Science

The research behind each formula

Know exactly what you're taking — and why. This page is the second half of that sentence.

Every Monovits formula rests on published human research. For each one: what the ingredient is, what the studies looked at, and where to read them.

Made in the USA with global ingredients, in an FDA-registered, GMP-certified facility. Every Monovits formula is Non-GMO.

Berberine Complex

On the label: Metabolic Support*
"Helps your body and supports energy and metabolism.*"

What's in the capsule

• Berberine HCl — 500 mg
• Bitter Melon Fruit (Momordica charantia, 10:1 extract) — 100 mg
• Banaba Leaf (Lagerstroemia speciosa, 1% extract) — 25 mg

Why these three

Berberine is the anchor. The research on berberine examines its role in healthy glucose metabolism already within a normal range. Two large pooled analyses cover 3,048 and 4,158 participants [1][2]. Both measured clinical endpoints in their study populations; those results describe the people studied, not an outcome for this product. Trials in this literature typically ran 900–1,500 mg of berberine per day.

Bitter melon is included as a concentrated 10:1 fruit extract. A 12-week trial used 300–600 mg per day of extract [3]. A systematic review of 9 trials concluded that the metabolic effect of Momordica charantia cannot be determined from the available clinical evidence [4].

Banaba leaf is standardized to 1% corosolic acid. The most direct trial used 1 mg per day of pure corosolic acid [5], and a narrative review summarizes the proposed mechanisms [6]. Banaba is included as a traditional companion to berberine.

Magnesium Bisglycinate

On the label: Supports Sleep & Muscle Recovery*
"Supports relaxation and healthy muscle function. It also supports overall wellbeing.*"

What's in the capsule

• Magnesium — 200 mg elemental (48% Daily Value), as Albion® buffered magnesium bisglycinate chelate: magnesium bisglycinate chelate plus magnesium oxide

Why this form

Two points of precision. This is a buffered chelate — magnesium bisglycinate chelate combined with magnesium oxide. And the 200 mg on the panel is elemental magnesium, the figure that matters, not the weight of the compound.

The closest matched human trial gave 250 mg elemental magnesium per day for 4 weeks to 155 adults reporting poor sleep, and reported a small improvement over placebo [7]. The effect size was small, and the authors report it as such.

Advanced Probiotic

On the label: Gut & Immune Health Support*
"Supports digestive wellness, provides beneficial bacteria, and supports the immune system.*"

What's in the capsule

Probiotic Bacteria, 5.75 Billion CFU† (potency at time of manufacture), 9 mg, consisting of DE111® (Bacillus subtilis), Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium breve.

What the research covers

The evidence for a multi-strain formula is per strain. No study has tested this exact seven-strain blend as a finished product, which is a standard limitation of multi-strain formulas.

DE111® has a 4-week pilot trial in healthy adults [8] and a crossover study confirming that its spores survive gastric transit and germinate in the small intestine [9]. The second is viability evidence, not a health outcome. Lactobacillus plantarum has a meta-analysis of 18 trials reporting generally favorable immune-regulatory effects [10].

Turmeric 750mg

On the label: Advanced Joint & Muscle Support*
"Curcumin – turmeric's key active compound – supports joint health and provides antioxidant properties to support an active lifestyle.*"

What's in the capsule

• Turmeric 95% Extract (Curcuma longa, rhizome) — 750 mg, standardized for 95% curcuminoids (712.5 mg)
• BioPerine® (black pepper fruit extract) — 5 mg

Why 95% standardization

Standardization is the reason a turmeric capsule is worth taking. Raw turmeric powder contains only a small fraction of curcuminoids; a 95% extract states exactly how much active material is present. Ours is 712.5 mg per capsule.

Two research lines examine curcuminoids and joint comfort [11][12]. Both measured clinical endpoints in their study populations; those results describe the people studied, not an outcome for this product. The controlled trial used 1,000 mg per day.

BioPerine® is included for its well-described role in curcumin absorption. The landmark bioavailability study paired curcumin with 20 mg of piperine [13], and newer data question whether piperine reliably boosts curcumin bioavailability [14].

References

1. Systematic review and meta-analysis of berberine and glucose metabolism, 37 randomized controlled trials / 3,048 patients. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2022. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.1015045; PMC9709280.
2. Meta-analysis of berberine and metabolic profiles, 46 studies / 4,158 participants. PMC8696197.
3. 12-week randomized controlled trial of bitter melon extract, 300 mg and 600 mg per day, 75 adults. Journal of the American Nutrition Association, 2025;44(4):306–314. PMID 39536276; doi:10.1080/27697061.2024.2428301.
4. Systematic review and meta-analysis of Momordica charantia, 9 randomized controlled trials / 414 participants. PMC10808600.
5. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of corosolic acid, 1 mg per day for 2 weeks, 14 middle-aged men. Journal of Functional Foods, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2022.105256
6. Review of the efficacy and safety of banaba and corosolic acid. PMID 22095937.
7. Randomized controlled trial of magnesium bisglycinate, 250 mg elemental magnesium per day for 4 weeks, 155 adults. Nature and Science of Sleep, 2025. PMID 40918053; PMC12412596.
8. Randomized controlled trial of DE111®, 4-week pilot in healthy adults. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021. PMID 33671071; PMC7957723.
9. Randomized crossover, placebo-controlled study of DE111® spore survival and germination in the human small intestine, 11 participants. PMC8366289.
10. Meta-analysis of Lactobacillus plantarum and immune regulation, 18 randomized controlled trials. PMC8019694.
11. Lopresti et al. Randomized controlled trial of a curcumin extract, 1,000 mg per day for 8 weeks, 101 adults. Nutrients, 2021;14(1):41. doi:10.3390/nu14010041; PMC8746505.
12. Systematic review and meta-analysis of curcuminoids and joint outcomes. PMC9580113.
13. Shoba et al. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers, 20 mg piperine. Planta Medica, 1998. PMID 9619120.
14. Pharmacokinetic study and critical reappraisal of curcumin formulations, 20 mg piperine, 9 healthy men. iScience, 2025;28(6):112575. PMID 40487425; doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.112575.

Trademarks

• Albion® and the Albion Gold Medallion design are registered trademarks of Balchem Corporation or its subsidiaries.
• DE111® is a registered trademark of Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes, Inc.
• BioPerine® is a registered trademark of Sabinsa Corporation.

Important notices

† Potency at time of manufacture. This product may be kept refrigerated to maximize shelf-life and potency.

This page is educational. It is not medical advice, and it is not a diagnosis or a dosing recommendation. Talk to your clinician before starting any supplement, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, under 18, taking prescription medication, or managing a known medical condition. Read the caution statement on each product page and on the bottle before use.