Product Quality: Thorne’s Defining Characteristic

Pure formulas

Every Thorne formulation is guided by our “No List” of ingredients that are unacceptable in our manufacturing process. Most nutritional supplements begin as a powder before being tableted and bottled, but powder is a difficult medium to work with efficiently. To speed up the manufacturing process, most other companies add “flowing agents” – like magnesium stearate, a long-chain fatty acid – to help powdered ingredients flow through the tableting equipment faster. Stearates, however, can inhibit a nutrient’s absorption in the body.

At Thorne, we ensure you get the most out of your health and wellness solutions. For example, Curcumin, of our best-selling supplements. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that has been shown to support a balanced inflammatory response in the body. Curcumin is the active compound in the spice turmeric, which has been used for centuries as a culinary spice and botanical remedy in Eastern cultures.

But curcumin is notoriously difficult for the body to absorb. A supplement can’t achieve its purpose if the body can’t absorb it. To harness the benefits of curcumin, we source a form called curcumin phytosome, which binds curcumin to a phospholipid complex to enhance curcumin’s absorption. The curcumin phytosome we source, known as Meriva®, has 29-times greater absorption than ordinary curcumin. And Meriva is the most clinically studied curcumin on the market.

Another issue with curcumin is that it is a tricky ingredient to work with. It requires time-consuming processes when you manufacture a supplement that contains curcumin. A single 4-hour production run can require 16 hours of extensive follow-up cleaning. We could save time and money by using unnecessary lubricants that shorten the production time and make cleaning quicker, but that goes against our belief to design only optimal solutions for your health.

Trusted ingredients

What else sets Thorne apart? Our rigorous procurement practices are unmatched. We exercise complete oversight of our supply chain, from the origins of the ingredients to the testing that each ingredient undergoes before and after it reaches the manufacturing floor. Take ashwagandha, for instance. Ashwagandha extracts are often sought for their withanolide content, with the highest concentration being found in the plant’s roots. Because of the high demand for ashwagandha extract, there is risk of adulterated extracts on the market. Adulteration comes in the form of non-root parts of the plant – such as stems and leaves – that contain less of the beneficial withanolides found in the root. That would be like opening a tin of loose-leaf tea and finding twigs and sticks instead of leaves.

To ensure the efficacy of the ashwagandha in Thorne products, we partner only with suppliers whose practices emphasize quality, science, and sustainability. The ashwagandha we use in our stress and cognitive support supplements is a full-spectrum ashwagandha root extract – KSM-66® – developed by Ixoreal Biomed, who owns the entire supply chain from farm to factory; KSM-66 has been the subject of numerous clinical studies. On the other hand, for the purposes of some powdered products, we looked for an ashwagandha extract that emphasizes the withanolides with nootropic benefits, but without the sedative effect, to support improved mental focus and attention. We found that in an extract called NooGandha®, which has been the subject of several studies for its ability to balance cortisol levels and support attention and memory.

Unparalleled performance

Thorne’s obsession with quality does not stop with our ingredients. We invest in comprehensive testing, both in our two in-house laboratories, as well as outside laboratories that specialize in specific tests. For clinical efficacy we have strategic partnerships with world-class research institutions. Thorne is the only supplement manufacturer that collaborates with Mayo Clinic on health and wellness research and content. What’s more, in 2014, we entered a partnership with Mayo Clinic to conduct a series of clinical trials on nutritional supplements; the studies are designed to test the safety and efficacy of a range of single compounds from natural sources, plant extracts with complex molecular attributes, and complex nutritional products formulated to address specific nutritional needs.

At our in-house laboratories in Summerville, South Carolina, we conduct four rounds of testing on all our products. First, each raw material and component is quarantined when it enters our facility for us to conduct testing to verify its identity and potency. Next, we carry out in-process testing to ensure that the correct amounts of ingredients are being used as products are being made, plus we check each batch for bottle, label, or capsule defects. After a product is finished, but before it is shipped for sale, it is tested again to confirm the identity, potency, purity, and safety of the finished formula. Finally, we set aside representative samples of every batch of product we make to carry out stability testing to confirm each product will maintain its potency through its expiration date.

The takeaway

Quality defines everything we do at Thorne. We go above and beyond to assure the most innovative solutions for your health and wellness. We pride ourselves on the safety, efficacy, and integrity of our products. That is why we are continually raising the industry’s standards – not just for our benefit, but for your benefit as well.

When you put your trust in Thorne, you put your trust in innovation and insight. That’s why we provide supplements to thousands of health-care professionals to recommend to their patients. That’s why we’re the choice of U.S. National Teams and more than 100 professional sports teams. That’s why we’re trusted by millions of consumers worldwide. Thorne has redefined the supplement industry by helping you defy expectations of good health and wellness.