When it comes to making the right decisions about your wellness, it’s always good to have a trusted health professional by your side.

Thorne is trusted by thousands of health-care practitioners worldwide who purchase our supplements to recommend to their patients. Today we’re giving you insights into their favorite products from the past year.

1. Most popular among all health-care professionals

By far our most popular supplement among all health-care professionals is Vitamin D-5,000. Also known as the “sunshine vitamin” – because the body synthesizes vitamin D when skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays – vitamin D supports healthy bones, immune function, brain function, and more throughout life.*

But many factors – such as genetics, age, workday habits, skin pigmentation, or even geographical location – can inhibit the body’s ability to produce vitamin D from sun exposure, leading to a deficiency. Although the FDA recommends 800 IU daily as a baseline,1 a 2016 analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that 92 percent of men and 97 percent of women get less than 400 IU of vitamin D daily from food and beverage sources.2 And even 800 IU daily can be insufficient to bring a vitamin D level into the sufficient range.

When it comes to vitamin D supplements, not all are created equal. Vitamin D comes in two forms – D2 and D3. Vitamin D3 includes the amount derived from internal production after your skin is exposed to sunlight, as well as the amount derived from diet and supplementation. Vitamin D2 reflects only the form that is acquired in the diet or from supplementation but can’t be made in the body. Thorne’s Vitamin D-5,000 is formulated with vitamin D3, a more potent and better absorbed form than vitamin D2. For indoor athletes who lack sun exposure, Thorne’s D-5,000 is also NSF Certified for Sport.

Depending on your needs, Thorne’s vitamin D is also available as D-1,000 and D-10,000, as well as Vitamin D Liquid.

Want to know more about your vitamin D levels? Thorne’s Vitamin D Test is a simple at-home test that measures your body’s vitamin D level from a simple finger prick. Results include personalized wellness recommendations.

2. Medical doctors  

Medical doctors are looking to support healthy aging at the cellular level.

Although MDs are counted among the fans of Thorne’s D-5000, another favorite supplement is ResveraCel, a multi-ingredient supplement that promotes the body’s natural aging and cellular metabolism.*

Although every cell in the body contains NAD+ to support mitochondrial function and cellular energy, the body’s natural level of NAD+ gradually begins to decline with age, which can lead to oxidative stress and cellular damage. ResveraCel is formulated with nicotinamide riboside, which stimulates the body’s production of NAD+, thus promoting cellular repair processes and benefiting mitochondrial metabolism.*

ResveraCel also contains resveratrol – a natural compound found in red wine – to promote the body’s normal inflammatory responses; quercetin phytosome, a plant-based antioxidant that can reduce cellular senescence (the buildup of old cells that no longer multiply); and betaine, to support methylation and the breakdown of toxic substances in the body.

3. Registered nurses

Nurses favor foundational nutrition with a comprehensive multi-vitamin/mineral combination.

The favorite among registered nurses who trust Thorne is Basic Nutrients 2/Day. Taking a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement adds to your nutrient baseline, filling in the vitamin and mineral gaps left behind by our modern diets and lifestyles. A multi-vitamin/mineral supplement is particularly beneficial for individuals who take medications that can cause a nutrient deficiency as a side effect.

Although Thorne provides many kinds of multis depending on an individual’s age and life stage, Basic Nutrients 2/Day is an optimal choice because of its complete multi-vitamin/mineral formula in a convenient two-capsule-a-day use.

Basic Nutrients 2/Day provides vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K, as well as minerals like zinc to promote immune function, and chromium to support a healthy blood sugar level* – each one in their purest and most absorbable forms without unnecessary additives and preservatives.

Another favorite is Curcumin Phytosome. Derived from turmeric – the spice that gives curry its characteristically golden hue and has been used as an herbal remedy for thousands of years – curcumin is a potent antioxidant that has been clinically studied to support the body’s natural responses to inflammation, muscular soreness, and joint stiffness.*

Because curcumin is difficult for the body to absorb, Thorne’s curcumin supplements are formulated as a phytosome (curcumin bound to a phospholipid). This patented formulation, trademarked as Meriva®, demonstrates 29-times greater absorption than ordinary curcumin.3

Thorne’s Curcumin Phytosome suite includes an NSF Certified for Sport product and a sustained-release formula.

4. Naturopathic doctors

One of the products favored by Thorne’s naturopathic doctor customer base is formulated to target something we all experience – stress.

Thorne’s Stress B-Complex includes all B vitamins, with a particular emphasis on vitamin B5 – pantothenic acid – a key nutrient for supporting healthy adrenal gland function.*

Adrenal health can be an indicator of how the body responds to stress, so ensuring healthy adrenal function is key to managing stress.* Stress manifests with many diverse symptoms, including headache, worry, fatigue, and sleep problems. Interested in learning more about the science behind your stress? Try Thorne’s at-home Stress Test, which measures two key adrenal hormones related to stress: cortisol and DHEA.

Stress B-Complex offers an optimal balance of eight essential B vitamins plus choline in their tissue-ready and most absorbable forms.

Another favorite of these health professionals is the blood-building formula Ferrasorb, which combines iron with vitamin cofactors – vitamins C, B6, B12, and folate in their most active, bioavailable forms.*

Iron is a component of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide.4 Children, pregnant or menstruating women, and individuals whose diets lack sufficient iron (such as vegans or vegetarians) are most at risk for iron deficiency.

What sets Thorne’s Ferrasorb apart from other iron supplements? In addition to the important vitamin cofactors, form of iron in Ferrasorb is iron bisglycinate – iron that is bound to the amino acid glycine, which decreases digestive upset and increases absorption. Iron bisglycinate is absorbed twice as efficiently as ferrous sulfate.5

5. Acupuncturists

One of the more unusual supplements on this list is a favorite of licensed acupuncturists: S.A.T., a blend of botanical extracts from silymarin, artichoke, and turmeric (as curcumin) to promote comprehensive liver support.* The formula includes two well-absorbed phytosomes – an extract from milk thistle (the flavonoid silybin) and curcumin – both bound to phospholipids for enhanced absorption. Their significant antioxidant activity helps protect the liver from damage by free radicals.* (See the section on registered nurses’ favorite products for more information on curcumin.) Artichoke also has a long history of use for supporting liver health.*

Because acupuncturists often treat musculoskeletal issues, the next supplement favorite on their list is not surprising. The 1:1 ratio of the well-absorbed malate forms of calcium and magnesium in Calcium-Magnesium Malate work in tandem to support bone and muscle health.* Magnesium helps muscle fibers relax after a workout, and calcium supports healthy bone mass for all-around structural support within the body.*

6. Chiropractors

Our final group of professionals favor a supplement containing only magnesium: Magnesium CitraMate. Magnesium deficiency can manifest in many ways, but a common one is muscle cramps and poor sleep. Magnesium promotes muscle relaxation,* so no wonder it’s a favorite of chiropractors and athletes. It is also essential for heart and lung health, and helps with the dilation of blood vessels to help maintain healthy blood pressure.*

The final favorite product of chiropractors is Thorne’s Basic B Complex. Basic B Complex delivers tissue-ready, active forms of B vitamins. Like Stress B-Complex, Basic B Complex contains all eight B vitamins plus choline, but without the B5 emphasis of Stress B-Complex. As a well-rounded B complex, it provides foundational support for energy creation from food (metabolism), manufacture of new cells, synthesis of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) for healthy nerve support, and for healthy methylation.*

References

  1. NIH. Vitamin D: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminD-healthprofessional/ [Accessed 12.19.22]
  2. USDA: Usual Nutrient Intake from Food and Beverages, What We Eat In America, NHANES 2013-2016 (usda.gov)
  3. Cuomo J, Appendino G, Dern AS, et al. Comparative absorption of a standardized curcuminoid mixture and its lecithin formulation. J Nat Prod 2011;74(4):664-669. doi: 10.1021/np1007262.
  4. Killip S, Bennett J, Chambers M. Iron deficiency anemia. Am Fam Physician 2007;75(5):671-678.
  5. Layrisse M, García-Casal M, Solano L, et al. Iron bioavailability in humans from breakfasts enriched with iron bis-glycine chelate, phytates and polyphenols. J Nutr 2000;130(9):2195-2199.