Thorne Supplement Review 2022

Since it was founded in 1984, Thorne has been on a mission to revolutionize the supplement industry and empower customers to take control of their health by providing a variety of supplements formulated with clinically proven ingredients.

Though they started with a single product, the company now offers a wide selection of supplements, including multivitamins, probiotics, protein powders, and more.

All supplements from Thorne are free of gluten and unnecessary fillers, additives, and artificial ingredients.

Supplements are also manufactured in a facility that is certified by third-party organizations like NSF International and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which is Australia’s regulatory agency responsible for evaluating the safety of supplements.

According to Thorne, ingredients are sourced from trusted suppliers to ensure quality, and all products are tested in their in-house laboratory multiple times throughout the manufacturing process.

Though they don’t include details on whether supplements are also tested by an independent lab, they do offer more than 30 products that are NSF Certified for Sport, meaning those products have been screened to ensure they’re free of substances banned for athletes.

This is an important consideration when purchasing supplements, as third-party testing can ensure that products are high quality, safe, and free of harmful contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides.

Summary

Thorne is a supplement brand offering a wide selection of products designed to support health. Their supplements are free of gluten, fillers, and additives and made in facilities certified by TGA and NSF International. Some products are also NSF Certified for Sport.

Here are a few of the pros and cons to consider before trying Thorne.

With more than 180 supplements and bundles to choose from on their website, Thorne offers options catering to a variety of health needs and goals.

In addition to products intended to support general health or fill in any gaps your diet, such as multivitamins and protein powders, they offer supplements specifically for certain health conditions, including:

• bone and joint health
• children’s health
• cognition and focus
• energy levels
• gut health
• healthy aging
• heart and blood vessel health
• immune function
• liver health and detoxification
• metabolism
• mood
• probiotics
• skin, hair, and nails
• sleep
• sports performance
• stress management
• thyroid function
• men’s health
• women’s health

With so many supplements available, Thorne Research might be a good option for people looking to improve their health or increase their intake of certain nutrients through supplements.

Many of their sports supplements are also screened for banned substances and NSF Certified for Sport, which may be a key consideration for athletes.

However, certain products may be more expensive than similar supplements from comparable brands, which might not make Thorne products a good fit if you’re on a tight budget.

Summary

Thorne offers a wide selection of products for many health needs, including some screened for banned substances for athletes. However, Thorne products can be pricey, and people with health conditions should consult a healthcare professional before using supplements.

Thorne offers a variety of supplements, including many products tailored to specific health needs and conditions. Here is a closer look at a few of their most popular products.

Branched-chain amino acids

Thorne Amino Complex

Featuring a blend of essential amino acids — a type of amino acid that you must get from food because your body cannot produce it — this supplement claims to help boost strength, increase muscle mass, and maximize the results of workouts (2).

It also contains all three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), a group of amino acids that may be particularly beneficial.

In fact, some studies suggest that supplementing with BCAAs could help reduce post-workout muscle damage, ease soreness, and increase time to exhaustion (3, 4, 5).

This product is available in berry and lemon flavors and can be mixed with your favorite beverage, such as water or milk, and taken 1–2 times per day or as directed by a healthcare professional.

It’s also gluten-free, vegan-friendly, and NSF Certified for Sport, so it’s a good choice for competitive athletes.

Bone and joint health

Thorne Basic Bone Nutrients

This supplement is designed to help keep your bones healthy and strong, packing four nutrients essential for bone health into each capsule.

In particular, it contains calcium, which makes up the structure of your bones and teeth, along with vitamin D, an important micronutrient that regulates calcium absorption (6, 7).

It also includes a good amount of vitamin K and magnesium, which may help support bone health and maintain bone mineral density in older adults (8, 9).

Like other Thorne products, Basic Bone Nutrients is free of gluten, dairy, and soy. However, keep in mind that it contains vitamin D3 derived from lanolin, or sheep’s wool, which is not suitable for vegans.

For best results, it’s recommended to take 1–4 capsules per day or use as directed by a healthcare professional.

Fish oil and omegas

Thorne Omega-3 with CoQ10

With 630 mg of combined docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) per gelcap, this supplement is a great way to bump up your intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

Research suggests that, in addition to decreasing inflammation, omega-3 fatty acids boast numerous other health benefits and may help protect against heart disease and preserve brain function in older adults (10, 11, 12).

This product also contains coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a compound that has been studied extensively for its ability to improve heart and blood vessel health (13).

It’s free of gluten, dairy, and soy and can be taken 2–3 times daily, depending on your needs.

However, note that it contains gelatin and fish oil, so vegans and vegetarians will want to opt for an omega-3 supplement derived from algae instead.

Multivitamins

Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day

Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day is formulated with a blend of vitamins and minerals to help round out your diet and support overall health.

For example, it contains vitamin A, an important nutrient required to maintain healthy vision, as well as vitamins C and E, both of which act as antioxidants (14, 15, 16).

Though multivitamins shouldn’t be considered a replacement for a balanced and nutritious diet, some research suggests they can prevent nutrient deficiencies and could help protect against certain chronic conditions (17, 18).

Thorne recommends taking 2 capsules per day or using as directed by a healthcare professional.

Keep in mind that this supplement is not appropriate for vegans. Additionally, note that there are two varieties available on the website. They contain the same nutrients and ingredients, but one version is NSF Certified for Sport and is slightly more expensive.

Sports performance

Thorne Creatine

Thorne offers a variety of supplements intended to support sports performance, including Thorne Creatine, which provides 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving.

Creatine is a popular supplement among professional athletes and gym-goers alike, thanks to its ability to increase strength, prevent injuries, and promote post-workout recovery (19, 20).

Thorne Creatine is free of gluten, soy, and dairy and is unflavored, so it can be easily mixed with other beverages and taken 30–90 minutes before or after exercise.

It’s also NSF Certified for Sport, meaning it’s been tested to verify that it’s free of substances banned by major athletic organizations.

Gut health

FloraMend Prime Probiotic

FloraMend Prime Probiotic is formulated with 5 billion colony-forming units and 3 unique strains of probiotics, beneficial bacteria that support gut health and immunity.

In particular, it contains Bifidobacterium bifidum, which has been shown to improve seasonal allergy symptoms and immunity in human studies (21, 22).

It’s also formulated with Bifidobacterium longum, which has been shown to have anti-obesity effects in animal studies (23).

This supplement is free of gluten, soy, and dairy and should be taken once per day with a meal.

What’s more, it’s shelf-stable, so it’s a convenient and portable alternative to refrigerated probiotics.

Summary

Thorne offers a wide selection of products intended to improve various aspects of health.

Thorne is known for quality and has collaborated with many manufacturers, researchers, and health organizations around the globe.

Limited customer reviews are available on their website, but there are thousands of reviews for various Thorne products on other websites, such as Amazon.

Products are generally well rated. For example, Thorne Creatine holds a 4.7/5-star rating on Amazon, and Basic Nutrients 2/Day has a rating of 4.6.

Though Thorne Research is not accredited by the BBB, they currently have an A+ rating from the organization.

This is determined by considering factors such as their complaint history, their business practices, how long they’ve been operating, and whether there are any issues related to advertising, licensing, or government actions (24).

Generally, customer complaints about the brand that have been reported to the BBB are related to issues with refunds, order cancellations, and delivery delays, though most have been resolved.

Trustpilot reviewers have also reported some issues with Thorne’s customer service but have noted that they’re satisfied with the overall quality of the supplements.

Summary

Thorne is well rated and has a reputation for quality. They are not accredited by the BBB but have an A+ rating, and most customer complaints have been resolved.

Thorne products are formulated using ingredients that have been extensively studied for their safety and potential health benefits.

In fact, the brand provides detailed information on the ingredients in each product and their effects on health, along with any drug interactions or contraindications that you should be aware of.

Additionally, Thorne has partnered with organizations and research institutes like the National Institutes of Health, Mayo Clinic, and Columbia University to test their products.

According to their website, more than 40 of their products have been used in clinical trials conducted around the world.

However, they do not specify whether their products are featured in any published or peer-reviewed studies.

Summary

Thorne products are formulated using research-backed ingredients. They also claim that many of their supplements have been used in clinical trials, but it’s unclear whether they are included in any published journal articles or peer-reviewed studies.

Be sure to use supplements as directed for best results. For example, some supplements, such as Mood Plus and Basic Prenatal, need to be taken with food to maximize absorption or prevent side effects, while others can be taken on an empty stomach.

Taking more than the recommended dose of certain products over long periods — including those that contain iron or fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, and K — may also lead to very serious side effects (25, 26).

It’s also important to consult a healthcare professional before adding any supplements to your routine, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications.

A professional can help ensure that supplements don’t interact with any other medications you may be taking and can recommend an appropriate dosage to meet your needs.

Summary

It’s important to use all products as directed and to talk with a healthcare professional before adding any supplements to your routine. Thorne also offers at-home testing kits for personalized supplement recommendations, though this is optional.

Many other supplement manufacturers are comparable to Thorne in terms of price, third-party certifications, and selection of products offered.

Here’s a closer look at some similarities and differences between these companies:

summary

The chart above provides an in-depth look at some of Thorne’s key competitors and how they compare.

Are Thorne supplements FDA-approved?

Unlike medications, supplements do not require approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the FDA does not evaluate supplements for safety or effectiveness.

However, Thorne notes that they comply with all FDA regulations for manufacturing and labeling, and their products are manufactured in facilities certified by other third-party organizations, including TGA and NSF International.

Does Thorne make collagen?

Thorne offers Collagen Plus, a supplement that features collagen peptides and is designed to slow signs of aging and promote skin and hair health.

Where are Thorne Vitamins made?

Most products from Thorne Research are manufactured in their facility in Summerville, South Carolina, though ingredients may be sourced from around the globe.

Are Thorne supplements high quality?

Although Thorne products may be more expensive than those from some competitors, their supplements are high quality and made using clinically proven ingredients.

However, while all their products are tested in-house, keep in mind that only those that are NSF Certified for Sport are tested by an independent lab. This may be an important consideration, as third-party testing can help ensure the safety and quality of supplements.

Thorne Research is a reputable supplement company that produces high quality supplements tailored to a wide range of health needs.

However, only select supplements are third-party tested, which may be an important consideration for some people. Furthermore, some products can be pricey, and many are not suitable for those with certain dietary restrictions, such as vegans or vegetarians.

Still, with more than 180 supplements and bundles available, Thorne products are designed to help you reach your health goals or increase your intake of the nutrients that matter most to you.