Active Ingredients

In the Active Ingredients category, we have gathered single-ingredient supplements, which are products built around one substance or a short pair: coenzyme Q10, colostrum, MCT oil, hyaluronic acid, inositol, MSM, and propolis. With one ingredient, the choice comes down to a few questions, and the answers are on the label. Below we explain what to compare.

Single-ingredient supplements: what ingredients will you find in the category

Coenzyme Q10 is available here in two forms: as an oil capsule Koenzym Q10 FORTE and as a capsule made of plant cellulose Aura Herbals with 150 mg of coenzyme. Colostrum, or bovine colostrum, has versions in capsules, in a 125 ml liquid, and with bee pollen. Aura Care Colostrum + Lactoferrin combines colostrum with lactoferrin from cow’s milk.

MCT oil from coconut Coco Fuel comes in softgel capsules and powder in sachets. Hyaluronic acid is available in capsules of 200 mg and in drinkable shots Glow+. The category is complemented by inositol in capsules, MSM in powder, and propolis drops.

Capsule, powder, or liquid

The form determines how you take your dose. Koenzym Q10 FORTE is ubiquinone dissolved in MCT oil and enclosed in a soft capsule, taken once daily, preferably with a meal. Coenzyme Q10 is fat-soluble, hence the oil carrier.

MCT oil in softgel capsules contains 1000 mg per capsule, and the recommended dose is from two to four capsules daily. In powder form, one sachet contains 7000 mg of MCT oil, which should be dissolved in at least 100 ml of water, coffee, or a smoothie. MSM is measured with a flat teaspoon, which is a dose of 2 g dissolved in a glass of water.

Colostrum Extract in liquid form is measured with a teaspoon, and the dose is from 10 to 20 ml in a cool drink. Propolis drops come in a 50 ml bottle with a dropper. The liquid allows for flexible dosing, while the capsule provides a fixed amount without measuring.

Amount per dose, not per capsule

Compare the content in the daily dose, as a dose can be one or two capsules. Coenzyme Q10 Aura Herbals has 150 mg in one capsule, and that is the dose. Inositol has 1100 mg in a dose of two capsules, and Colostrum 700 mg + BioPerine has 700 mg of colostrum in a dose of two capsules.

Aura Care Colostrum + Lactoferrin contains the entire dose in one capsule, which is 400 mg of freeze-dried colostrum and 50 mg of lactoferrin. The package contains 30 capsules with one taken daily. Hyaluronic acid Aura Herbals has 200 mg in a capsule and 60 capsules in a package, with one taken daily.

Standardization and additives

With colostrum, the mass of colostrum itself says little, which is why manufacturers provide standardization for immunoglobulin G. In Aura Care, it is 30% IgG, and in Colostrum 700 mg + BioPerine, it is 40% IgG, which means 280 mg of immunoglobulins per dose. Colostrum with bee pollen has 800 mg of colostrum standardized to 30% IgG, which gives 240 mg of immunoglobulins.

BioPerine is a trade name for an extract from black pepper fruits, standardized to 95% piperine. In Colostrum 700 mg + BioPerine, there is 2.1 mg per dose, and in Koenzym Q10 FORTE, it is listed alongside phosphatidylcholine from soy lecithin. MCT oil in powder is standardized to 60.7% caprylic acid C8 and 38.9% capric acid C10.

Origin, allergens, and timing of intake

Colostrum and lactoferrin come from cow’s milk, so they are not suitable for vegans or for those allergic to milk proteins. Koenzym Q10 FORTE contains soy, and its coating is made from animal-derived gelatin. If allergic to bee products, skip colostrum with pollen and propolis drops.

The capsules of Aura Care are made with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, which is plant cellulose, while the hard capsules of Aura Herbals are made with the same material, and the softgel Coco Fuel has a coating made from beef gelatin. The timing is determined by the manufacturer: the capsule Aura Care Colostrum + Lactoferrin is taken on an empty stomach, washed down with a glass of water, while Koenzym Q10 FORTE is taken with a meal.

How to read the composition table is described in our post how to read a dietary supplement label. Multi-ingredient preparations and other forms can be found in the Supplements category.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a vegetarian capsule mean a vegan product?

Not always. In Aura Care Colostrum + Lactoferrin, the coating is made from plant cellulose, but both active ingredients come from cow’s milk. Whether a product is vegan depends on the entire list of ingredients, not just the coating. The softgel Coco Fuel has a coating made from beef gelatin, and Koenzym Q10 FORTE has animal-derived gelatin.

What does standardization to 30% immunoglobulin G mean?

This is a declaration about the composition of the raw material: in 400 mg of freeze-dried colostrum, immunoglobulin G constitutes 30% of the mass. It is not a separate ingredient added to the formulation. Standardization allows for comparison of two colostrums, as the mass alone says nothing about their composition. In Colostrum 700 mg + BioPerine, the standardization is 40% IgG, which means 280 mg of immunoglobulins per dose.

Why is coenzyme Q10 sometimes in an oil capsule?

Because coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble compound. In Koenzym Q10 FORTE, it appears as ubiquinone dissolved in MCT oil, and the manufacturer recommends taking one capsule once daily with a meal. Aura Herbals encloses 150 mg of coenzyme in a hard capsule made of plant cellulose.

MCT oil in powder or in capsules?

The powder provides a large dose at once, as one sachet contains 7000 mg of MCT oil to be dissolved in a drink. Softgel capsules contain 1000 mg each and allow you to choose a dose from two to four capsules daily. The capsule coating is beef gelatin, while the powder is described as vegan.

How long does Koenzym Q10 FORTE last?

The package contains 60 oil capsules, and the dose is one capsule daily, so it lasts for the same number of days. The capsule is taken with water, preferably with a meal. The capsules are oil-based and soft: ubiquinone is dissolved in MCT oil, and the coating is animal-derived gelatin.