Science
Built around the research,
not the label.
Every ingredient in MicroVitamin earns its place through human randomised controlled trials. Active forms, sensible doses, and the honest science behind each decision.
Three principles behind every formulation decision
Most supplements are designed around two things: low manufacturing cost and impressive-looking labels. MicroVitamin is designed around one thing: what the clinical research actually supports.
Active, bioavailable forms
Nutrients in the forms your body can directly use: methylated B12 (methylcobalamin) and methylated folate (5-MTHF) bypass a common MTHFR gene variant that slows this conversion. Minerals in glycinate chelate form — bound to an amino acid, which raises how much your body actually absorbs. In a head-to-head study that was about 43% more than the gluconate forms common in budget products. Carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene) in encapsulated delivery systems that protect potency through shelf life.
Doses chosen to match the research
Each dose reflects what human RCTs actually tested — not what makes the label look impressive. Most ingredients are at 50–100% of the Daily Value: enough to fill dietary gaps and stay within the dose range studied in clinical trials, without the megadosing approach that can produce adverse effects at sustained intake. Where a specific dose is used in a key trial (e.g. hyaluronic acid 200mg, lutein 10mg), that's the dose MicroVitamin uses.
Updated as the evidence evolves
The formula is currently in version 8 (USA). It has been revised as new clinical data has emerged — upgrading forms when better options became available, and adjusting doses to align with new trial data. Formulas are not a "set and forget." When the science changes, the formula changes.
The formula is defined as much by what's left out as what's included
Several nutrients common in competing multivitamins are intentionally absent from MicroVitamin, based on the clinical evidence.
Vitamin A (retinol / beta-carotene) EXCLUDED
A Cochrane systematic review of 78 RCTs (296,707 participants) found that beta-carotene and vitamin E supplementation was associated with a higher risk of dying from any cause. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends against beta-carotene supplementation due to signals of increased lung cancer risk in smokers, and concluded with moderate certainty that vitamin E supplementation has no net benefit for preventing cardiovascular disease or cancer (USPSTF, JAMA, 2022). The SELECT trial — 34,887 men followed for up to 12 years — found vitamin E at 400 IU/day significantly increased prostate cancer risk (Klein et al., JAMA, 2011). Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body rather than flushed out in urine, so any excess builds up instead of being cleared. Most people obtain adequate amounts from their diet.
Vitamin E EXCLUDED
Same Cochrane review linked supplemental vitamin E to a higher risk of dying from any cause at higher doses. The same storage problem applies here — excess is retained rather than cleared. Dietary vitamin E from nuts, seeds, and plant oils is sufficient for the vast majority of adults. Including it on the label for marketing purposes — given this evidence profile — would conflict with the formula's core philosophy.
Calcium EXCLUDED
When high-quality RCTs are examined in isolation, supplemental calcium shows no significant reduction in fracture risk, and several large studies have linked calcium supplements to increased cardiovascular risk. Dietary calcium does not appear to carry the same risk. MicroVitamin supports the body's use of dietary calcium through Vitamin D3 (absorption), Vitamin K2 (directs calcium to bone via osteocalcin), Magnesium (required for Vitamin D activation), and Boron (extends Vitamin D half-life) — without adding supplemental calcium on top of dietary intake.
Fillers, dyes & titanium dioxide EXCLUDED
MicroVitamin capsules contain no titanium dioxide, no artificial colours, no silicon dioxide fillers, and no magnesium stearate. The capsule shell is plant-based (HPMC). Many of the additives that routinely appear in supplement ingredient lists are there purely to make manufacturing at scale easier — they do nothing for the person taking the product. Where manufacturing requires a bulking agent, natural alternatives are used.
Resveratrol EXCLUDED
One of the most heavily marketed ingredients in the category. Oral absorption is poor, and human results have been inconsistent — the trial record has not kept pace with the marketing. Popularity is not evidence, and a daily formula is the wrong place to take a bet.
NMN & nicotinamide riboside EXCLUDED
Genuinely interesting cell and animal work on NAD+ precursors. The human outcome data is early and thin relative to how confidently these are sold, and the long-term effects of pushing NAD+ to high levels are not known. MicroVitamin includes a modest dose of nicotinamide instead.
Apigenin, sulforaphane & fisetin EXCLUDED
Each has a promising mechanism and promising results in cells or mice, and not enough human data to justify a place in something taken every day. Fisetin in particular was trialled by the Interventions Testing Program without showing the effects the preclinical work suggested. Worth watching, not yet worth including.
Key ingredients — form, dose & the research
The studies below are human RCTs or meta-analyses unless otherwise noted. Dose figures refer to what was studied; doses in MicroVitamin are matched to the research where available.
Cognition & B-vitamins
Bones & Vitamin D / K2
Carotenoids & Eye health
Skin & Hydration
Glycinate trace minerals — bioavailability advantage
MicroVitamin+ Exclusive
The COSMOS trial — the largest multivitamin RCT in history
The COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study randomised 21,442 US adults aged 60 and over to a daily multivitamin or placebo. A meta-analysis combining three COSMOS cognitive substudies (5,203 non-overlapping participants) found multivitamin supplementation was associated with improved global cognition and episodic memory versus placebo, equivalent to approximately 2 years of reduced cognitive ageing (Vyas et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 2024). MicroVitamin's formulation includes the COSMOS-aligned nutrient categories: Choline, Methylated B12, Methylated Folate, and the full B-complex.
Third-party tested. Certificates of analysis available.
Manufacturing claims are easy to make. These are the specific testing protocols and certifications behind every MicroVitamin batch.
Batch-level heavy metal testing
Every batch is independently tested for lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium against USP daily limit standards. Certificates of analysis are available on request. Most recent Labdoor-commissioned Eurofins test: results below USP daily limits for all four heavy metals.
Label accuracy & purity
Independent testing verifies that what's on the label is present in the bottle at the claimed amounts. MicroVitamin has been tested by Labdoor-commissioned laboratories and passed for accuracy and purity on the most recent batch. Every certificate is downloadable on the third-party testing page, including the independent test we did not pass.
GMP-certified facilities
Manufactured at Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certified facilities across five regions: USA (Makers Nutrition — FDA-registered, GMP-audited, NPA certified), Canada (Canadian Premier Supplements — cGMP, NSF-licensed, Health Canada site-licensed), Australia, UK, and Germany.
What's tested on every batch
- ✓ Lead (Pb) — vs USP 5 mcg/day daily limit
- ✓ Mercury (Hg) — vs USP daily limit
- ✓ Arsenic (As) — vs USP 15 mcg/day daily limit
- ✓ Cadmium (Cd) — vs USP daily limit
- ✓ Microbiology (yeast, mould, total plate count)
- ✓ Identity verification of key actives
- ✓ Label accuracy — actual vs declared amounts
Certificates of analysis are available on request. Contact brad@drstanfield.com.
Five regions. Local supply. No cross-border customs on orders.
MicroVitamin Capsules are manufactured regionally so most customers receive a locally-produced batch with no customs delays. Each facility holds the same GMP standards.
We share the results — including the ones that show room for improvement
In early 2026, ConsumerLab tested MicroVitamin and flagged above-label amounts of Vitamin D and folate. This was the result of standard manufacturing overage practices — nutrients degrade over shelf life, so the formula is made at above-label amounts to ensure label claims are met by the expiry date.
In response, overage specifications for Vitamin D and folate were revised downward in version 9 (the current development formula) to reduce the likelihood of future flags, while still ensuring label claims are met through the product's shelf life.
The batch sheets and certificates of analysis were shared publicly. Independent testing — including by organisations that flag issues — is something we actively support, not avoid.
Two nutrients came back above the label amount, and ConsumerLab sends any failing test to a second independent laboratory — so there are two sets of figures. Both are shown.
| Nutrient | On the label | Lab A found | Lab B found | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D | 25 mcg | 61.25 mcg | 48.4 mcg | Manufacturing overage. Both figures sit below the NIH tolerable upper intake level of 100 mcg/day. |
| Folate | 200 mcg DFE | 479.4 mcg DFE | 404.6 mcg DFE | Manufacturing overage, plus a contested conversion factor for methylfolate into dietary folate equivalents. |
Heavy metals — lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury — all passed, well below their daily limits. The full report, and every certificate of analysis, is downloadable on the third-party testing page.
The science behind the micro-dose approach to melatonin
The supplement industry standardised on 3–5 mg melatonin. The research on physiological melatonin dosing tells a different story.
Studies cited on this page
All human RCTs, meta-analyses, or systematic reviews unless otherwise noted. This is a representative list for this page; the full study library behind the formula is available on request.
- Vyas CM et al. Multivitamin supplementation on cognitive function in older adults: a 3-trial combined analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2024. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.12.011
- Liew SC, Gupta ED. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism: epidemiology, metabolism and the associated diseases. Eur J Med Genet. 2015. PubMed
- Smith AD et al. Homocysteine and Dementia: An International Consensus Statement. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018. doi:10.3233/JAD-171042
- Gandia P et al. A bioavailability study comparing two oral formulations containing zinc (Zn bis-glycinate vs. Zn gluconate). Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2007. PubMed
- Michelotti A et al. Oral intake of a hyaluronan-based nutraceutical for maintenance of skin hydration and elasticity in healthy women: 28-day open-label study. Eur J Dermatol. 2021. doi:10.1684/ejd.2021.4176
- Kuang X et al. The combination effect of vitamin K and vitamin D on human bone quality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Food Funct. 2020. doi:10.1039/c9fo03063h
- Zhang Z et al. The effect of vitamin K2 supplementation on bone turnover biochemical markers in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Endocrinol. 2025. doi:10.3389/fendo.2025.1703116
- Stringham JM et al. Lutein across the lifespan: From childhood cognitive performance to the aging eye and brain. Foods. 2017. doi:10.3390/foods6070047
- Bovier ER, Hammond BR. A randomized placebo-controlled study on the effects of lutein and zeaxanthin on visual processing speed. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2015. doi:10.1016/j.abb.2014.11.012
- Cheng HM et al. Tomato and lycopene supplementation and cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Atherosclerosis. 2017. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2017.01.009
- Bjelakovic G et al. Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007176.pub2
- USPSTF. Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer. JAMA. 2022. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.8970
- Klein EA, Thompson IM, Tangen CM, et al. Vitamin E and the Risk of Prostate Cancer: the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT). JAMA. 2011;306(14):1549-1556. doi:10.1001/jama.2011.1437
- Kreider RB et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. JISSN. 2017. doi:10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z
- Xu C et al. The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Nutr. 2024. doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1424972
- Nie Z et al. Effects of Oral Taurine Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. Nutr Rev. 2025. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuaf220
- Low TL et al. The efficacy of melatonin and melatonin agonists in insomnia: an umbrella review. J Psychiatr Res. 2020. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.10.022
- Bannai M, Kawai N. New therapeutic strategy for amino acid medicine: glycine improves the quality of sleep. J Pharmacol Sci. 2012. PubMed
- Schuster J et al. Magnesium Bisglycinate Supplementation in Healthy Adults Reporting Poor Sleep: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nat Sci Sleep. 2025. doi:10.2147/NSS.S524348
- Arab A et al. The role of magnesium in sleep health: a systematic review of available literature. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2023. doi:10.1007/s12011-022-03162-1
- Kim DU et al. Oral Intake of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptide Improves Hydration, Elasticity, and Wrinkling in Human Skin. Nutrients. 2018. doi:10.3390/nu10070826
- Hartley L et al. Dietary fibre for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011472.pub2
- Anderson JW et al. Long-term cholesterol-lowering effects of psyllium as an adjunct to diet therapy in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000. doi:10.1093/ajcn/71.2.472
All of this in one daily formula.
26 ingredients in their active forms, at doses the research supports. Third-party tested. Made at GMP facilities across five regions.
Where to go next
The evidence above is one part of it. How the formula is built is on the About page; the independent test results and every certificate of analysis are on the testing page.
Study citations on this page are provided for informational and educational purposes. They do not constitute endorsement of MicroVitamin by the study authors or their institutions. Results from studies may not apply to all individuals.