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Seven bitter herbs in one capsule

Bitter compounds have largely disappeared from the modern diet. Vegetables have been bred for mildness over decades. Vitalplant’s Bitter Complex brings together seven plants known for their bitter taste.

The seven plants

Turmeric extract, 80 mg, and dandelion, 80 mg. Turmeric is a ginger family plant; the rhizome is used. From dandelion, the whole herb is used, a member of the daisy family that grows in almost every meadow.

Artichoke extract, 50 mg, yarrow, 50 mg, and mugwort herb, 50 mg. All three belong to the daisy family. Mugwort is especially known in Central Europe as a seasoning for hearty roasts.

Hop cones, 33 mg, and centaury, 20 mg. Hops are commonly known as a beer ingredient, and their bitter compounds shape the taste. Centaury belongs to the gentian family, a group known for its pronounced bitterness.

At three capsules a day, this amounts to around 1,089 mg of plant substances.

Why plants taste bitter

Bitter compounds are no accident for the plant. They form as secondary plant substances and make leaves, roots, or flowers unattractive to herbivores. Chemically, they are very different groups of substances: sesquiterpene lactones in dandelion, bitter glycosides in centaury, alpha and beta acids in hops.

There are no approved health claims for the seven plant extracts. That is why we state the amount, plant part, and origin.

Bitter Complex capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of the seven plant ingredients and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorants. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Pharmacy.

Artichoke leaf extract, standardized to 10 percent cynarin

When people think of artichokes, they think of the vegetable. But for an extract, a different part of the plant is used. Vitalplant artichoke capsules contain a leaf extract standardized to 10 percent cynarin.

Why the leaves and not the bud

What ends up on the plate is the artichoke’s immature flower bud. The extract, by contrast, comes from the plant’s large, deeply cut leaves. They are the part of the plant with the highest content of bitter compounds.

Cynarin as a measure. Cynarin is a derivative of caffeic acid and one of the artichoke’s characteristic bitter compounds. Its content serves as the standardization value: our extract is set to 10 percent, so every batch falls within the same range.

Why standardization is used. The bitter compound content of a plant varies considerably depending on the variety, location, and harvest time. A standardized extract balances out these fluctuations.

Cynara scolymus: plant and origin

The artichoke belongs to the daisy family and is therefore related to thistles and sunflowers. It grows up to two meters tall and forms striking purple flower heads if you let it bloom.

The cultivated form originates in the Mediterranean region, where it has been grown since ancient times. To this day, the main growing areas are in Italy, Spain, and France. As a vegetable, it spread from there throughout Europe.

Artichoke capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of two components: artichoke leaf extract and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no separating agents, no colorants. The product is vegan and gluten-free, bottled in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

15 Bacterial Cultures with Vitamin B2 and Biotin

Vitalplant’s Kulturen Komplex capsules combine fifteen different live bacterial cultures with two vitamins. One capsule daily, taken about 30 minutes before a meal.

What’s inside the capsule

25 billion CFU per capsule. CFU stands for colony-forming units. The unit does not count bacteria in the literal sense, but the number of germs that can form a visible colony under laboratory conditions. For live cultures, this is the usual measure.

Fifteen strains from three genera. These include five bifidobacteria, eight lactobacilli, and one representative each of Streptococcus thermophilus and Enterococcus faecium. The cultures differ in their growth conditions and acid tolerance.

Vitamin B2 and Biotin. 1.27 mg riboflavin corresponds to 91 percent of the nutrient reference value, 46 micrograms biotin corresponds to 92 percent.

What Vitamin B2 and Biotin do

Riboflavin and biotin both contribute to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes and to normal energy metabolism. Riboflavin also helps reduce tiredness and fatigue and helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

Biotin contributes to normal metabolism of macronutrients and to normal psychological function. All stated claims are listed in the EU Register of nutrition and health claims.

Kulturen Komplex capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of the culture mix, riboflavin, biotin, and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorings. Live cultures are sensitive to heat and moisture, so they are filled in amber glass and cool, dry storage is recommended. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

Three magnesium compounds with 100 percent of the nutrient reference value

With magnesium, it is not just the amount that matters, but the compound it comes in. That is why Vitalplant’s Magnesium Complex does not rely on a single form, but combines three organically bound magnesium compounds in one capsule.

Why three magnesium compounds

Organically bound means: the magnesium is linked to a carbon-containing partner, a fruit acid, or an amino acid. Inorganic compounds such as magnesium oxide contain more magnesium per gram, but are considered less well tolerated. Our formula completely leaves them out.

Magnesium citrate. The magnesium salt of citric acid is the most commonly used organic form of magnesium and has been studied accordingly well. In our formula, it is present as tri-magnesium dicitrate.

Magnesium bisglycinate. Here, one magnesium atom is bound to two molecules of the amino acid glycine. This structure is called a chelate. Bisglycinate is considered especially gentle on the stomach.

Magnesium malate. The magnesium salt of malic acid. Malic acid occurs naturally in apples and other fruits.

Anyone who would otherwise have to choose one form gets all three here. That is the difference from our single-ingredient products Magnesium Citrate and Magnesium Glycinate, each of which relies on one compound. The complex also provides the highest amount of magnesium of the three products.

What magnesium does in the body

Magnesium is one of the minerals with the most authorized health claims in the EU register. Magnesium contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system and to normal psychological function. Magnesium also contributes to normal energy metabolism, electrolyte balance, normal protein synthesis, and the maintenance of normal bones and teeth.

The body cannot produce magnesium itself or store it to any significant extent. Intake is therefore a daily task.

Magnesium Complex capsules: composition and quality

The full formula consists of four components: the three magnesium compounds and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorants, no sugar. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant stands Christian Lazar, licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Pharmacy.

Four extracts, all four standardized

Vitalplant's milk thistle complex combines four plant extracts. What makes it unusual: each one is standardized to a marker compound, not just the one in the name.

The four extracts and their marker compounds

Milk thistle extract, 250 mg, with 80 percent silymarin. Silymarin is a mixture of flavonolignans, especially silybin, silychristin, and silydianin. It is obtained from the ripe seeds of Silybum marianum.

Schisandra extract, 200 mg, with 5 percent schisandrin. Schisandra chinensis is a climbing plant from East Asia. Its berries are called wu wei zi in Chinese, fruit of the five flavors, because they taste sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and pungent all at once.

Artichoke extract, 150 mg, with 10 percent cynarin. The leaves are used, not the edible bud. Cynarin is a derivative of caffeic acid and one of the characteristic bitter compounds.

Dandelion root extract, 50 mg, with 2 percent flavonoids. Unlike the Bitter Complex, which uses the whole herb, this product uses only the root.

Why standardization matters here

The content of secondary plant compounds varies significantly depending on the variety, location, harvest time, and weather conditions. A standardized extract balances out these fluctuations, so each batch falls within the same range.

There are no authorized health claims for the four plant extracts. That is why we state the amount, plant part, and marker compound. The milk thistle complex complements a varied and balanced diet.

Milk thistle complex capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of five components: the four extracts and the capsule shell made from hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorings. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

14 mg iron from bisglycinate with acerola and lactoferrin

Iron is considered the mineral that is hardest to absorb. That is why Vitalplant iron glycinate capsules combine three carefully matched ingredients in one capsule.

The three ingredients

Iron bisglycinate, 51.9 mg per capsule. This provides 14 mg of elemental iron, which equals 100 percent of the nutrient reference value. In bisglycinate, the iron is bound to two molecules of the amino acid glycine, a structure known as a chelate.

Acerola extract, 320 mg, providing 80 mg of natural vitamin C. In nutrition science, vitamin C and iron are traditionally considered together, which is why both are included here in one capsule.

Lactoferrin, 101 mg. An iron-binding protein that occurs naturally in milk. It is obtained from whey.

What iron and vitamin C do

Iron contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin and to normal oxygen transport in the body. It also contributes to normal cognitive function and plays a role in cell division.

Vitamin C increases iron absorption. This claim, like the iron claims mentioned above, is listed in the EU Register of authorized health claims.

Iron Glycinate Capsules: composition and quality

Important note: This product contains lactoferrin from milk and is therefore not vegan. If you are looking for a purely plant-based source of iron, you will find it in our Iron Vegan capsules with curry leaf extract.

The formula consists of four ingredients: acerola extract, lactoferrin, iron bisglycinate, and the capsule shell made from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorings. Packed in amber glass. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Pharmacy.

Magnesium bisglycinate as a pure chelate

Vitalplant Magnesium Glycinate Capsules contain only magnesium bisglycinate, with no added forms of magnesium. This compound is considered the gentlest on the stomach among the common forms of magnesium.

What a chelate is

In bisglycinate, one magnesium atom is enclosed by two molecules of the amino acid glycine. This ring-shaped bond is called a chelate, derived from the Greek word for crab claw. The magnesium is not present as a free salt, but embedded in an amino acid structure.

500 mg bisglycinate per capsule, which provides 70 mg of elemental magnesium. The magnesium content in bisglycinate is naturally lower than in citrate because the two glycine molecules add weight.

That is why four capsules daily. That is the price of the chelate form. If you want to take fewer capsules, our Magnesium Citrate with two capsules or our Magnesium Complex with three capsules offers an alternative.

What magnesium does in the body

Magnesium contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to normal energy metabolism. It contributes to electrolyte balance and to normal psychological function.

Magnesium also contributes to normal protein synthesis, to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, and plays a role in cell division. All of the listed claims are included in the EU Register of authorised health claims.

Magnesium Glycinate Capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of two ingredients: magnesium bisglycinate and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colourings. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Each batch is tested by an independent laboratory for heavy metals.

Behind Vitalplant stands Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at the Stern Pharmacy.

Contains 500 mg MSM and glucosamine per capsule

Vitalplant MSM & glucosamine capsules contain exactly two raw ingredients in equal parts. No vitamins, no plant extracts, no additives.

The two raw ingredients

Methylsulfonylmethane, 500 mg. MSM is an organic sulfur compound that naturally occurs in small amounts in foods. Chemically, it consists of one sulfur atom with two oxygen groups and two methyl groups. The MSM used here is vegan.

Glucosamine sulfate potassium chloride, 500 mg. Glucosamine is an amino sugar, in other words a sugar molecule with an amino group. It naturally occurs in connective tissue. The sulfate potassium chloride form is a stabilized variant.

Up to four capsules daily. The recommended intake is one capsule twice daily, if needed two capsules twice daily. The daily dose is therefore between 1,000 and 2,000 mg per raw ingredient.

The difference from the joint complex

Our joint complex combines 26 ingredients and provides the nutrients for which approved health claims exist. MSM & glucosamine takes the opposite approach: two raw ingredients, but in a significantly higher amount.

There are no approved health claims for MSM and glucosamine. That is why we describe only what is included and in what amount.

MSM & glucosamine capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of three components: MSM, glucosamine sulfate potassium chloride, and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorants. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at the Stern pharmacy.

200 mg Coenzyme Q10 with Vitamin C from PureWay-C

Coenzyme Q10 is a substance naturally produced by the body that is found in practically every cell. Vitalplant Coenzyme Q10 capsules provide 200 mg of ubiquinone per capsule, supplemented with vitamin C.

Ubiquinone and Ubiquinol

Coenzyme Q10 occurs in the body in two interconvertible forms: as ubiquinone and as ubiquinol. Our capsules contain ubiquinone, the oxidized and significantly more shelf-stable form. Ubiquinol is more sensitive to oxygen and light.

The name says where it occurs. Ubiquinone is derived from the Latin ubique, meaning everywhere. The substance was named for its wide distribution in living organisms.

95 mg vitamin C per capsule from 100 mg PureWay-C®, a vitamin C complex with citrus bioflavonoids. This corresponds to 120 percent of the Nutrient Reference Value.

What vitamin C does

Vitamin C contributes to reducing tiredness and fatigue and to protecting cells from oxidative stress. It contributes to the normal function of the nervous system and to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin and blood vessels.

There is no approved health claim for coenzyme Q10 itself. We therefore specify it with amount and form, without any performance claims. All statements about vitamin C are listed in the EU Register of approved health claims.

Coenzyme Q10 capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of three ingredients: coenzyme Q10, PureWay-C®, and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no release agents, no colorants. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Pharmacy.

1.25 mg vitamin B12 per capsule

One capsule provides 1,250 µg vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin. That is 500 times the nutrient reference value of 2.5 µg, declared on the label as 50,000 percent. Such a magnitude is common with vitamin B12, but it does deserve an explanation.

Why neither animals nor plants produce B12

Vitamin B12 is chemically called cobalamin, and the name is meant literally: a cobalt ion sits at the center of the molecule. No other vitamin contains a metal.

It is formed exclusively by bacteria and archaea. Neither a plant nor an animal can do this, and neither can humans. Ruminants get their B12 because the corresponding bacteria live in their rumen; through meat, fish, eggs, and milk, it then enters the human diet. People who eat a plant-based diet do not have this detour available.

The buckwheat sprout extract in this formula does not supply the vitamin; it carries it. By the way, buckwheat is not a grain, but a knotweed plant, and is therefore more closely related to rhubarb and sorrel than to wheat.

Methylcobalamin, and why the dose is so high

Supplement products usually contain two forms. Cyanocobalamin is the synthetic, especially shelf-stable variant, in which a cyanide group sits on the cobalt and must first be replaced by the body. Methylcobalamin is, on the other hand, one of the two forms in which the vitamin actually works in metabolism.

The level of the dosage has to do with absorption. B12 has its own transport pathway via a binding protein from the gastric mucosa. This pathway works very efficiently, but it is limited: only a few micrograms can be absorbed this way per meal, after which it is saturated. Anything beyond that reaches the body only through passive diffusion, and about one percent is absorbed. High-dose products are aimed at this second route.

The approved claims are based on 15 percent of the nutrient reference value, a threshold that is far exceeded here: Vitamin B12 contributes to the normal function of the nervous system, to normal red blood cell formation, and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It also has a role in cell division.

Composition and quality

Three ingredients, nothing more: buckwheat sprout extract, methylcobalamin, and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No anti-caking agents, no fillers, no colorants. The formula is purely plant-based and therefore vegan.

It is bottled in amber glass. This is no minor detail with B12, because cobalamins are sensitive to light, and brown glass largely blocks UV light.

Vitalplant is backed by Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

1,000 mg Vitamin C from PureWay-C per daily dose

Vitamin C is one of the most thoroughly researched vitamins of all. Vitalplant’s Vitamin C 1000 capsules do not rely on pure ascorbic acid, but on PureWay-C®, a trademarked vitamin C complex.

What makes PureWay-C special

Vitamin C with citrus bioflavonoids. In PureWay-C®, ascorbic acid is combined with bioflavonoids from citrus fruits. In the fruit, both also occur together, which is why this approach comes closer to the natural matrix than isolated ascorbic acid.

500 mg Vitamin C per capsule, which corresponds to 625 percent of the nutrient reference value. With two capsules daily, that is 1,000 mg.

The body does not store Vitamin C. Unlike fat-soluble vitamins, there is no significant reserve. Excess Vitamin C is excreted via the kidneys, which is why intake should be daily.

What Vitamin C does

Vitamin C helps reduce tiredness and fatigue and supports normal energy metabolism. It contributes to the normal function of the nervous system and normal psychological function.

Vitamin C helps protect cells from oxidative stress and supports normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, bones, cartilage, teeth, and blood vessels. In addition, Vitamin C increases iron absorption and helps regenerate the reduced form of Vitamin E.

All of the claims listed are included in the EU Register of authorized health claims.

Vitamin C 1000 capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of two components: PureWay-C® and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorings. The product is vegan and gluten-free, packaged in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at the Stern Pharmacy.

25 mg zinc from bisglycinate in one capsule

Zinc 25 capsules from Vitalplant deliver the highest zinc content in our range in a single daily capsule. Zinc bisglycinate is used, an organically bound form.

What’s inside the capsule

90 mg zinc bisglycinate, providing 25 mg elemental zinc. The proportion is 28 percent. This distinction is important: for minerals, what matters is not the weight of the compound, but the mineral content within it. 25 mg corresponds to 250 percent of the nutrient reference value.

Zinc bisglycinate as a chelate. The zinc is bound to two molecules of the amino acid glycine. This structure is called a chelate, unlike inorganic zinc salts such as zinc oxide or zinc sulfate.

350 mg buckwheat sprout extract. The plant extract forms the capsule matrix. Despite its name, buckwheat is not a grain, but a knotweed plant and therefore naturally gluten-free.

The difference compared with our Zinc + C: there, the zinc content is 10 mg per capsule, while 320 mg vitamin C are added. Zinc 25 is for anyone who wants zinc on its own and at a higher dosage.

What zinc does in the body

Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin, hair, and nails, and to normal cognitive function. It helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

Zinc also contributes to normal DNA synthesis and protein synthesis, plays a role in cell division, and helps maintain normal testosterone levels in the blood. All claims listed are included in the EU Register of authorized health claims.

Zinc 25 capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of three ingredients: buckwheat sprout extract, zinc bisglycinate, and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorants, no sugar. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant stands Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

Four standardized plant and mushroom extracts in one capsule

Meno Vital capsules from Vitalplant combine four extracts from four different plant traditions. Take one capsule in the morning and one in the evening.

The four extracts

Yam root extract, 200 mg per capsule. Obtained from the tuberous root of Dioscorea, a climbing plant from the tropics and subtropics. The extract is standardized to 20 percent diosgenin, a plant-based ingredient from the steroid saponin group.

Reishi extract, 150 mg. Ganoderma lucidum, a tree fungus from the bracket fungus family with a strikingly shiny, reddish-brown fruiting body. In East Asia, it has been cultivated for centuries.

Red clover extract, 125 mg. Trifolium pratense grows in meadows throughout Europe and is rich in isoflavones, a subgroup of flavonoids.

Sage extract, 100 mg. Salvia officinalis, a mint family plant from the Mediterranean region; the leaves are used.

Four origins, one formula

The four ingredients come from different regions of the world and herbal traditions: yam from the tropics, reishi from East Asia, red clover from Central Europe, sage from the Mediterranean region. They are combined in a capsule that fits easily into your daily routine.

For plant and mushroom extracts, we state quantity, origin, and standardization. This can be verified, unlike a promise of effectiveness. Meno Vital complements a varied and balanced diet.

Meno Vital capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of five components: the four extracts and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorings. The product is vegan and gluten-free, bottled in amber glass. All four extracts are standardized, and each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Pharmacy.

Organic aronia berry powder from EU cultivation

The aronia berry is hardly edible in its raw state. Its high tannin content makes it so tart that it is almost never eaten fresh. The organic Aronia capsules from Vitalplant contain the ground fruit powder with no other ingredients.

What makes the berry special

The color comes from anthocyanins. Aronia berries are among the darkest fruits of all. Responsible for this are anthocyanins, water-soluble plant pigments from the flavonoid group, which also give elderberry, blueberry, and red cabbage their color.

Tannins shape the flavor. The tart, astringent note comes from tannins. They are the reason aronia is traditionally processed into juice, liqueur, or jam instead of being eaten fresh.

500 mg of fruit powder per capsule. Ground whole berry, not concentrated. The raw material is certified according to the EU organic regulation, control body number DE-ÖKO-039, origin EU agriculture.

Aronia melanocarpa: shrub and cultivation

The black chokeberry originally comes from eastern North America. It belongs to the rose family and is therefore related to apples and pears, which is also reflected in the German name.

The plant came to Europe in the 19th century. It is extremely frost-hardy and has low soil requirements, which is why it has become established as a cultivated plant in Eastern Europe and now also in Germany. It is harvested in late summer.

Organic Aronia capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of two components: organic aronia berry powder and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorings. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at the Stern Pharmacy.

Vitamin D3 from lichens, dissolved in MCT oil

Vitamin D3 usually comes from lanolin, the wool fat of sheep. Instead, Vitalplant’s Vitamin D3 + K2 drops use lichens as the source and are therefore purely plant-based.

What’s in a drop

25 µg vitamin D3, which corresponds to 1,000 IU and 500 percent of the nutrient reference value. One drop a day is enough, so a 30-ml bottle lasts a long time.

Vitamin D3 from lichens. Lichens are not plants in the strict sense, but a symbiotic community of fungus and algae. They produce cholecalciferol, the same form of vitamin D found in human skin under sunlight. The difference from lanolin is not in the molecule, but in its source.

20 µg vitamin K2 as all-trans MK7, 27 percent of the nutrient reference value. All-trans describes the spatial arrangement of the molecule and is the form found in the body.

MCT oil as a carrier. Vitamins D and K are fat-soluble and need a fat as a solvent. Medium-chain triglycerides usually come from coconut and are liquid at room temperature.

What vitamin D and vitamin K do

Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, normal muscle function, and normal absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus.

Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and normal blood clotting. Both claims are listed in the EU Register of authorized health claims.

Vitamin D3 + K2 drops: composition and quality

The formula consists of three ingredients: MCT oil, vitamin D3 from lichens, and vitamin K2. No preservatives, no flavorings, no colorings. Oils are sensitive to light, which is why they are bottled in amber glass. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

Eight B vitamins, 900 µg folate per capsule

The B Komplex Forte from Vitalplant focuses on the essentials: eight B vitamins, no additives. Folate and biotin are significantly higher here than in our B Komplex Aktiv.

What’s in the daily capsule

Folate as calcium L-methylfolate, 900 µg. That corresponds to 450 percent of the nutrient reference value. Calcium L-methylfolate is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and therefore the form in which folate is present in the blood.

Biotin, 400 µg, or 800 percent of the nutrient reference value. Vitamin B12 as cyanocobalamin, 20 µg, also 800 percent.

The other five. Niacin 40 mg, pantothenic acid 46 mg, thiamine 20 mg, riboflavin 15 mg and vitamin B6 11 mg. All are between 250 and 1,818 percent of the nutrient reference value.

The difference from our B Komplex Aktiv: it also includes alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, choline, vitamin C and vitamin E, and the B12 is in the form of methylcobalamin. The Forte complex omits these in favor of higher folate and biotin levels.

What B vitamins do

Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, biotin and vitamin B12 contribute to normal energy metabolism. Riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, biotin and vitamin B12 contribute to the normal function of the nervous system. Folate contributes to normal amino acid synthesis and plays a role in cell division. All of the claims listed are entered in the EU Register of authorized health claims.

B Komplex Forte capsules: composition and quality

Buckwheat whole grain flour is used as the carrier. Despite its name, buckwheat is not a grain, but a knotweed plant and therefore naturally gluten-free. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorants. The product is vegan, filled in amber glass. Every batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

Eleven organic ingredients, including a bacterium

Bio Vital Greens from Vitalplant combines baobab, barley grass, wheat grass, spirulina, pineapple, lucuma, spinach, gluten-free oat flour, moringa, kale, and peppermint leaf. Strictly speaking, one of these ingredients is not a plant at all.

The blend in detail

Spirulina is commonly called blue-green algae, but it belongs to the cyanobacteria. It is a bacterium that carries out photosynthesis, and has done so for around three billion years.

Baobab makes up the largest share by volume. The pulp of the African baobab tree dries on the branch while the fruit is still hanging. It therefore does not need to be dried afterward, but can be ground directly.

Barley grass and wheat grass are harvested as young grass, long before ears form. Lucuma is a South American fruit with a flavor somewhere between caramel and maple syrup, pineapple adds acidity. The remaining leafy ingredients, spinach, moringa, kale, and peppermint, give the blend its green color and herbal base note.

What the nutritional values show

With 26,34 g of fiber per 100 g, the powder meets the requirement for the claim high fiber content. Baobab and the two grasses account for the lion’s share. The protein content is 19,79 g per 100 g.

To be clear: pineapple and lucuma naturally contain sugar, 15,72 g per 100 g. Based on a 12 g serving, that comes to 1,89 g. None has been added.

Origin and storage

All ingredients come from certified organic cultivation, inspection body number DE-ÖKO-039, origin EU and non-EU agriculture.

The powder is unsweetened and tastes distinctly herbal. If you prefer it milder, stir it into juice instead of water. Without anti-caking agents, it tends to clump, so close the bag carefully after each use and store it in a dry place.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, a licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at the Stern Apotheke.

B vitamins in activated form with five accompanying ingredients

Vitalplant’s B Complex Aktiv contains all eight B vitamins and goes even further: alpha-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, choline, vitamin C, and vitamin E complement the formula. Thirteen ingredients in one daily capsule.

What activated means

Some vitamins must first be converted in the body before they can be used. Activated forms already include this step.

Vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin. 25 µg per capsule, 1,000 percent of the nutrient reference value. Methylcobalamin is one of the B12 forms found in the body, unlike synthetic cyanocobalamin.

Folate as Quatrefolic®. 400 µg, 200 percent of the nutrient reference value. Quatrefolic® is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, the form in which folate circulates in the blood.

The five accompanying ingredients. 200 mg alpha-lipoic acid, 30 mg coenzyme Q10, 25.5 mg choline from phosphatidylcholine, 75 mg vitamin C, and 6 mg vitamin E. They are the reason the Aktiv Complex is more broadly formulated than a pure B complex.

The difference from our B Complex Forte: there the focus is on the eight B vitamins alone, with higher amounts of folate and biotin. The Aktiv Complex, on the other hand, includes the accompanying ingredients.

What the nutrients do

Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, biotin, and vitamin C contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and vitamin C contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

Vitamin B6, biotin, vitamin B12, and vitamin C contribute to normal psychological function. Choline contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism. Vitamin E helps protect cells from oxidative stress. All of the stated claims are listed in the EU Register of authorized health claims.

B Complex Aktiv capsules: composition and quality

Buckwheat wholegrain flour is used as the carrier. Despite its name, buckwheat is not a grain, but a knotweed plant and therefore naturally gluten-free. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorings. The product is vegan, filled in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.

12 mg of iron from curry leaf extract

Most iron supplements work with mineral iron salts. Vitalplant's Iron Vegan Capsules take a different approach: the iron comes entirely from a plant extract.

Iron from the plant instead of the salt

400 mg curry leaf extract per capsule, standardized to 3 percent iron. This provides 12 mg of iron, which corresponds to 86 percent of the nutrient reference value.

The iron is present in a plant matrix. It was not added as an isolated salt, but comes from the plant itself, where it is naturally bound.

Curry leaf is not curry. Murraya koenigii is a tree from the rue family, botanically related to citrus fruits. The aromatic leaves are cooked fresh in South Indian cuisine. It has nothing to do with curry powder, a spice blend.

What iron does

Iron contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin and to normal oxygen transport in the body. It also contributes to normal cognitive function, normal energy metabolism, and normal function of the immune system.

Iron also plays a role in cell division. All of the stated claims are listed in the EU Register of authorized health claims.

Iron Vegan Capsules: composition and quality

The formula consists of two ingredients: curry leaf extract and the capsule shell made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. No fillers, no anti-caking agents, no colorants, no sugar. The product is vegan and gluten-free, filled in amber glass. Each batch is tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at the Stern Apotheke.

88 grams of fiber per 100 grams

Hardly any other product comes close to this value. Organic psyllium husks from Vitalplant consist almost entirely of fiber, and the reason for that lies in which part of the plant is used at all.

Only the husk, not the seed

Plantago ovata is a plantain and is therefore related to the ribwort plantain that grows in Central European meadows. The species is cultivated mainly in India and Pakistan, where it copes well with dry soils.

The German name is descriptive: the tiny, dark, elongated seeds look like fleas. However, the whole seed is not processed, but only its outer husk. The seed kernel contains oil and protein, while the husk contains almost only mucilage.

These mucilage substances are arabinoxylans. They bind many times their own weight in water and form a gel in the process. That is exactly what happens in the glass when you stir in the powder: after one to two minutes, the liquid is visibly thicker.

What the nutritional values show

At 88.25 g of fiber per 100 g, the content is almost fifteen times the EU threshold for the claim high fiber content, which starts at 6 g.

Aside from that, there is practically nothing else in it: 0.24 g sugar and 0.24 g fat per 100 g. This also makes the powder meet the conditions for low sugar and low fat. The energy value is 808 kJ, or 193 kcal per 100 g, and this comes almost entirely from fiber, of which the body only uses a small portion.

Grind, origin, and quality

Our husks are ground, not whole. That makes a noticeable difference: powder swells faster and more evenly, distributes without residue, and can also be worked into dough. Whole husks, by contrast, remain grainy and take longer.

Because the powder binds liquid, enough of it should be used. If you stir it in, you should drink it quickly before the gel sets.

A single ingredient, from certified organic cultivation, control body number DE-ÖKO-039, origin non-EU agriculture. No additives, no flavorings, naturally neutral in taste. Packed in a resealable stand-up pouch.

Behind Vitalplant is Christian Lazar, licensed pharmacist with over 35 years of professional experience at Stern Apotheke.