incorporating a Glutathione Supplement In Your Diet

The efficacy of a glutathione nutritional supplement depends on its absorption and bioavailability.

Advanced supplement formulations utilize nanotechnology for the targeted delivery of glutathione molecules to achieve the desired health-promoting outcomes.  

Tesseract Medical Research has developed SafeCell^® — an innovative nutritional supplement formulation that contains an acetylated form of glutathione. SafeCell utilizes the proprietary CyLoc^® – DexKey^® nanomolecular nutrient delivery technology to enable unprecedented absorption of glutathione molecules. 

The CyLoc^® technology creates nano-sized particles of the active nutrient for better absorption. The accompanying DexKey^® reactors release the CyLoc® molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract. The resulting unprecedented absorption achieves glutathione’s potent antioxidant properties, making it a bioavailable reality. 

Reference:

¹Minich, Deanna M, and Benjamin I Brown. Nutrients vol. 11,9 2073. 3 Sep. 2019, doi:10.3390/nu11092073

²Averill-Bates DA. Vitamins and Hormones vol. 121(2023):109-141. doi:10.1016/bs.vh.2022.09.002

³Losada-Barreiro, Sonia et al. Pharmaceutics vol. 16,7 852. 25 Jun. 2024, doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics16070852

Article Summary: 

• Quercetin’s antioxidative and immunomodulatory properties are hindered by quercetin’s naturally poor bioavailability and absorption.
• When choosing the best quercetin supplement, you should look for the best active nutrient, as well as optimal solubility, absorption, and bioavailability. 
• Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology overcomes quercetin’s natural absorption challenges to achieve enhanced bioavailability. 

Quercetin’s beneficial antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties make it a unique nutritional supplement.* The flavonoid, quercetin, found in various fruits and vegetables, is an antioxidant that helps maintain normal inflammatory responses in cells.* Quercetin promotes several health functions, including immune function, renal function, and cardiovascular function.  

While quercetin is naturally available through dietary sources,,  it is unfortunately also known for its poor absorption and limited bioavailability. This means that even if you are consuming a meal high in quercetin-containing foods  ,, It is estimated that only 3-7 percent of quercetin glycoside (the most absorbable form of quercetin) is absorbed after ingesting at least 100 mg. Meaning, you are likely not absorbing enough quercetin to benefit from its healing properties from dietary sources alone.¹

Various approaches have been explored to enhance quercetin’s absorption and bioavailability. For example, co-supplementation of quercetin with other nutrients can enhance quercetin’s solubility and thus benefit the body’s natural immune responses.* Advancements in nutrient delivery technologies, such as nanotechnology, have also enhanced quercetin’s bioavailability. 

, When  looking for the best quercetin supplement, what factors should you consider? This blog post explains key features of the best quercetin supplements and why you should include an advanced quercetin supplement formulation in your diet.  

Key Features of the Best Quercetin Supplements

When considering including a supplement in your “wellness plan” or “health routine”, you want a formulation that helps you achieve quercetin’s many health-promoting benefits. The health-promoting benefits of the best quercetin supplements depends on the flavonoid’s solubility, absorption, and bioavailability. 

The following table highlights the key features of the best quercetin supplement formulations for supporting optimal immune function:*

Best quercetin supplement: What to Look for
Solubility	Quercetin’s solubility in aqueous solutions is low and pH-dependent. Supplement formulations that contain liposomes, nanoemulsions, and micelles can enhance quercetin’s water solubility. 2
Absorption	Quercetin is absorbed in the upper segment of the small intestine. Its absorption varies based on the type of formulation. Formulations containing quercetin-loaded nanoparticles display better absorption than other delivery methods.
Bioavailability	Enhancing quercetin’s water solubility also increases its bioavailability. Phospholipid complexes of quercetin increase the compound’s water solubility approximately 13-fold, 3 thereby increasing bioavailability significantly compared to free quercetin.
Type of formulation	Oral, intravenous, intranasal, and topical administration of quercetin enhances its stability in the gastrointestinal environment and minimizes its intestinal degradation. In clinical studies, formulated quercetin displays a significant rise (more than 200%) in blood uptake compared to unformulated quercetin. 4
Active nutrients	A quercetin supplement containing zinc and vitamins C and D3 exerts synergistic effects to better promote immune health.* Zinc enhances quercetin’s health-promoting benefits, whereas quercetin enhances zinc’s intracellular concentration.

Looking at the product’s Supplement Facts label enables you to gather the required information about a quercetin supplement formulation, such as the active nutrients in the formulation, formulation type, delivery technology used, and recommended usage. You should also speak with a trusted healthcare provider to better understand the safety of a supplement formulation and the potential contraindications and interactions with any prescription medications or other supplements you are taking . 

Including An Advanced Quercetin Formulation in Your Diet  

QuerciSorb® Immuphore SR, developed by Tesseract Medical Research, is a proprietary quercetin complex developed by Tesseract Medical Research. This advanced quercetin formulation contains other immuno-supportive compounds, such as zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin D3, to promote optimal immune function. Tesseract’s proprietary, groundbreaking CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology enables the optimal absorption of quercetin. 

The CyLoc® technology encases individual quercetin molecules in its smart delivery system, and the accompanying DexKey® reactors release the molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract to achieve maximum absorption. The unprecedented absorption of quercetin enables micro-dosing —  using a lesser amount of quercetin than previously required to achieve a potent and immediate response. 

The hypoallergenic, ionophore formula of QuerciSorb® Immuphore SR is one of the best quercetin supplements for promoting healthy immune function.* The formulation is manufactured following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and implements scientifically advanced analytical techniques and quality control systems to achieve the many health-promoting benefits of quercetin.* 

References:

 ¹Li Y, et al. Nutrients vol. 8,3 167. 15 Mar 2016, doi:10.3390/nu8030167
^2,3,4Solnier J, et al. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM vol. 2023 9727539. 10 Aug 2023, doi:10.1155/2023/9727539

Article Summary: 

• Quercetin is a flavonoid that functions as an antioxidant and has immune-support properties to help maintain the body’s normal response to inflammation.* 
• The poor natural absorption of quercetin minimizes its efficacy in supporting immune health. 
• Tesseract’s innovative nutrient delivery nanotechnology overcomes quercetin’s absorption challenges to achieve its health benefits. 

What is Quercetin?

Quercetin is a type of flavonoid that provides a broad range of health benefits. It is well-known for its potent antioxidant activities and ability to help maintain the body’s natural inflammatory response.*

Flavonoids are a class of phytonutrients found naturally in various fruits and vegetables, such as berries, grapes, apples, cruciferous vegetables, onions, shallots, and tomatoes, as well as tea. 

Due to the ability of flavonoids to neutralize free radicals, there is increasing scientific interest in understanding how flavonoids influence immune function in the body. 

Below, we discuss quercetin’s immune-supporting properties and explore why you should consider including this antioxidant in your daily nutritional supplement regimen.

Benefits of Quercetin Intake for Healthy Immune Function

Quercetin Glycosides

Quercetin naturally exists in various forms. For example, a form of quercetin that is particularly noted for its ability to enhance bioavailability through its increased water solubility, is querecetin glycoside.The glycoside form of quercetin, in particular, has enhanced water solubility, which makes it more easily absorbed in the body. This improved absorption enables quercetin to be more effective in reaching and positively influencing the body’s immune function.* 

The following table highlights the specific ways quercetin’s immune system supportive properties work. 

Quercetin’s Immune-Support Properties
Antioxidant Effects*	Immunomodulatory Effects*
Free radical scavenger: Quercetin’s molecular structure is credited for its higher efficiency in scavenging free radicals. 1	Leukocyte up-regulator: Quercetin confers immune support by upregulating the activity of leukocytes 3.* Quercetin also exerts immuno-supportive activity by benefiting intracellular signaling pathways, enzymes, and membrane proteins.*
Lipid oxidation inhibitor: As a potent lipid oxidation inhibitor, quercetin suppresses the start of chain oxidation and propagation of free radicals.*	Mast cell stabilizer: A meta-analysis shows that quercetin’s role in stabilizing mast cells and gastrointestinal cytoprotective activities benefits immune function 4.*
Quercetin’s endogenous antioxidant properties mitigate 2 a range of cellular injury caused by free radicals.*	Studies find 5 that quercetin influences dendritic cell functions — the initiator and master regulator of antigen-specific immune responses.*

.  

Quercetin’s Absorption Challenges 

Quercetin is primarily absorbed in the upper segment of the small intestine and subsequently metabolized in multiple organs, including the liver, small intestine, colon, and kidneys. However, quercetin is known for its naturally poor oral bioavailability: 

Although onions contain the highest natural source of quercetin, clinical trials show that after consuming an onion-rich meal, quercetin values peaked from baseline values after two hours and returned to baseline after 24 hours. This highlights how the body processes and eliminates quercetin relatively quickly.

Quercetin absorption depends on its chemical structure — the presence of associated sugar or glycosyl group. The absence of glycosyl group lowers its water solubility and absorption. 

Only 3-17 percent of quercetin glycosides, the most absorbable form, is absorbed in healthy individuals who ingested at least 100 mg 8.

Combining Quercetin with Zinc and Vitamin C for Better Absorption 

• Zinc increases the absorption of quercetin by forming a chelate complex that improves quercetin’s solubility, stability, and cellular uptake, resulting in enhanced bioavailability and biological activity⁹. 

• Quercetin also acts as an ionophore for zinc, creating channels in cell membranes to enhance zinc’s intracellular concentration.* 

• Promising evidence suggests a synergistic protective effect of a quercetin, zinc, and vitamin C complex in benefiting the body’s natural immune responses.*  

Including an Advanced Quercetin Supplement in Your Diet

How does quercetin support immune function? We have now discussed the antioxidant’s immune-supportive properties, but what is the best quercetin supplement to include in your diet? 

QuerciSorb^® Immuphore SR, developed by Tesseract Medical Research, is an innovative nutritional supplement formulated with a soluble form of quercetin that supports healthy immune function.* Zinc (as zinc picolinate), vitamin C (as ascorbic acid), and vitamin D (as cholecalciferol) are other bioactive and bioavailable ingredients in this hypoallergenic formulation that further support optimal immune function.*

Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology achieves quercetin’s benefits for promoting optimal immune function.*   

• Maintaining the integrity of the quercetin molecule: The CyLoc® technology encases each quercetin molecule to maintain its integrity during transit through the stomach. 

• Targeted delivery of the quercetin molecule: The DexKey® technology accompanies each CyLoc® molecule to release QuerciSorb’s active ingredient molecules at the desired point in the gastrointestinal tract. 

The resulting optimal absorption of each QuerciSorb molecule makes it a bioavailable reality in achieving optimal immune function.*     

References:

¹Rice-Evans CA, et al. Free Radical Research vol. 22,4(1995):375-383. doi:10.3109/10715769509145649

²Mlcek J, et al. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 21,5 623. 12 May 2016, doi:10.3390/molecules21050623

^3,4Chirumbolo S. Inflammation & Allergy Drug Targets vol. 9,4 (2010):263-285. doi:10.2174/187152810793358741

⁵Huang RY, et al. Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md.:1950) vol. 184,12(2010):6815-6821. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.0903991

⁶McAnlis GT, et al. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition vol. 53,2(1999):92-96. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600682

⁷Sahib HB, et al. Advances in Virology vol. 2022 1575605. 8 Jun 2022, doi:10.1155/2022/1575605

⁸Frenț, Olimpia-Daniela et al. International journal of molecular sciences vol. 25,22 12091. 11 Nov. 2024, doi:10.3390/ijms252212091

⁹Ramzan N, et al. Biometals. 2025 May 22. doi: 10.1007/s10534-025-00696-4. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40402366.

Article Summary: 

• Quercetin’s antioxidative and immunomodulatory properties contribute to its beneficial effects on gut health.* 
• Quercetin’s naturally poor absorption and low bioavailability hinders the efficacy of most quercetin supplements. 
• Tesseract’s innovative quercetin supplement formulation utilizes nutrient-delivery nanotechnology to enhance quercetin’s solubility.

When it comes to the pillars of our wellness, a healthy gut is essential.. The intestinal tract is the largest immune-regulating organ in the body, and the stable and balanced state of microbes is a prerequisite to maintaining various physiological roles. The loss of gut microbiome/microbial diversity is linked to several adverse health conditions.

The impact of nutrition on the composition of gut microbiota is well-documented¹. Diet is a driving factor in shaping human gut microbiota composition and function. There is growing interest in targeting the human gut microbiota through diet and nutritional approaches to promote overall gastrointestinal health.  

This blog post explains quercetin’s gut health-supportive properties and why you should include an advanced quercetin supplement in your diet.   

Understanding Quercetin’s Gut-Health Supportive Properties

The intestine is perpetually exposed to both good and bad gut microbes and their metabolites, resulting in a close correlation between the intestine and human health. Oxidative stress and adverse inflammatory responses in the intestinal tract are linked to several adverse gastrointestinal conditions. 

Typically, the cells of the gut wall are pressed tightly against each other, creating what are called tight junctions. These tight junctions prevent the gut’s contents from leaking into the bloodstream. However, when these tight junctions become disrupted (causing intestinal permeability), the immune system will upregulate an inflammatory response to counter the undigested food particles, bacteria, and toxins leaking into the bloodstream. Such unbalanced and adverse inflammatory responses negatively affect gut health. 

Quercetin, a flavonoid naturally found in many fruits and vegetables in our diet, beneficially influences the gut environment and helps regulate the gut microbiota. Quercetin’s antioxidant properties and its ability to help maintain normal inflammatory responses in the gut hold immense positive potential to address gut health.

The following table highlights how quercetin’s gut health-supportive properties promote gastrointestinal health:

System	Benefits
Quercetin’s Gut Health-Supportive Properties
Limiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines*	Quercetin has been found to limit oxidative stress and help maintain normal inflammatory responses in lung epithelial cells.1
Enhancing expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes*	As a flavonoid with antioxidant properties, quercetin scavenges free radicals and enhances the expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase.2
Modulating gut microbial diversity and richness*	Quercetin modulates gut microbial diversity and richness by promoting the proliferation of beneficial bacteria and suppressing harmful pathogens, maintaining healthy intestinal flora.3

Additionally, quercetin is considered a prebiotic— a class of nutrients that beneficial gut microbes feed on. Prebiotics pass through the digestive system, promoting the growth and activity of the beneficial microbes in the digestive tract⁴. 

While quercetin is generally present in our daily diet, the quantity of quercetin contained in food products may not result in meaningful gastrointestinal benefits. In addition, quercetin’s naturally poor absorption and low bioavailability hinder its efficacy in promoting gut health. 

Getting the Most Out of a Quercetin Supplement

QuerciSorb^® Immuphore SR, developed by Tesseract Medical Research, is an innovative nutritional supplement formulated with an optimally soluble form of quercetin that supports healthy gastrointestinal function.* Zinc (as zinc picolinate), vitamin C (as ascorbic acid), and vitamin D (as cholecalciferol) are other bioactive and bioavailable ingredients in this hypoallergenic formulation that support the gut’s optimal functioning.*

Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology achieves quercetin’s gut health-supportive properties.* The CyLoc® technology surrounds each quercetin molecule in its own smart delivery system to protect the molecule from too rapid degradation during transit through the stomach. The accompanying DexKey® reactors release each molecule at the desired point in the intestinal tract for optimal absorption. 

References: 

¹Sul OJ, Ra SW. Molecules. 2021 Nov 17;26(22):6949. doi: 10.3390/molecules26226949. PMID: 34834040; PMCID: PMC8625571.

¹Forney LA, et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences vol. 19,3 895. 17 Mar 2018, doi:10.3390/ijms19030895

²Xu D, et al. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 24,6 1123. 21 Mar 2019, doi:10.3390/molecules24061123

³Lin R, et al. Frontiers in Microbiology vol. 10 1092. 16 May 2019, doi:10.3389/fmicb.2019.01092

⁴Majid, Ishrat, et al. Food Chemistry Advances, vol. 4, 2024, p. 100725, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2024.100725. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

Are you wondering about how to select the right berberine supplement from a variety of commercially available products? Get the answers to common questions about the best berberine supplement based on the ingredient, delivery technology, bioavailability enhancement, and absorption. Use the links below to jump ahead to different topics on the page.

The Need for A Berberine Supplement	Key Uses of Berberine Supplements
Forms of Berberine Supplements	Berberine Supplement Ingredients
Palatability of Berberine Supplements	Delivery Technologies Used in Berberine Supplements
Bioavailability Challenges of Berberine Supplements	Side Effects of Berberine Supplements
Including an Excellent Berberine Supplement in Your Diet

The Need for A Berberine Supplement

Although berberine is naturally found in the roots, rhizomes, and stem bark of plants like the barberry tree, it is not typically consumed in the average diet.. Given berberine’s broad range of health-supportive properties–including its role in metabolic, cardiovascular, and cellular health–regular supplementation can be a valuable way to ensure consistent intake.* 

Why Do You Need A Berberine Supplement?
For enhanced safety:	Raw berberine displays poor safety due to variable alkaloid content, whereas supplements can be formulated to enhance berberine’s safety profile by purified extraction.
For enhanced palatability:	Berberine has a distinctive bitter taste that can inhibit user compliance for some. Newer supplement formulations enhance the palatability of berberine for oral intake.
For better absorption:	Raw berberine displays poor membrane permeability. Berberine supplements address the shortcomings of unformulated berberine by optimizing solubility and absorption.

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Key Uses of Berberine Supplements

The health-promoting benefits of berberine are attributable to the following factors:

• Antioxidant properties: Berberine is an antioxidant that exerts an inhibitory effect on oxidative stress.*

• Immunomodulatory properties: Berberine regulates several of the body’s signaling pathways, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), which helps maintain a balanced inflammatory response in the body.*

Research studies have established the beneficial impact of berberine supplements on maintaining healthy blood glucose levels, lipid levels, and inflammatory markers.* 

The following are some of the key uses of berberine supplements for supporting optimal health functions. 

System	Benefits
Endocrine Health*	Berberine supplements help address irregular periods and infertility arising from hormonal imbalance in women1.  Berberine has been found to enhance insulin sensitivity and regulate lipid metabolism to promote healthy weight management in affected females2.
Cardiovascular Health*	Various studies have established the potential benefits of berberine for providing nutritional support in diabetes .3 Berberine supplements support normal lipid metabolism, which can reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and promote cardiovascular health. Normal glucose metabolism , including promoting insulin secretion and moderating intestinal absorption of glucose.* A meta-analysis overviewing the benefits of berberine found a positive relationship between berberine supplementation and positive healthcare outcomes in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus4.
Immune Health*	Berberine supplements help maintain immune health by up-regulating beneficial cell-mediated immune responses.*
Hepatic Health*	Berberine supplements promote optimal liver detoxification — By decreasing glucose generation from non-carbohydrate precursors.* By enhancing ammonia detoxification in the liver.*
Neuro-Hormonal System*	Berberine supplements optimize the benefits of exercise and support healthy weight management by limiting exercise-induced exhaustion and muscle damage incurred during exercise .*
Gastrointestinal Health*	Berberine supplements promote a balanced and healthy gut microbiota, particularly by enhancing the growth of the bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids.

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Forms of Berberine Supplements

Berberine’s naturally low bioavailability has caused the research community to explore ways to increase its concentration in the blood. 

Although injecting berberine offers a direct approach to enhancing its bioavailability by bypassing its breakdown in the gastrointestinal tract, injecting berberine can lead to adverse side effects. This makes oral intake of berberine a more popular and safer approach. 

As commercially available nutritional supplements, berberine supplements are available in different forms, including —

• Tablets
• Capsules
• Fluid extracts  
• Topical gels (indicated for certain skin conditions and pain relief*)

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Berberine Supplement Ingredients

When considering what are the best berberine supplements, you are looking for optimal absorption and bioavailability. So, which berberine ingredient makes the best berberine supplement? 

• Berberine hydrochloride: It is the primary ingredient in most oral berberine supplements. A single supplement capsule typically contains 400-500 mg of berberine. 

• Berberine organic acid salts: One approach to enhancing berberine’s bioavailability is to convert it into a salt compound. Berberine organic acid salts are used in specific formulations to enhance absorption. 

• Sodium caprate: Adding sodium caprate to a supplement formulation has been found to enhance berberine’s absorption in the small intestine.

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Palatability of Berberine Supplements

Certain berberine supplement forms have an intensely bitter taste, which may impede user compliance. oor palatability of berberine supplements can be due to:

• Properties of Berberine Chloride: As a primary supplement ingredient, berberine chloride has high aqueous solubility, which makes it challenging to mask its bitter taste. 

• Conventional Delivery Methods: Berberine supplements formulated with conventional delivery methods use higher amounts of berberine chloride salt to counter berberine’s poor natural bioavailability. 

Berberine’s naturally bitter taste, combined with the activation of bitter taste receptors in the mouth, makes many berberine supplements unpalatable. A well-formulated berberine supplement can help overcome this issue by slowing the release rate of berberine molecules and reducing the concentration of free molecules in the saliva, thus masking berberine’s unpleasant taste.  

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Delivery Technologies Used in Berberine Supplements

Although berberine has immense health-promoting potential, developing a successful delivery system poses various challenges. Berberine’s naturally low bioavailability and poor absorption have led to the investigation of alternative modes and methods of nutrient delivery. 

The following are some of the standard delivery technologies used in berberine supplements:

Standard Delivery Technologies in Berberine Supplements
Conventional Delivery	Traditional delivery is targeted toward masking the bitterness of a relatively higher amount of berberine. Drawbacks: The berberine tablet coating process is not easy to control accurately. Coating thickness, uniformity, and tablet adhesion are major challenges. For sugar coating, the amount of coating materials is generally larger.
Polymer-Based Delivery	Encapsulating berberine in polymers, such as sodium alginate and calcium alginate, is a popular approach to enhance absorption. Drawbacks: Polymer-based drug delivery has certain limitations, including low drug loading capacity and cellular toxicity.
Lipid-Based Delivery	This involves encapsulating berberine in a lipid-based microscopic bubble to prevent its degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. Drawbacks: Lipid-based delivery is susceptible to enzymatic degradation of active nutrients, displays physical and chemical instability, and has poor oral bioavailability.
Nano-Based Delivery	These formulations use nanotechnology, including cyclodextrins, nanogel, nanoparticles, and nano-suspension, for targeted delivery of berberine at the desired point in the intestinal tract. Advantages: A nano-formulated berberine supplement is better absorbed in lesser amounts than required with other delivery methods, while masking the unpalatability of berberine to better achieve user compliance.

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Bioavailability Challenges of Berberine Supplements

The absolute bioavailability of raw berberine is as low as 0.68 percent.

Studies² reveal that less than five percent of oral intake of berberine is absorbed in the intestine in 2.5 hours of its ingestion. It is berberine’s poor natural bioavailability that hinders its efficacy in supplemental form. 

The following are key factors that affect the absorption of berberine:  

Factors Affecting Berberine Absorption
Solubility and permeability	Berberine’s low water solubility hinders berberine molecules from moving across the plasma membrane of intestinal cells.
Stability in the GI tract environment	The tendency of berberine molecules to self-aggregate in a low pH environment leads to poor absorption in the stomach and small intestine.
Extensive Metabolism	Berberine undergoes extensive intestinal first-pass elimination, with a majority of berberine being metabolized in the liver.

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Side Effects of Berberine Supplements

The short-term safety profile of berberine is well-established, although there is limited data on its effects on pregnant and breastfeeding women. Furthermore, berberine can cause mild or infrequent side effects or have potential contraindications when taken with certain prescription medications. 

The following table highlights some of the common side effects of berberine supplements:     

Berberine Supplement Side Effects
Gastrointestinal side effects	Constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, and stomach pain.
Low glucose level	Prolonged intake of a berberine supplement in high amounts might cause a low glucose level.
Potential contraindications	Berberine supplements might cause adverse effects when taken with a medication that is metabolized via the CYP enzymes.

The possible side effects of a berberine supplement depend on the delivery route (type of formulation) and the duration of intake. Hence, it is recommended to consult your healthcare provider before including a berberine supplement in your diet or taking one with a prescription medication. 

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Including an Excellent Berberine Supplement in Your Diet

When looking for the best berberine supplement, you should consider: 

• Enhanced palatability
• Optimized absorption
• Enhanced bioavailability

Tesseract Medical Research’s BerberActiv® is an innovative, palatable, and hypoallergenic berberine supplement containing a berberine extract derived from the root of the Berberis aristata plant. The following factors make BerberActiv an excellent choice as a berberine supplement. 

• Nanodelivery technology: BerberActiv utilizes Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc^® – DexKey^® nutrient delivery nanotechnology for unprecedented absorption of the berberine molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract — one molecule at a time. 

• Enhanced Palatability: Encasing individual berberine molecules in their own cyclodextrin fiber delivery cage masks the bitter taste of berberine and enhances the formulation’s palatability.  

• Micro-dosing: Berberine’s enhanced absorption means that micro-dosing—the ingestion of a lesser amount of berberine—can still achieve a powerful and rapid response to support overall health.

BerberActiv® is manufactured following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) that implement scientifically advanced analytical techniques and quality control systems. This ensures the supplement formulation’s unparalleled efficacy in supporting overall health and wellness. 

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Citations:

¹Di Pierro F, Sultana R, Eusaph AZ, et al. Front Pharmacol. 2023;14:1269605. Published 2023 Nov 21. doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1269605

²Rondanelli M, Infantino V, Riva A, et al. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2020;301(1):53-60. doi:10.1007/s00404-020-05450-4

³Guo J, et al. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity vol. 2021 2074610. 15 Dec. 2021, doi:10.1155/2021/2074610

⁴Moon JM, et al. Nutrients vol. 14,1 124. 28 Dec. 2021, doi:10.3390/nu14010124