For health-care providers, Thorne has always been synonymous with quality and efficacy in the clinical setting. Thorne has stood the test of time in maintaining both quality and reputation through our commitment to scientific research.

As part of Thorne’s Medical Affairs team, my role promotes Thorne’s supplement research by providing clinical expertise to Thorne’s original research projects. (You can read more about how Thorne promotes supplement education here.)

Thorne also uses existing clinical research to inform our new product formulations. One example of supplement research in product formulation can be seen in Thorne’s Ovarian Care, a unique powdered drink mix that combines both dietary nutrients and botanical extracts to promote menstrual regularity and support fertility.*

One key ingredient in Ovarian Care is inositol, which has been widely studied for supporting balanced hormone levels and insulin sensitivity, especially in women at risk for PCOS.* As an ingredient in dietary supplements, inositol has been studied in two forms: D-chiro-inositol and myo-inositol. While the dosage of each form varies among studies, at least one clinical study supports the use of a combination of forms for maximum benefit. This research informed Thorne’s scientists as they developed Ovarian Care, which delivers a 40:1 ratio of myo- to D-chiro-inositol. This 40:1 ratio is not only the optimal amount as indicated in the study but also the naturally occurring ratio of inositol found in women’s bodies.  

Supplement research also helps us to create dietary supplement formulas that utilize optimally absorbed forms of nutrients. Let’s look at Thorne’s Metabolic Health, formulated with botanical extracts to support fat metabolism.*

Certain nutrients, like the antioxidant constituents of plants, are notoriously difficult for the body to absorb and use. That’s because plant constituents have a tendency to aggregate, or clump together. Metabolic Health contains two such botanical extracts – curcumin (the active compound in turmeric) and bergamot. Both ingredients are well-researched for their support of metabolic functions, such as fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity.* However, neither ingredient is well-absorbed, which can limit their benefits to the body.  

In the Metabolic Health formula, Thorne utilizes a type of extract called a phytosome. Developed by the company Indena, a phytosome contains a botanical extract complexed with a phospholipid complex, which decreases aggregation of the botanical constituents and enhances the extract’s absorbability. The phytosome technology in Metabolic Health’s ingredients has been validated by research: The bergamot phytosome we use provides at least seven times greater absorption than traditional bergamot extracts, and the curcumin phytosome we use demonstrates 29-times greater absorption than ordinary curcumin.

Collaborations with independent researchers

Thorne’s commitment to research and education is exemplified by our partnership and collaborations with Mayo Clinic and other world-class research organizations. Our research collaboration with the Mayo Clinic is realized in two ways: supporting novel Mayo clinical trials with product and collaborating with Mayo experts to conduct clinical trials, testing the safety and efficacy of nutritional ingredients, including products formulated to address specific health needs, and exploring novel health assessments, such as microbiome genomics and metabolomics.

By participating in clinical research, Thorne contributes to providing practitioners with information for procedures, alternatives, risks, and questions (known as PARQ or informed consent) that patients and clients may have. When ingredients and formulas have been tested in clinical trials, health-care practitioners can better understand what dosing to recommend, the duration of dosing for best results, the synergistic nature of certain natural products, and safety of use in the clinical setting. Thorne’s clinical validation helps both consumers and health-care providers to make informed decisions.

My journey to Thorne

My own first experience with Thorne was as a patient when my naturopathic physician recommended a Thorne multi-vitamin/mineral supplement. My experience as her patient was so pivotal in improving my overall wellness that I decided to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a doctor.

As a student of naturopathic medicine, I gained experience recommending dietary and vitamin/mineral supplements during supervised clinical rotations. Our campus dispensary stocked Thorne products along with several other brands that were “physician-only” at that time. I trained with a variety of practitioners including naturopathic physicians, MDs, DOs, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and herbalists. Through this diverse education I became passionate about integrative care – combining evidence-based natural and conventional therapeutic strategies to create treatment plans unique to each individual.

After completing my residency training, I established a private practice in Los Angeles, California, working primarily with functional gastrointestinal disorders and women’s and children’s health. What I loved most about private practice was helping people understand the intricate details of how their bodies worked. Every patient appointment seemed to include at least a short lesson in anatomy, physiology, or nutritional biochemistry.

When it comes to health and wellness, I strongly believe the adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of gain,” and education is key to prevention of illness. Once I realized this was a passion, I began thinking about how I could educate on a broader scale than in one-on-one patient care, and a Medical Affairs role at a health and wellness company felt like the right fit. I knew and respected Thorne’s quality, so I was thrilled to find my place on Thorne’s Medical Affairs team in 2020.

I have worked closely with Thorne's sales team to serve as a scientific resource to the medical community. Part of my role as Thorne’s Medical Science Liaison was to ensure our products were being recommended appropriately, which meant training our team on new products and keeping up to date with new research pertaining to Thorne's long-established formulas.

Now the Director of Medical Education, I still work closely with the sales team and collaborate cross-functionally with departments across Thorne to support product development. In addition, Medical Affairs has a strong emphasis and mission to support all the post-market aspects of product development, including monitoring product safety, efficacy, and performance.

The role of Medical Affairs within a dietary supplement company is broad, and we all wear a variety of hats to get the job done.

Read more about Thorne’s Medical Affairs team here.

This article is part of an ongoing series from Thorne HealthTech’s Medium blog, where we showcase the individuals behind Thorne’s approach to developing and delivering health and wellness solutions.