Magnesium Forms
Energy & Mitochondria
Ubiquinol vs CoQ10 (Ubiquinone)
Ubiquinol absorbs 2-3x better than ubiquinone, especially in adults over 50. For most younger adults at standard doses, ubiquinone is sufficient and cheaper. Ub...
NMN vs NR
Both raise NAD+ levels with similar effect sizes in human trials. NR has more published clinical trials and a clearer regulatory status. NMN was reclassified by...
Adaptogens & Mood
Ashwagandha vs Rhodiola
Ashwagandha is best for chronic stress, anxiety, and sleep — calming and grounding. Rhodiola is best for mental fatigue, burnout, and energy under stress — ener...
Saffron vs St. John's Wort
Both have antidepressant evidence comparable to mild SSRIs. Saffron has fewer drug interactions and a cleaner safety profile. St. John's Wort has more research ...
Cognitive
Joint Health
Glucosamine vs Chondroitin
Both have mixed-to-modest evidence in osteoarthritis. Glucosamine sulfate (specifically the sulfate form) has slightly better evidence than chondroitin for mode...
Standard Curcumin vs Meriva
Standard curcumin has poor bioavailability — most of it never reaches the bloodstream. Meriva (curcumin phytosome) achieves 29x higher absorption than standard ...
Vascular & ED
Omega & Cardiovascular
Vitamins
Methylcobalamin vs Cyanocobalamin
Cyanocobalamin is cheaper, more stable, and works fine for the vast majority of people. Methylcobalamin is the active form, preferred for known MTHFR mutations,...
Vitamin D vs Vitamin K2
These aren't alternatives — they're complementary. Vitamin D enables calcium absorption; vitamin K2 directs that calcium to bones rather than arteries. Taking h...