Glutamine is the most abundant conditionally essential amino acid, serving as a primary fuel for rapidly dividing cells like enterocytes and lymphocytes, a critical nitrogen transporter, and a guardian of intestinal integrity during metabolic stress. 1. Overview: L-Glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid, meaning the body can synthesize it but requirements may exceed production during illness, injury, or intense physical stress. It is a key respiratory fuel for the

L-Theanine is a unique tea-derived amino acid that promotes a state of relaxed alertness, smoothing the sharp edges of stress and caffeine without sedation, by gently modulating key neurotransmitters and brain waves. 1. Overview: L-Theanine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid analogue of glutamate and glutamine, found almost exclusively in tea leaves (Camellia sinensis). It is renowned for its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and promote a calm, focused mental state by

Potassium Citrate is a dual-action therapeutic mineral, simultaneously correcting hypokalemia and alkalinizing urine to create a hostile environment for kidney stone formation, while supporting cardiovascular and metabolic health through essential potassium delivery. 1. Overview: Potassium citrate is the potassium salt of citric acid, serving two primary and complementary roles: as a source of bioavailable potassium to correct deficiencies, and as a potent urinary alkalinize

Sodium Citrate is a fundamental alkalinizing agent and citrate source, expertly modulating urinary and blood pH to inhibit kidney stone formation, enhance exercise performance buffering, and serve as a key anticoagulant in stored blood. --- 1. Overview: Sodium citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid, functioning as an effective systemic and urinary alkalinizer. It works by metabolizing to bicarbonate, raising pH levels in blood and urine. This action is crucial for preventi

Menatetrenone is the pharmaceutical-grade, short-chain K2 (MK-4) with a potent, direct osteogenic punch, used therapeutically to combat osteoporosis by stimulating bone formation and inhibiting resorption, distinct from the long-term vascular protection of its cousin MK-7. 1. Overview: Menatetrenone is the pharmaceutical name for Menaquinone-4 (MK-4), a short-chain form of vitamin K2. Unlike MK-7, it has a very short half-life (~1-2 hours) but possesses unique, potent pharmac

Menaquinone-7 is the premier, long-chain form of Vitamin K2, delivering sustained 24-hour activation of protective proteins to guide calcium into bone matrix and away from soft tissues, serving as a foundational nutrient for lifelong cardiovascular and skeletal resilience. 1. Overview: Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) is a specific, long-chain member of the vitamin K2 family, derived primarily from fermented natto. Distinguished by its extended half-life (~72 hours) and high bioavailabil

Inositol is a vitamin-like sugar alcohol that functions as a fundamental signaling molecule, best known for restoring insulin sensitivity in PCOS and calming the nervous system by supporting neurotransmitter receptor function and cellular communication. 1. Overview: Inositol, often referred to as Vitamin B8 (though not a true vitamin), is a cyclic sugar alcohol with nine stereoisomers. Myo-inositol (MYO) and D-chiro-inositol (DCI) are the most biologically significant. They

Tocopherols are the premier lipid-soluble antioxidant family, with alpha-tocopherol reigning as the essential vitamin E that halts destructive lipid peroxidation in cell membranes, protecting cardiovascular and neurological integrity. 1. Overview: Tocopherols are a class of organic compounds comprising Vitamin E activity. Alpha-tocopherol (α-tocopherol) is the form recognized to meet human requirements, acting as the body's primary chain-breaking antioxidant in lipid environm

Menaquinones is the family of bacterial-synthesized vitamins, with long-chain forms like MK-4 and MK-7 serving as sustained-release guardians of cardiovascular and skeletal health by activating proteins that properly direct calcium into bones and away from arteries. 1. Overview: Menaquinones, known as Vitamin K2, are a family of compounds with polyisoprenyl side chains of varying lengths (MK-4 to MK-13). They are produced by bacteria and are particularly effective at activati

Phylloquinone commonly known as Vitamin K is a plant-sourced, rapid-acting conductor of the clotting cascade, essential for life-saving coagulation while also playing a newly appreciated role in cardiovascular health by activating key bone and arterial proteins. 1. Overview: Phylloquinone, or Vitamin K1, is the primary form of vitamin K found in plants. It is preferentially used by the liver to activate clotting factors (II, VII, IX, X) and proteins C & S, making it critical

Cholecalciferol Vitamin D prohormone forged from sunlight and diet, master-regulating calcium for skeletal integrity while orchestrating a vast symphony of gene expression critical for immune resilience, cellular health, and systemic balance. 1. Overview: Cholecalciferol, known as Vitamin D3, is a secosteroid hormone precursor synthesized in the skin upon exposure to UVB radiation. It undergoes sequential activation in the liver and kidneys to form calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyv

Vitamin B12 is the largest and most complex vitamin, acting as the indispensable custodian of neurological integrity, the key to healthy blood cells, and the silent partner in DNA synthesis and cellular energy, requiring precise mechanisms for absorption. 1. Overview: Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin with a central cobalt atom. It exists in several forms, primarily as methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin in the body, which serve as cofactors for two critica

Folate is the essential architect of DNA and RNA, the critical donor of methyl groups that silence genes and detoxify compounds, and a non-negotiable nutrient for fetal development and rapid cell growth. --- 1. Overview: Folate (Vitamin B9) is a water-soluble vitamin whose metabolically active form, 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), serves as the primary methyl donor in the methylation cycle. It is fundamental for DNA synthesis and repair, red blood cell formation, and the c

Vitamin B6 is a versatile director of amino acid metabolism, guiding the synthesis of neurotransmitters, supporting hormone balance, and playing a critical supporting role in methylation and immune function through its active coenzyme forms. --- 1. Overview: Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that exists in six interrelated vitamers, with Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate (PLP) serving as the principal active coenzyme form. PLP is a cofactor for over 150 enzymes, primarily involved i

Pantothenate is the omnipresent "everywhere" vitamin, forming the core of Coenzyme A—the central shuttle that fuels the citric acid cycle, builds fatty acids, hormones, and neurotransmitters, while supporting adrenal resilience. --- 1. Overview: Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) is a water-soluble vitamin that is exclusively used to synthesize coenzyme A (CoA) and acyl carrier protein (ACP). CoA is the indispensable "handle" for acyl groups, making B5 fundamental to over 100 diff

Riboflavin is the vibrant yellow engine of energy metabolism, transforming food into cellular power while safeguarding tissues against oxidative stress. A cornerstone of the B-complex, essential for vitality from mitochondrial function to healthy skin. --- 1. Overview: Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is a water-soluble vitamin that serves as the foundational precursor for the critical coenzymes flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). These coenzymes are in

Molybdenum is a critical trace mineral that serves as the indispensable heart of key enzymatic systems, most notably sulfite oxidase—the crucial detoxifier of sulfites—and plays a vital role in the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids, purines, and certain drugs, acting as a fundamental guardian of cellular and neurological health. 1. Overview: Molybdenum is an essential trace element that functions exclusively as a cofactor for a small group of enzymes known as molybd

Silicon is an essential trace element that acts as a critical cross-linking agent in the synthesis and stabilization of collagen and elastin, serving as a fundamental architectural component for healthy bones, joints, skin, hair, and nails, while also playing a vital role in the integrity of vascular walls and connective tissue resilience. 1. Overview: Silicon, in its bioavailable form as orthosilicic acid [Si(OH)₄], is a bioactive trace element recognized for its crucial rol

Aluminum is a highly abundant, non-essential metal pervasive in the modern environment, with no known biological function in humans, whose accumulating body burden has become a subject of significant scientific scrutiny for its potential neurotoxicity and role in chronic disease, necessitating a strategy of informed avoidance rather than supplementation. 1. Overview: Aluminum is a lightweight, reactive metal with no role in human biochemistry. Its omnipresence—from cookware a

Fluoride is the ionic form of the element fluorine, renowned for its proven role in preventing dental caries by strengthening tooth enamel and supporting bone mineral density, yet positioned at the center of enduring public health debates regarding safety, ethics, and optimal exposure levels. --- 1. Overview: Fluoride is the anion (F⁻) of the element fluorine. It is not classified as an essential nutrient for human growth or life, but it is recognized as a "beneficial element