IO.GENIX

What is IO Genix Vit D3 K2?

It is a supplement that combines two fat-soluble vitamins in a single plant-based capsule: 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 and 200 µg of vitamin K2 in MK-7 form. The bottle contains 60 capsules, which is two months at one capsule a day.

The formula is pared back to the strict essentials: maltodextrin as a bulking agent, the two vitamins, and a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose shell. The latter is of plant origin, which sets this product apart from most vitamin D products on the market, often sold as bovine gelatine softgels.

Pairing D3 with K2 has become a standard in the vitamin D aisle, and the logic behind it is simple: vitamin D increases calcium absorption, vitamin K plays a part in its use in bone. Both carry authorised claims relating to bones, and that is what justifies bringing them together. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix aisle.

What does one capsule contain?

Other components: maltodextrin (bulking agent), plant-based capsule (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). NRV within the meaning of Regulation 1169/2011: 5 µg for vitamin D, 75 µg for vitamin K. The percentages above are calculated from these values, as the manufacturer does not publish them in the data provided.

Let us start with vitamin D, and say things as they are. 50 µg per capsule is ten times the nutrient reference value. The figure looks striking, but there is an explanation for it: the European NRV of 5 µg is a very low floor, and the EFSA sets 100 µg a day as the tolerable upper intake level in adults. One capsule therefore represents half that ceiling — a straightforward dose, common on this type of product, and one that stays within bounds provided you do not stack sources.

That is precisely the point to watch. If you already take a multivitamin, cod liver oil or a bone complex, add up the micrograms before adding this capsule. Vitamin D is fat-soluble: it is stored in the body, unlike vitamin C.

The authorised claims are precise, and they are more than enough on their own: vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones, to the maintenance of normal muscle function, to the normal function of the immune system, and to the normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus. As for the second: vitamin K contributes to normal blood clotting and to the maintenance of normal bones.

On the MK-7 form, a word of honesty. It is a long-chain menaquinone, known for staying in the body longer than MK-4. We will stop there: claiming a quantified superiority would require a source we do not have, and 200 µg is a high dose for this vitamin — which is also what makes the warning about anticoagulants so important.

How should you take Vit D3 K2?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: during a meal containing fat, preferably in the morning or at midday. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: continuous use is possible, particularly during periods of low sunlight.

The fatty meal is not a detail. D3 and K2 are both fat-soluble: swallowed on an empty stomach with a glass of water, part of the intake is lost. A breakfast with eggs, a few almonds, a drizzle of oil or simply a full-fat yoghurt is enough to change that. It is the most rewarding move on this whole page.

On the time of year, the manufacturer is right to insist: it is from October to April that the question really arises in France. Winter sunshine does not allow synthesis in the skin, and that is where the 60-capsule bottle makes sense — two months, to be repeated two or three times over the cold season.

Two useful combinations to know about. Magnesium is involved in vitamin D metabolism, and a proper calcium intake from food — dairy products, green vegetables, mineral waters — makes more sense than the capsule taken on its own. Zinc, for its part, can be taken at another time of day without interference.

Who is this product for, and who is it not for?

It suits adults living in a country with little winter sunshine, those who work indoors, people with darker skin who synthesise less vitamin D, and indoor athletes. As the capsule is plant-based, it is suitable for vegetarians; note, however, that vitamin D3 is most often of animal origin, and the manufacturer does not specify its source.

It is not advised for people on anticoagulant treatment — warfarin, vitamin K antagonists — without prior medical advice. This is not a token precaution: vitamin K is directly involved in clotting, and these treatments act on precisely that pathway. If this concerns you, speak to your doctor before opening the bottle, not afterwards.

The manufacturer also states that it is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for children, or for people on medical treatment without supervision. Traces of GLUTEN (wheat, oats), NUTS, PEANUTS, EGGS, MILK, SULPHITES, FISH and SOYA are possible.

What you should not expect from it. It is not a stimulant: you will feel nothing, and that is normal. Nor is it a product to take blindly over several years — vitamin D status can be measured in a laboratory, and if you supplement all year round, a blood test is the right way to know where you stand. Lastly, it is not a performance product: correcting a low status restores normal muscle function, it does not create extra strength in someone whose status is already adequate.

Vitamin D3 K2 or a multivitamin?

This is the choice that faces more or less everyone in autumn, and it is settled on the dose.

A multivitamin provides vitamin D, but rarely more than 5 to 25 µg, among twenty other nutrients. It is the better choice if your diet is irregular and you want broad cover without having to think about it: B vitamins, vitamin C, trace elements, everything is covered by a single capsule. Its weakness on this particular point: the vitamin D dose is often too low to count for much in the depths of winter, and vitamin K is almost always absent from it.

Vit D3 K2 does the opposite: two vitamins, at a straightforward dose, nothing else. It is the better choice if your need has been identified — a low blood test, a winter without sun, an indoor job — and if you want to manage that one line precisely. It is also the only one of the two that provides K2, which is absent from very nearly every multivitamin.

The trap to avoid is always the same: taking both without counting. A multivitamin at 25 µg plus this capsule at 50 µg is 75 µg a day, still under the ceiling of 100 µg, but adding a fortified fish oil would tip the total over. Do the sum once and it will serve you all winter.

Frequently asked questions

Is 2,000 IU a day too much?

That is 50 µg, half the tolerable upper intake level of 100 µg a day set by the EFSA in adults. It is a high dose relative to the European reference value, which is only 5 µg, but it stays within bounds as long as you do not combine several sources. The only way the question is really settled is with a blood test.

Why combine K2 with D3?

Because both vitamins carry an authorised claim on the maintenance of normal bones, and they act at different stages: D promotes calcium absorption, K plays a part in its use. That is the logic of the combination, and it is sound. We will not go beyond what the authorised wordings allow us to state.

Should it be taken in the morning or in the evening?

The manufacturer advises the morning or midday, with a meal containing fat. What matters is the fatty meal, not the hour: these are two fat-soluble vitamins, and taking them on an empty stomach appreciably reduces absorption. Choose the meal at which you eat the least lightly.

Can it be taken with an anticoagulant?

Not without medical advice. That is the manufacturer's explicit warning, and it concerns vitamin K, which is involved in blood clotting — the very pathway on which vitamin K antagonists act. This question is one for your doctor, who alone knows your treatment and how well balanced it is.

How long does a bottle last?

Two months, at the rate of one capsule a day for 60 capsules. Over a winter season from October to April, allow three bottles to cover the full period. It is the format that best matches seasonal use rather than continuous supplementation.

Is the capsule suitable for vegetarians?

The shell, yes: it is made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, a modified cellulose of plant origin. The manufacturer does not, however, specify the origin of the vitamin D3 itself, which is most often derived from lanolin commercially. If this point is decisive for you, check with the brand before buying.

Can it be taken all year round?

The manufacturer allows it and recommends it above all during periods of low sun exposure. Our position is more cautious: with a continuous intake of 50 µg a day for twelve months, a vitamin D blood test is the only serious way to know whether you are at the right level. In summer, sun exposure is often enough.

Where can you buy IO Genix Vit D3 K2?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is one of the least expensive products in the aisle, and one of the few whose usefulness in winter is beyond argument at our latitudes.

At the counter in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the question we always ask about this product comes down to three words: what else are you taking? Many people do not realise that their multivitamin already contains some, and the sum changes the advice. The rest of the vitamins and minerals can be browsed in our sports nutrition aisle.

What is IO Genix Vitamin B Complex?

IO Genix Vitamin B Complex is a B-group vitamin complex in tablet form. One tablet brings together all eight B vitamins, plus 50 mg of inositol and 50 mg of choline bitartrate. The bottle holds 60 tablets, and the intended dose is one tablet a day: two months of use per bottle.

The B vitamins form a group of eight molecules that have little in common chemically, but that are all involved in turning nutrients into energy the cell can use. That is the historical reason for grouping them under a single letter, and it is also why they are so often sold together rather than one by one.

The tablet format changes one concrete thing compared with capsules: it makes it possible to fit ten ingredients into a single unit to swallow. On a complex of this size, a capsule would have called for two or three doses a day. The rest of the Spanish range can be browsed in our IO Genix aisle, and the other products in the category in our vitamin B aisle.

What does one Vitamin B Complex tablet contain?

Every dosage exceeds the nutrient reference value, and that is normal on this type of product. The B vitamins are water-soluble: whatever the body does not retain leaves in the urine, which explains the comfortable safety margin they enjoy and why manufacturers do not hesitate to go up to 300 or 400% of the reference value. That said, a high dosage does not make a supplement more effective; it simply compensates for absorption that is never complete.

All eight B vitamins carry authorised claims in Europe, and there is no reason to stray from them. The broadest concern five of them: vitamins B2, B3, B6, B9 and B12 contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8 and B12 contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism. To these are added, among others, the normal functioning of the nervous system (B1, B2, B3, B6, B8, B12) and normal red blood cell formation (B6, B12).

Two ingredients in the formula call for a word of clarification. Inositol has no authorised claim in Europe: it is present, it is not banned, but nothing can be promised about it. Choline does have authorised claims, except that they are conditional on a minimum intake these 50 mg do not reach. Put another way, those two lines fill out the label more than they change the product, and it is better to know that.

One detail of form with practical consequences: vitamin B3 is supplied as nicotinamide, not as nicotinic acid. It is the form that does not bring on the well-known hot flush with facial redness that some niacins trigger at this dosage. At 54 mg, the question would arise with the other form.

Ingredients list

Anti-caking agent (magnesium stearate), vitamin B3 (nicotinamide), inositol, choline bitartrate, pantothenic acid (calcium D-pantothenate), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamine hydrochloride), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), folic acid, biotin.

Information missing from the manufacturer's file: the list of allergens present in the manufacturing plant is not disclosed for this product. We will not invent it. Please refer to the packaging you receive.

How do you take Vitamin B Complex?

Dose: 1 tablet. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: in the morning, with breakfast. Frequency: one dose a day. Duration: a course of 2 to 3 months, which can be repeated.

Taking it with food is not a precaution of principle. A B complex taken on an empty stomach fairly often brings on passing nausea, particularly at these dosages, and a full stomach settles the problem in almost every case. It is the first thing we say to a customer who comes back telling us they cannot tolerate their B complex.

Why the morning rather than the evening? Because the B vitamins are involved in cellular energy production throughout the day, and because taking them late adds nothing. There is, on the other hand, nothing against moving the dose to lunchtime if breakfast is not something you do.

One sign worth knowing about so as not to worry needlessly: riboflavin turns the urine bright yellow. It is a commonplace phenomenon, with no pathological meaning whatsoever, and it shows up as early as the first or second tablet. It simply indicates that the excess is being eliminated, which is the normal behaviour of a water-soluble vitamin.

A course of two to three months corresponds exactly to one bottle or one and a half. This complex combines without any overlap with an omega 3, a vitamin D or a magnesium — three categories that provide no B vitamins and that cover other needs.

Who is Vitamin B Complex for, and who is it not for?

It suits an adult whose diet is irregular, someone going through a busy period, and more broadly anyone looking for a broad intake rather than an isolated vitamin. The manufacturer restricts it to adults.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women must seek medical advice before taking it, and that is not a stock phrase: vitamin B9 is a nutrient whose intake during pregnancy is monitored precisely, and it must not be improvised from a general-purpose complex. The same goes if you are on medication: several B vitamins interact with common drugs, and that question is one for your doctor or pharmacist, not a shop assistant.

A point about vegan diets, because it is the most frequent reason for buying in this aisle. The 3 µg of vitamin B12 covers 120% of the reference value, which is fine for a general intake. But B12 absorption saturates quickly at each dose, and the protocols intended for strict vegan diets rest on markedly higher dosages. If you consume no animal products at all, this tablet will probably not be enough on its own: talk it over with a healthcare professional and consider a dedicated B12.

What not to expect from it: it does not give you energy in the sense of a noticeable lift. B vitamins are not stimulants, they contain no caffeine, and you will feel nothing when you take them. They take part in the reactions that release energy from food, which is a very different thing. Nor does a B complex make up for a night's sleep.

B complex or multivitamin?

The two products look alike on the shelf and yet answer two distinct logics.

A multivitamin casts a wide net: vitamins A, C, D, E, K, the eight B vitamins, plus a series of minerals such as zinc, magnesium or selenium. The price of that breadth is that each nutrient is present at a more modest dosage, often around 100% of the reference value. It is the right choice when you do not know precisely what is lacking and you want a general-purpose base: our multivitamins aisle is there for that.

A B complex does the opposite: fewer ingredients, but dosages three to four times the reference value. It is the right choice when your aim is targeted — an unbalanced diet, a diet excluding animal products, persistent tiredness already discussed with a doctor.

And it has to be said plainly: taking both at once makes little sense, since the multivitamin already contains all eight B vitamins. Choose one or the other. If your priority is antioxidant defence rather than energy metabolism, vitamin C is what to look at, with a different logic again.

Frequently asked questions

Why do the dosages exceed 300% of the NRV?

Because the B vitamins are water-soluble: the body eliminates the excess in the urine, which gives them a wide safety margin. Manufacturers therefore raise the dosages to compensate for partial absorption. It is not a guarantee of greater effectiveness, simply common practice and safe at the levels given here.

My urine is turning bright yellow, is that normal?

Yes, entirely. It is riboflavin, vitamin B2, which is naturally an intense yellow colour. The phenomenon appears with the very first tablets, has no pathological meaning and stops when you stop taking them. It simply signals that the excess is being eliminated normally.

Is this complex enough for a vegan diet?

Not necessarily. The 3 µg of B12 covers 120% of the reference value, but absorption of this vitamin saturates at each dose and the protocols intended for strict vegans use far higher dosages. Take the advice of a healthcare professional and consider a dedicated vitamin B12.

Can it be taken at the same time as a multivitamin?

It is possible but of little use: a multivitamin already contains all eight B vitamins. You would be stacking the same nutrients with no added benefit. Choose one or the other depending on whether you are after a broad base or a targeted intake of B vitamins.

What are inositol and choline for in the formula?

Inositol has no authorised claim in Europe. Choline does have them, but they assume a minimum intake that the 50 mg present here does not reach. Those two lines round out the label without genuinely changing the product's profile, and it is more honest to say so.

Does vitamin B3 cause flushing?

No, not in this form. The tablet supplies nicotinamide, not nicotinic acid. It is the latter that triggers the sensation of heat and facial redness from a few tens of milligrams upwards. With nicotinamide, the phenomenon does not occur.

How long does a bottle last?

60 tablets at one a day: two months exactly. As the course recommended by the manufacturer is two to three months, count on one bottle for a short course and one and a half for a long one.

Where can you buy IO Genix Vitamin B Complex?

The 60-tablet bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is the product we reach for when a customer is torn between eight separate bottles of B vitamins: one tablet in the morning settles the question, and the budget stays reasonable. The whole vitamin aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is IO Genix Vitamin C1000?

IO Genix Vitamin C1000 is a vitamin C in capsule form, with no flavouring, no sugar and no effervescence. One capsule supplies 1,000 mg of L-ascorbic acid, or 1,250% of the nutrient reference value. The bottle holds 90 capsules: three months at one a day.

L-ascorbic acid is vitamin C itself, in its simplest form. There is nothing else active in the capsule — no added bioflavonoids, no acerola, no buffered form. It is a single-ingredient product, and that is why it fits into one daily serving where an effervescent vitamin C tablet calls for a glass, some water and two minutes of waiting.

This format has a practical consequence we see on the shop floor every day: a capsule goes in a gym bag, an effervescent tube does not. For a daily serving taken all year round, that is the single criterion that makes the biggest difference to consistency. The rest of the Spanish range can be browsed in our IO Genix section, and the other products in the category in our vitamin C section.

What does one Vitamin C1000 capsule contain?

1,000 mg is a high dose, and it is worth knowing what that actually means. Vitamin C absorption is not proportional to the dose: it is very good up to around 200 mg, then falls off markedly as the amount rises. At 1,000 mg, an appreciable share of the dose is not absorbed and leaves in the urine. That is not a flaw in the product, it is the physiology of this vitamin.

So why go up to 1,000 mg? Because certain European claims are conditional on a specific additional intake. In particular, the one that matters most to athletes: vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system during and after intense physical exercise, a claim whose condition is an additional intake of 200 mg a day on top of the recommended daily intake. A 1,000 mg dose meets that condition beyond any argument.

The other authorised claims for vitamin C are numerous and cover most of what can be said about it: it contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones, cartilage, skin, teeth, gums and blood vessels, to normal energy-yielding metabolism, to the normal functioning of the nervous system, to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and it increases iron absorption.

That last line is the most underrated of the set, and it is the one with the most immediate practical use. Vitamin C improves the absorption of non-haem iron, meaning the iron in plant foods — lentils, spinach, pulses. Taken with the same meal, it genuinely changes what that meal delivers. If iron is your concern, our iron section is worth reading alongside this page.

A word on the capsule itself: it is made of gelatine, which rules this product out for vegetarian and vegan diets. It is a piece of information few product pages put forward, and it nonetheless rules out a share of buyers.

Ingredient list

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), anti-caking agent (silicon dioxide). Capsule shell: GELATINE and colouring. No added sugar, no sweetener, no preservative and no flavouring.

May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOY depending on manufacturing conditions.

How should you take Vitamin C1000?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: in the morning, before or during breakfast; for athletes, an hour before the session. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: a three-month course, repeatable, or continuous use as needed.

One detail the manufacturer gives and that is rarely followed: avoid taking the capsule at the same time as coffee or tea. The tannins in those drinks reduce absorption. An hour's gap settles the matter, and in practice that means taking the vitamin C at the very start of breakfast rather than with the last mouthful of coffee.

If your stomach reacts badly — it can at this dose, ascorbic acid is an acid — take the capsule in the middle of a meal rather than on an empty stomach. The discomfort almost always disappears. Keep yourself properly hydrated across the day as well: that is what helps clear the excess.

Should the dose be split? On paper, two 500 mg servings would be better absorbed than one of 1,000 mg. In practice, the product comes as 1,000 mg capsules and it is not designed to be opened. Take it in one go, and take the view that the dose compensates for the loss.

Vitamin C combines without redundancy with a vitamin D, a collagen — for which it is the synthesis cofactor — or a vitamin E, with which it works in a complementary way on the antioxidant side.

Who is Vitamin C1000 for, and who is it not for?

It suits an adult looking for a simple daily intake, particularly at the start of autumn, during a period of hard training, or when the intake of fresh fruit and vegetables is low.

Three contraindications appear explicitly on the packaging and deserve to be read before buying. The product is not recommended for people prone to kidney stones, whether calcium oxalate or uric stones. It is not recommended in cases of iron metabolism disorder — haemochromatosis, thalassaemia — since vitamin C does precisely that, increase iron absorption. And medical advice is required in the case of anticoagulant treatment, pregnancy or breastfeeding.

As the capsule is made of gelatine, the product is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. People with allergies must take account of the possible traces mentioned above.

What not to expect from it, and this is the point on which we most often disagree with what customers have read elsewhere. Vitamin C does not cure a cold and does not stop you catching one. No claim of that kind exists in Europe, and the available data does not support it. What it does is contribute to the normal function of the immune system — which is not the same thing. Nor does it make up for a diet low in plant foods: a kiwi, an orange and a red pepper over the course of a day already supply well over the reference value. This supplement makes sense when that base is missing, not in its place.

Do you need 1,000 mg of vitamin C, or is a more modest dose enough?

That is the real question, and it deserves an honest answer rather than a sales pitch.

To simply cover an adult's daily needs, 80 mg is enough: that is the nutrient reference value, and a multivitamin covers it without difficulty, supplying a good fifteen other nutrients along the way. If your aim is a general safety net, that is the cheaper and more sensible choice.

The 1,000 mg in this capsule answers a different need. They are relevant for an athlete stringing together intense sessions, because the immune claim tied to intense physical exercise assumes an additional intake of 200 mg a day — a dose a multivitamin never reaches. They are relevant too for anyone wanting to support iron absorption at a plant-based meal.

When is the multivitamin the better choice? As soon as your concern is not specifically vitamin C. If you do not know what is missing, a broad base is worth more than a high-dose single nutrient. And if your subject is oxidative stress rather than immunity, our coenzyme Q10 section offers a different approach, on complementary cellular targets.

Frequently asked questions

Does the body really absorb 1,000 mg of vitamin C?

No, not all of it. Absorption is very good up to around 200 mg then falls off markedly; at 1,000 mg, a large share leaves in the urine. The high dose offsets that diminishing return and makes it possible to meet the intake conditions of certain European claims.

Does this vitamin C protect against colds?

No, and no claim of that kind is authorised in Europe. What is authorised is that it contributes to the normal function of the immune system, including during and after intense physical exercise. Contributing to normal function is not preventing an infection.

Can it be taken with coffee?

The manufacturer recommends leaving an hour between the two: the tannins in coffee and tea reduce absorption. In practice, take the capsule at the very start of breakfast, before the coffee, rather than at the end. It is a small thing, but it costs nothing to apply.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is gelatine, of animal origin. The ascorbic acid itself poses no problem, but the capsule holding it does. There is no plant-based version of this product.

Is there any risk in taking it every day all year round?

Vitamin C is water-soluble and the excess is eliminated, which gives it a comfortable safety margin. The main complaint reported at this dose is digestive: bloating or intestinal discomfort. People prone to kidney stones should, however, steer clear; the warning appears on the packaging.

Should it be taken with an iron-rich meal?

That is in fact its most concrete use. Vitamin C increases the absorption of non-haem iron, the kind in lentils, spinach and pulses. Taken with the same meal, it improves what that meal delivers. Conversely, it is not recommended in cases of haemochromatosis or thalassaemia, for that exact reason.

How long does one bottle last?

90 capsules at one a day: three months. That matches the course recommended by the manufacturer exactly, and covers the autumn-winter period from a single bottle if you start in October.

Where can you buy IO Genix Vitamin C1000?

The 90-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is a product that mainly moves from September onwards, and the question we always ask is the one about kidney stones: it is the one contraindication customers almost always overlook. The rest of our vitamins can be browsed in the sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Vitamin E 400 IU?

IO Genix Vitamin E 400 IU is a vitamin E in softgel capsules. One softgel provides 400 IU of vitamin E as DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, equal to 274.7 mg using the conversion adopted by the manufacturer, and 2,289% of the nutrient reference value. The box holds 60 softgels for a net weight of 36 g, which is two months at one capsule a day.

Vitamin E is not a single molecule but a family of eight related compounds, four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Alpha-tocopherol is the one the body retains and transports as a priority, and it is also the only one covered by the European nutrient reference value. It is therefore the form found in very nearly every supplement.

The softgel format is not an aesthetic choice: vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, it keeps poorly as a powder and oxidises in air. The soft capsule shields it from light and oxygen until the moment it is opened. The rest of the Spanish range can be browsed in our IO Genix section, and the full category in our vitamin E section.

What does one softgel of Vitamin E 400 IU contain?

This is a high dose, and it deserves to be said plainly rather than presented as an advantage. The upper safe limit set at European level for alpha-tocopherol in adults is 300 mg a day. At 274.7 mg, this softgel sits just below it. That is not a problem in itself — a limit is there so as not to be crossed, not so as never to be approached — but it has two practical consequences. The first: never take two capsules a day. The second: if you already take a multivitamin containing vitamin E, add the two together before stacking them.

Only one claim is authorised in Europe for this vitamin, and it is a simple one: vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. That is all, and it is already the essence of what can honestly be said about it. Elsewhere you will read promises about skin, hair, fertility or the heart: not one of them has been validated at European level for vitamin E.

A point of vocabulary that is worth money when you are comparing two bottles. The letters “DL” in front of alpha-tocopherol denote the form obtained by synthesis, also called all-rac. The naturally sourced form is written “D” alone, or RRR-alpha-tocopherol. They are not equivalent weight for weight: the body retains the natural form better, and that is why the two can only be compared in international units, never in milligrams. So hold on to the figure in IU when you compare two vitamin E products.

Food supplies vitamin E through vegetable oils — sunflower, rapeseed, wheat germ — nuts and seeds, avocado and green leafy vegetables. A diet already rich in these foods covers requirements without difficulty; this supplement makes sense when that is not the case.

Ingredients list

DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E). Capsule shell: GELATINE and glycerine.

May contain traces of NUTS, PEANUT, EGGS, MILK, SULPHITES, FISH and SOYA.

How do you take Vitamin E 400 IU?

Dose: 1 softgel. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: during a meal that contains fat. Frequency: one serving a day, never two. Duration: one box covers two months; the manufacturer sets no maximum course length.

Taking it with a meal is the instruction that does most to change what this product returns, and it is also the one the manufacturer states least clearly. Vitamin E is only absorbed in the presence of dietary fat: taken on an empty stomach with a glass of water, part of the dose will simply not be taken up. A normal meal containing a drizzle of oil, a piece of cheese or a handful of almonds is amply sufficient.

The time of day matters little — lunch or dinner do the job equally well. What counts is regularity: fat-soluble vitamins are stored, their level in the body builds over several weeks, and a steady daily serving is worth more than an irregular one at double the dose.

Do not open the capsule and do not pierce it: the oil it contains oxidises rapidly on contact with air, which degrades precisely the molecule you are trying to supply. If the softgels are hard to swallow, thirty minutes in the fridge firms them slightly and helps them go down.

It is taken at the same meal as an omega 3 or a vitamin D, which call for the same fatty carrier. A vitamin C usefully complements it: the two nutrients work on different compartments of the cell, one in the fats, the other in the water.

Who is Vitamin E 400 IU for, and who is it not for?

The manufacturer restricts it to people over 18. It is intended for an adult whose diet supplies little in the way of vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, or who wants a targeted antioxidant intake.

Two situations call for medical advice before the box is opened. The first: if you are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment. At high doses, vitamin E is known to interfere with these treatments, and 274.7 mg is a high dose. The second: if surgery is scheduled. In both cases the question is one for your doctor, not for a supplement retailer, and the answer cannot be guessed.

The capsule shell is made of gelatine: the product is suitable neither for vegetarians nor for vegans. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should seek medical advice, as with any high-dose vitamin intake. Anyone with allergies should take account of the traces mentioned above.

What not to expect from it. You will feel nothing when you take it, and that is normal: vitamin E has no perceptible effect. It does not improve sporting performance, it does not make hair grow back and it does not smooth the skin — none of those promises is authorised, and for good reasons. It does not replace a diet that includes vegetable oils and nuts. And at this dose, “more” is not “better”: the European threshold of 300 mg a day exists precisely because generosity is not a virtue with this particular vitamin.

Vitamin E or coenzyme Q10?

The two sit in the same part of the shelf and are sold on the same word, “antioxidant”. They do not, however, do the same job.

Vitamin E lodges in cell membranes, where fats are exposed to oxidation. That is its ground, and it is what its single claim recognises. It is inexpensive, very stable in capsule form, and it has a clear regulatory framework behind it — which is rare in this aisle.

Coenzyme Q10 sits elsewhere: it is a molecule the body makes itself and which acts in the mitochondria, the energy factories of the cell. No claim is authorised for it in Europe, which is a considerable difference. It is also markedly more expensive. Our coenzyme Q10 section sets out this logic in detail.

When is coenzyme Q10 the better choice? When you are looking for that molecule specifically, generally on the advice of a healthcare professional, and budget is not the main criterion. For a simple, regular and clearly regulated antioxidant intake, vitamin E remains the most direct choice. And if you would rather have a plant extract, our curcumin section answers a third logic again.

Frequently asked questions

How many milligrams is 400 IU?

274.7 mg according to the conversion given by the manufacturer. Above all, remember that natural and synthetic forms of vitamin E are not compared in milligrams but in international units: it is the figure in IU that has to be set side by side when you compare two products.

Is this dose too high?

It is high without being excessive. The upper safe limit set at European level for alpha-tocopherol in adults is 300 mg a day, and this softgel supplies 274.7. One capsule a day, never two, and check that your multivitamin is not already supplying some.

Should it be taken with a meal?

Yes, and that is the most useful instruction on this page. Vitamin E is only absorbed in the presence of dietary fat. Taken on an empty stomach with a plain glass of water, part of the dose is lost. A meal containing a drizzle of oil or a few almonds is enough.

DL-alpha-tocopherol or D-alpha-tocopherol?

The “DL” denotes the synthetic form, “D” alone the naturally sourced one. The body retains the latter better, which explains why the two are compared in international units and not in milligrams. This product uses the synthetic form, the most widespread and the most stable.

Are these capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The capsule shell is made of gelatine, which is of animal origin. The glycerine that goes with it poses no problem, but the gelatine does. There is no plant-based version of this product.

Can it be taken with an anticoagulant?

Not without medical advice. At high doses, vitamin E can interfere with anticoagulant and antiplatelet treatments, and 274.7 mg is a high dose. The same caution applies before scheduled surgery. Put the question to your doctor or your pharmacist.

How long does one box last?

60 softgels at one a day: two months exactly, for a net weight of 36 g. The manufacturer sets no maximum course length, but at this dose level it is sensible to take stock with a healthcare professional if you are considering prolonged use over several years.

Where can you buy IO Genix Vitamin E 400 IU?

The box of 60 softgels can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we sell while always asking two questions: are you taking an anticoagulant, and are you already taking a multivitamin. Those two answers decide the advice far more than anything else. The full range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection, and broader intakes in our multivitamins.

What is IO Genix Vitamin B12 1000 µg ER?

IO Genix Vitamin B12 1000 µg ER is a coated tablet of vitamin B12 in the form of cyanocobalamin. One tablet provides 1,000 µg, which is 40,000% of the nutrient reference value. The bottle holds 90 of them, which comes to three months at one tablet a day.

The two letters “ER” stand for extended release, prolonged release. The tablet does not release its dose into the stomach all at once: it diffuses it gradually, which the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose used as a thickener in the body of the tablet makes possible. It is the only thing that sets this product apart from a conventional B12, and it determines how it should be taken.

Vitamin B12 is the only nutrient the body can neither make nor find in the plant kingdom. It comes exclusively from foods of animal origin — meat, fish, eggs, dairy products — because it is synthesised by bacteria. That is what makes it the baseline supplement for vegan diets, and one of the few whose necessity is not up for debate in that particular case. The rest of the Spanish range can be browsed in our IO Genix aisle, and the other products in the category in our vitamin B aisle.

What does one Vitamin B12 ER tablet contain?

40,000% of the reference value is a figure that makes you sit up, and it deserves a full explanation rather than a shrug. Oral absorption of vitamin B12 is limited in two ways. The active route, which goes through the intrinsic factor produced in the stomach, saturates at around 1 to 2 µg per dose, and no more. Beyond that, all that is left is passive diffusion across the intestinal wall, whose yield is of the order of 1%. In other words, a lot has to be offered for a little to get through.

That is the whole logic of the 1,000 µg dose: it is not commercial one-upmanship, it is the arithmetical consequence of a saturable absorption mechanism. And it is also why extended release makes sense here: by spreading out when the vitamin becomes available, it calls on the active route several times over rather than just once.

Vitamin B12 carries several authorised claims in Europe, and they are more than enough to describe what it is for. Vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system, contributes to normal red blood cell formation, contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism, contributes to the normal function of the immune system and has a role in the process of cell division. These are the official wordings.

The form used is cyanocobalamin. It is the most stable of the B12 forms, the one that best withstands heat and light, and by far the most studied. The body has to convert it into active forms, a conversion that takes place normally in a healthy person. The manufacturer also states that the product is free from gelatine, gluten, lactose and GMOs.

Information missing from the manufacturer's file: the exact period over which the release is spread is not disclosed. We will not invent it and we stick to the principle: the diffusion is gradual, not immediate.

Ingredients list

Bulking agents (microcrystalline cellulose, calcium carbonate), thickener (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), anti-caking agents (silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate), coating agent (clear HPMC powder), cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12).

May contain traces of TREE NUTS, PEANUTS, EGGS, MILK, SULPHITES, FISH and SOYA. Free from GMOs, gluten, gelatine, artificial colourings, starch, lactose, salt and added sugar.

How do you take Vitamin B12 ER?

Dose: 1 tablet, to be swallowed whole. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: any time of day, preferably with a meal. Frequency: one dose a day. Duration: the manufacturer sets no time limit; supplementation is ongoing for as long as the reason behind it persists.

The most important instruction on this page comes down to three words: do not crunch. Do not chew it, crush it or cut the tablet in half either. Extended release depends entirely on the tablet staying intact; breaking it releases the whole dose at once and does away with the only advantage you are paying for. If you find tablets hard to swallow, take it in the middle of a mouthful of fruit purée or yoghurt, without breaking it up.

Two interactions are worth noting, because they are common and easy to avoid. A high dose of vitamin C, above 500 mg, taken in the hour before or after, reduces the absorption of B12: space the two doses out. And several common medicines — metformin, proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, H2 blockers, colchicine — reduce the absorption of vitamin B12. The manufacturer recommends leaving two to three hours between them. If this applies to you, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

When will you notice anything? If your levels are normal, you will feel nothing at all, and that is entirely to be expected: B12 is not a stimulant. It combines without any overlap with an omega 3 or a spirulina, the latter not in fact being a reliable source of B12, whatever you may often read.

Who is Vitamin B12 ER for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed first and foremost at people whose diet provides no B12, or very little: vegan and strict vegetarian diets, above all. It also concerns people over sixty, in whom falling stomach acidity reduces the extraction of B12 from food, and those taking a medicine known to hinder its absorption over the long term.

It is not suitable in cases of allergy to cobalt or cobalamin — the B12 molecule is built around a cobalt atom. The manufacturer also flags Leber's disease, a hereditary optic neuropathy for which cyanocobalamin is contraindicated. It is a rare condition, but the warning is explicit on the packaging and we reproduce it as it stands.

In cases of absorption disorders — Crohn's disease, colitis, gastrectomy, pancreatic insufficiency — or diagnosed pernicious anaemia, the oral route may not be enough and follow-up is a matter for a doctor, not a supplement bought online. For pregnant and breastfeeding women, B12 requirements are higher, but what to do about it is decided with a healthcare professional.

What not to expect from it: it is no substitute for a diagnosis. Persistent tiredness can have ten causes, and only a blood test will say whether B12 is one of them. If you belong to an at-risk group, have your B12 measured rather than assuming — it is quicker, more reliable, and it avoids supplementing beside the real issue.

Extended-release tablet or B vitamin complex?

The question comes up every time, and the answer depends entirely on why you are buying.

A B vitamin complex provides all eight vitamins in the group, with B12 dosages that generally hover around a few micrograms — enough to cover the reference value, not to make up for a complete absence of dietary intake. It is the right choice if your diet is simply irregular and you are looking for a broad safety net. Our multivitamins aisle answers the same logic, on an even broader scale.

This tablet does the opposite: a single vitamin, at 1,000 µg, with release spread over time. It is the format that fits when B12 is precisely the nutrient that is lacking, that is to say on a diet excluding all animal products, or when a medicine hinders its absorption. In that case, a general-purpose B complex would be undersized.

There is a third situation, often overlooked: B12 works hand in hand with vitamin B9 and with iron in red blood cell formation. If you follow a vegan diet, these three nutrients deserve to be looked at together, with the help of a healthcare professional. The plant proteins aisle rounds out the same approach on the protein side.

Frequently asked questions

Why 1,000 µg when the reference value is 2.5 µg?

Because oral absorption of B12 saturates: the active route tops out at around 1 to 2 µg per dose, and beyond that only passive diffusion operates, with a yield of about 1%. A high dosage compensates for that low yield. It is not one-upmanship, it is arithmetic.

Can the tablet be cut or crunched?

No, never. It is the one absolute rule with this product. Crunching, chewing or crushing the tablet releases the whole dose instantly and cancels out the extended release. If the tablet goes down badly, swallow it with a spoonful of yoghurt or fruit purée, but whole.

Cyanocobalamin or methylcobalamin?

Cyanocobalamin is more stable, better documented and less expensive; the body converts it into active forms without difficulty in a healthy person. Methylcobalamin is already active but more fragile in storage. For everyday use, the form chosen here is a defensible one.

Is this tablet suitable for vegans?

The manufacturer states that it is free from gelatine, gluten, lactose and GMOs, and cyanocobalamin is obtained by bacterial fermentation. Nothing in the ingredients list is of animal origin. Do note, however, the possible traces of eggs, milk and fish linked to the manufacturing plant.

Should vitamin C be avoided at the same time?

Yes, if the dose exceeds 500 mg. The manufacturer asks that you leave at least an hour between them, because a high dose of vitamin C taken at the same time reduces the absorption of B12. If you take a 1,000 mg vitamin C in the morning, move the B12 to lunchtime.

How long before an effect is felt?

None at all if your levels are normal: B12 is not a stimulant and produces no sensation. Where a deficiency has been confirmed by a blood test, an improvement in tiredness is generally seen over several weeks of oral supplementation, and follow-up belongs to the doctor who made the diagnosis.

How long does a bottle last?

90 tablets at one a day: three months. As B12 supplementation is designed for the long run on a vegan diet, it is a pack size suited to ongoing use rather than to a one-off course.

Where can you buy IO Genix Vitamin B12 ER?

The 90-tablet bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is the first supplement we recommend to a customer who tells us they have gone vegan: before the proteins, before the omega 3, comes B12, because it is the only intake that no plant food supplies reliably. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition aisle.

What is IO Genix WaxyMaze?

IO Genix WaxyMaze is a carbohydrate powder for mixing with water, made from waxy maize starch. A 75 g serving provides 74 g of carbohydrate for 297 kcal, of which 0 g sugars, and 0.5 mg of vitamin B1. It dissolves in 500 to 700 ml of water and is drunk during or after exercise.

Waxy maize — waxy maize in English — is a variety of maize whose starch consists almost entirely of amylopectin, the branched fraction of starch. Ordinary starch contains around a quarter amylose, the linear fraction, which digests more slowly. It is this botanical peculiarity, and nothing else, that explains how the product behaves in the body.

In concrete terms, you are dealing with a high-glycaemic-index carbohydrate source, with no sugar in the nutritional sense of the word, and no pronounced sweet taste. It is fuel, not a drink for pleasure. The rest of the Spanish range can be browsed in our IO Genix aisle, and the other products in the category in our waxy maize aisle.

What does a serving of WaxyMaze contain?

The line to look at is the sugars: 74 g of carbohydrate, of which 0 g sugars. That is what sets a starch powder apart from a conventional energy drink, where most of the carbohydrate is sucrose or glucose. Here, it all comes from a branched starch. The energy arrives quickly, but it does not arrive as sugar, and the cloying feeling typical of very sweet drinks does not occur.

The vitamin B1 is not there for show: it is the vitamin involved in carbohydrate metabolism, and thiamine contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism — that is the authorised wording. At 0.5 mg per serving, i.e. 45% of the reference value, the amount is enough to be declared.

One point we want to state plainly, because it changes how this product should be used: it contains no sodium. The table shows 0 g of salt. So this is not a complete sports drink: on a long ride or in hot weather, you will be short of the electrolytes you lose through sweat. Plan for those separately — our electrolytes aisle exists for that. A carbohydrate powder on its own is no substitute for a properly formulated isotonic drink.

Something else that cannot be asserted is that this powder clears the stomach faster than any other: that is the classic marketing argument for waxy maize, it has not been validated at European level and we will not repeat it. What is true and verifiable is the composition: a branched starch, high glycaemic index, no sugar.

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the net weight of the tub, and therefore the number of servings, is not disclosed, any more than the stated origin of the flavouring. We will not infer them; the net content is shown on the packaging you receive.

Ingredients list

Modified starch, flavouring, acidity regulator (citric acid), sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame K), vitamin B1 (thiamine hydrochloride).

May contain traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGG and SOYA.

How do you take WaxyMaze?

Serving: 75 g. Liquid: 500 to 700 ml of water. Timing: 30 minutes before exercise, sipped during exercise, or immediately afterwards. Frequency: one serving per session, depending on duration and intensity. Duration: no course to follow, it is a product used occasionally around training.

The dilution volume is the most important parameter, and it is the one people get wrong most often. A 75 g serving in 300 ml gives a very concentrated drink, hard to swallow during exercise and sometimes heavy on the stomach. The 500 to 700 ml specified by the manufacturer are not a suggestion: they correspond to a concentration the digestive tract will accept under exertion. If you have to carry less liquid, cut the powder, not the water.

Adjust the concentration to the outside temperature — an endurance habit that few people apply. In cold weather you sweat less and can go more concentrated: the manufacturer mentions 60 to 80 g per litre. In hot weather, what you mainly need is to drink: drop to 20 to 40 g per litre and increase the volume.

In weight training, the 75 g serving in 500 ml during the session makes sense on long, high-volume workouts. On an hour of strength work it is probably superfluous: over that duration your glycogen stores are enough, and another 297 kcal in the day is not neutral if you are watching your weight.

For recovery, the classic combination remains carbohydrate plus protein. A serving of WaxyMaze with a scoop of protein within the thirty minutes after the session covers both needs at once, and it is also the basis of a self-made mass gain shake, often cheaper than a ready-made gainer.

Who is WaxyMaze for, and who is it not for?

It suits an endurance athlete on efforts of more than an hour, a weight trainer on long sessions, and anyone looking to increase their daily calorie intake without going through bulky foods.

It is not for you if your goal is weight loss. This is the point on which we regularly turn down sales in the shop: 297 kcal in a drink is the equivalent of a light meal, and drinking your calories is the quickest way to derail a deficit. During a cutting phase, this product only makes sense on very long sessions, and even then.

It is not recommended for children, adolescents, pregnant women or breastfeeding women. People with diabetes or with a blood-sugar regulation disorder should seek their doctor's advice before using a high-glycaemic-index powder: that is not a token precaution.

The formula contains sucralose and acesulfame K. If you avoid artificial sweeteners, this product is not for you. Anyone with allergies should take account of the traces of gluten, milk, egg and soya.

What not to expect from it: this is not a performance product with an immediate effect. You will not be stronger after drinking it. It supplies fuel, which is only of interest if the effort actually consumes it. On an hour-long session for someone who eats properly, the usefulness is slight.

WaxyMaze or cyclic dextrin?

The two powders occupy the same place in the carbohydrate aisle, and the choice comes down to two simple criteria.

WaxyMaze is an amylopectin derived from waxy maize. It is the most economical option per gram of carbohydrate, it mixes properly and it suits the majority of uses: post-session refuelling, a drink for long training sessions, extra calories during mass gain.

Cyclic dextrin is a starch processed differently, whose main quality is digestive comfort at high concentration. If you have ever had a heavy stomach from a carbohydrate powder during exercise, that is the parameter that matters to you, and our cyclic dextrin aisle is the right place. The trade-off is that it costs considerably more.

That leaves maltodextrin, the oldest and cheapest of the three, perfectly valid for recovery when digestive tolerance is not an issue. To sum up: maltodextrin if budget comes first, WaxyMaze for a good compromise, cyclic dextrin if your stomach has already let you down mid-race.

Frequently asked questions

How much carbohydrate in a serving?

74 g of carbohydrate for 297 kcal, of which 0 g sugars. All of it comes from waxy maize starch, rich in amylopectin. That is the carbohydrate equivalent of roughly 100 g of dry pasta, in liquid form and with no bulk in the stomach.

Does it taste sweet?

Not very. The product contains no sugars, only sucralose and acesulfame K in small amounts, plus an acidity regulator. The resulting drink stays light in taste, which is an advantage on long efforts where very sweet drinks end up becoming sickly.

Do you need to add electrolytes?

Yes, as soon as the effort drags on and you are sweating. The nutrition table shows 0 g of salt: this powder supplies fuel, not minerals. On a long ride or in hot weather, add an electrolyte product or a pinch of salt to your bottle.

Before, during or after training?

All three are provided for, but the most worthwhile use is during efforts of more than sixty minutes and immediately after an intense session. Before exercise, taking it 30 minutes beforehand works; on a short session, by contrast, the intake is of little interest.

Can it be mixed with a protein?

Yes, and it is in fact the most common pairing for recovery: carbohydrate and protein in the same shaker after the session. It is also the basis of a home-made gainer, generally cheaper and more adjustable than a ready-made mass gain product.

How much water per serving?

500 to 700 ml for 75 g of powder. Below 500 ml, the drink becomes concentrated and sits heavily on the stomach during exercise. In hot weather, increase the volume further or cut the powder: it is digestive comfort that decides, not the theoretical serving.

Does this product make you put on weight?

It provides 297 kcal per serving, so yes, if you add it to a diet that already covers your needs. That is precisely its value during mass gain and its main drawback during a cutting phase. Use it according to your goal, not out of habit.

Where can you buy IO Genix WaxyMaze?

The tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is a product we recommend mainly to cyclists and trail runners, and one we frankly advise against for anyone trying to lose weight: drinking 300 kcal is the most discreet way of sabotaging a deficit. The full aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is IO Genix Whey 80 Professional?

IO Genix Whey 80 Professional is a powdered whey concentrate made by IO Genix, a Spanish brand. Its raw material is a whey protein concentrate obtained by cross-flow ultrafiltration, sold under the Lactomin® ingredient brand. "Whey 80" refers to the protein content: the powder is standardised at 82% protein, a high figure for a concentrate, where the market standard sits between 70 and 80%.

The formula does not stop at the concentrate. It is completed by added L-leucine, L-isoleucine and L-valine — the three branched-chain amino acids — in an 8:1:1 ratio that heavily favours leucine, by a five-enzyme complex sold under the name DigeZyme® (amylase, protease, lactase, lipase, cellulase), and by vitamin B6 in the form of pyridoxine hydrochloride. The rest comes down to three lines: soya lecithin as an emulsifier, flavourings, sucralose.

The flavours listed: Chocolat intense, Vanille, Petit Yogurt Fraise-Banane, ChokoKrac, White Choco-Rings, Stracciatella, Frapuccino, Pistachio Ice Cream, Dubai Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cookies and Choco Milk Bar.

What does a serving of Whey 80 Professional contain?

The serving is 30 g, or one scoop. It provides 24.6 g of protein, 1.3 g of carbohydrate, 1.0 g of fat, 7.2 g of BCAAs at an 8:1:1 ratio and 5.6 g of glutamic acid. Scaled to 100 g of powder, that gives 82 g of protein, 4.3 g of carbohydrate, 3.3 g of fat, 24 g of BCAAs and 18.7 g of glutamic acid — a column calculated from the values declared for 30 g, as the manufacturer does not publish a 100 g column. The full table can be found in the nutritional values tab.

Three figures are missing, and we are not going to invent them. The energy value is not published: there are neither kilojoules nor kilocalories in the data supplied by the manufacturer. Nor are the regulatory lines "of which saturates", "of which sugars", "fibre" and "salt". Finally, the vitamin B6 content is not quantified: the label states an enriched dose without giving the microgram figure. Without a quantity, the threshold of 15% of the nutrient reference value per portion cannot be verified, and no claim can be made about this vitamin. We would rather set that down in black and white than copy out an unverifiable promise.

What can be verified, on the other hand, is solid. With 24.6 g of protein in a 30 g serving, the product comfortably exceeds the regulatory threshold for the "high in protein" nutrition claim. There are three authorised health claims for protein, and they are the only ones we will make: protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass, to the maintenance of muscle mass and to the maintenance of normal bones.

Is the full amino acid profile published?

No. The manufacturer does not release a detailed amino-acid-by-amino-acid profile for this product. The only quantified data we have are the total of the three branched-chain amino acids — 7.2 g per serving, 24 g per 100 g — and glutamic acid, at 5.6 g per serving and 18.7 g per 100 g.

Some retailers nonetheless publish a table of eighteen amino acids for this product. These are average whey concentrate profiles taken from the general literature, not values analysed on the batches actually sold. We will not reproduce them: eighteen estimated figures are more misleading than one honest line. What can be said about the 8:1:1 ratio is, by contrast, factual: whey naturally provides a ratio close to 2:1:1, and the leucine share here is boosted by the direct addition of L-leucine, which appears second in the ingredients list. The BCAA aisle lets you compare with amino acids taken separately.

How do you prepare Whey 80 Professional?

Mix 30 g of powder, or one level scoop, into 200 to 250 ml of cold liquid: water, skimmed milk or a plant-based drink. Shake for about fifteen seconds. The manufacturer gives one volume figure and one only — don't go looking for another.

The number of servings should be set by your total protein intake, not by a protocol: one to three servings a day depending on what your diet already covers. The most common times are after training and as a snack between meals. There is no thirty-minute window to respect: what determines the result is total protein across twenty-four hours, not the timing of a shaker. Take it when it genuinely fills a gap.

The manufacturer gives no course duration, and there is no reason to set one: a protein powder is a food, not an active ingredient to be cycled. Reseal the tub after each use and store it in a cool, dry place away from light. At 30 g per serving, a kilo of powder covers around thirty servings; refer to the capacity stated on the packaging for your size.

Who is this whey for, and who is it not for?

It suits anyone looking for a high protein content without moving up to an isolate: 82% for a concentrate is the top of the category, at a price per gram of protein that remains that of a concentrate. It also suits mass gain, where servings are multiplied and that gap becomes decisive.

The product contains MILK and SOYA. It may contain traces of GLUTEN (wheat and oats), EGGS and FISH. A diagnosed cow's milk protein allergy is a contraindication. The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women and does not intend it for children. If you are on medical treatment, seek a doctor's advice before use; any kidney or liver condition calls for the same consultation.

Here is what not to expect from it, and it is the point on which rival product pages stay silent. A whey concentrate retains more lactose than an isolate: that is the very definition of concentration, and the presence of lactase in the enzyme complex does not change the composition of the powder. If shakers sit heavily with you, the problem will not be solved here. No digestive claim is authorised for an enzyme complex in any case, and we make none; digestive enzymes can be described, not promised. Finally, no recovery claim exists for protein under European regulations: drinking a whey after training is a habit, not an effect demonstrated by the label.

Whey 80 Professional or a whey isolate?

This is the only trade-off that really matters on this page, and it does not fall the same way for everyone.

A whey isolate is the better choice in three clear situations. If you digest lactose poorly: filtration pushes the protein content beyond 85 to 90% and removes most of the residual lactose, which a concentrate does not. If you are counting every gram at the end of a cutting phase: 1.3 g of carbohydrate and 1.0 g of fat per serving here, against figures often below 1 g on an isolate. And if you want the maximum protein per serving for the same volume. On those three points, the concentrate loses.

Whey 80 Professional wins on the ratio between protein content and price. At 82%, it sits halfway between an ordinary concentrate and an isolate, while still being priced like a concentrate. It also wins on texture: the lactose and residual fat fractions give a rounder, less watery shake, which many people prefer. The calculation that settles it is always the same: price of the tub, divided by its weight in kilos, divided by the protein content per 100 g. Do it on both sides. All the families can be compared from the protein aisle.

Frequently asked questions

How many shakes a day can you take?

One to three 30 g servings, or 24.6 to 73.8 g of protein provided by the powder. The right number is the one that complements your diet, not a fixed figure: if your meals already cover your needs, one shake is enough. Increase your water intake when you increase your protein intake.

What exactly does the 8:1:1 ratio mean?

Eight parts leucine to one of isoleucine and one of valine. Whey naturally provides around 2:1:1; here, L-leucine is added in second position in the ingredients list to bring the ratio up to 8:1:1. That gives 7.2 g of BCAAs per serving, most of it as leucine.

What is the energy value of a serving?

It is not published by the manufacturer, and we are not going to calculate it on their behalf. The certain values are 24.6 g of protein, 1.3 g of carbohydrate and 1.0 g of fat per 30 g. If you keep a precise calorie count, apply your own coefficients to those three lines rather than relying on a figure copied from elsewhere.

Is this whey suitable if you are lactose intolerant?

Not necessarily. It is a concentrate, so richer in lactose than an isolate, and the enzyme complex that comes with it does not alter that composition. If you have confirmed intolerance, an isolate is the more cautious choice. If you have a cow's milk protein allergy, no whey is suitable: filtration removes the lactose, not the proteins.

Which flavour should you choose?

Chocolat intense and Vanille remain the safe bets if you plan to drink it every day and mix it with other things. Frapuccino, Pistachio Ice Cream and Dubai Chocolate are more pronounced profiles: pleasant now and again, more tiring over a whole tub. Nutritional values may vary slightly from one flavour to another.

Can you cook with it?

Yes. A whey concentrate stands up to cooking better than a plain isolate: it works in pancakes, cakes or creams. It thickens with heat and can turn rubbery if cooking is prolonged, so cut the times compared with a classic recipe and pair it with a carbohydrate source such as cream of rice.

Should you take it on non-training days?

If your diet does not cover your needs that day, yes: your weekly protein total matters more than how it is split between training days and rest days. Conversely, a shake added to days that are already well covered adds nothing but an expense.

Where to buy IO Genix Whey 80 Professional?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. A whey is chosen on three figures — the protein content per 100 g, the price per kilo and the serving size — and it is a calculation we are happy to run through with you in our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, tub in hand, rather than leaving you to compare two photographed labels.

The rest of the range can be browsed from our sports nutrition aisle.

What is IO Genix Whey Sublime 1.5 kg?

IO Genix Whey Sublime is a whey concentrate in a 1.5 kg tub, dosed at 30 g per serving. Its protein base is a whey concentrate named explicitly by the manufacturer: Lacprodan® SP-8011, produced by the Danish dairy group Arla Foods Ingredients. That is rare enough in this category to be worth pointing out — most labels simply write “whey protein concentrate” without saying where it comes from.

Three ingredients round out the formula. L-glutamine of Kyowa quality, an amino acid produced by fermentation. An enzyme complex called DigeZyme®, bringing together amylase, protease, lactase, lipase and cellulase. And vitamin B6 in the form of pyridoxine hydrochloride. Sucralose provides the sweet taste, with no added sugar.

The flavours in the range: Choco Milk Bar Crunchy, Milkyboom Choc, Cookie Dough, Black Cookies Cheesecake and Rochello. All of them are decidedly indulgent — this is not a range of well-behaved vanillas. The rest of the brand can be found in the IO Genix range.

What does a 30 g serving contain?

Figures for the standard flavour; they may vary slightly from one flavour to another. The manufacturer publishes neither a “fibre” line nor a detailed amino acid profile, and the amount of L-glutamine is not quantified: the ingredient is declared, its dose is not. We will not invent it.

75 g of protein per 100 g is at the top of the range for a concentrate. The category tends to sit around 70 to 77 g, and a concentrate advertising 85 g should raise doubts rather than reassure — at that level, it is an isolate. Translated into a serving: 22.5 g of protein for 117 kcal, roughly the protein equivalent of four egg whites for half the preparation. Protein here supplies more than three quarters of the product's energy, which permits the nutrition claim “high in protein”. And the applicable regulatory wording is this one: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass.

Less than one gram of fat per serving — 0.99 g of which 0.33 g saturates — is clean for a concentrate, which by its nature retains a share of fat. The 4.5 g of carbohydrate, of which only 0.75 g sugars, remain modest.

The 0.50 mg of vitamin B6 covers 36% of the NRV, comfortably above the 15% threshold that governs claims. We can therefore write that vitamin B6 contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism, to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

That leaves DigeZyme®, 30 mg per serving. Let us be clear: it is an enzyme complex, and no digestive claim is authorised in Europe for this type of ingredient. We will therefore promise you nothing about digestion, unlike what you read elsewhere. What we can say is factual: the lactase it contains is the enzyme that breaks down lactose, and its presence is consistent with a whey concentrate, which contains some. What it produces in your case, only trying it will tell.

How do you prepare Whey Sublime?

Dose: 30 g, that is one scoop. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of water or skimmed milk. Timing: after the session, at breakfast or as a snack. Frequency: 1 to 3 servings a day depending on the gap between your intake and your target. Duration: ongoing, no course is specified.

Shake for twenty seconds in a shaker. With water the drink stays light and the flavours, which are pronounced, come through clearly. With skimmed milk the texture thickens and the calorie contribution climbs — useful when bulking, to be avoided if you are counting closely.

The 1.5 kg tub covers 50 servings, that is close to two months at one shaker a day, or three weeks at two or three servings. It is the right format if you are a regular consumer: fewer orders, and a cost per serving more favourable than a 1 kg tub.

On the timing of the serving, let us put it plainly: it matters far less than people claim. What determines the result is the protein total over twenty-four hours, not the quarter of an hour following the last set. Take your shaker whenever it suits you. If you also want to cover your carbohydrates after training, pair it with a cream of rice rather than buying a ready-made gainer: you control both doses.

Who is this whey for, and who is it not for?

It suits anyone who wants an everyday whey with a clean profile, who likes distinctly dessert-like flavours, and who gets through enough to justify a 1.5 kg tub.

The product contains MILK, and therefore lactose. Traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, FISH, SOYA and NUTS are possible. The manufacturer does not recommend it for pregnant or breastfeeding women and asks that it be kept out of the reach of young children.

It is not suitable if you are genuinely lactose intolerant. The presence of lactase in DigeZyme® changes nothing about that answer: we have no data allowing us to state that it is sufficient, and a whey concentrate remains a whey concentrate. In that case, turn to a whey isolate, from which the lactose has been removed by filtration. Nor is it suitable if you want the maximum protein per serving, or if you prefer neutral flavours — the products here are all very pronounced.

What you should not expect from it: it is neither a weight-loss product, nor a meal replacement, nor a performance product. It is a convenient protein source, nothing more. And if your diet does not already cover your basic requirements, a tub of whey will not solve that particular problem.

Whey Sublime or a whey isolate?

This is the comparison everyone makes in front of the shelf, and it comes down to two figures and one situation.

The figures first. Here, 22.5 g of protein for 117 kcal, 0.99 g of fat and 4.5 g of carbohydrate per 30 g serving. With a typical isolate, reckon rather on 24 to 26 g of protein for 105 to 115 kcal, with fat and carbohydrate pulled down towards 0.5 g. The real gap is therefore two to three grams of protein per shaker. Over a day at two servings, that makes five grams — the equivalent of half an egg white. That is not what decides progress, and the isolate costs appreciably more.

Then the situation, and it is this that really settles matters. The isolate is the better choice if you digest lactose poorly, if you are on a strict cut and counting every gram, or if you are after a very fluid texture. In those three cases the argument is beyond dispute and it is worth the extra cost.

Whey Sublime is the better choice everywhere else: better protein-to-price ratio, a creamier texture, more accomplished flavours, and a 1.5 kg format that spaces out the orders. If your objective is simply to hit your daily protein total without thinking about it, this is the one to take. The whole category can be compared in our proteins range.

Frequently asked questions

What is Lacprodan® SP-8011?

It is the trade reference of the whey concentrate used, produced by the Danish dairy group Arla Foods Ingredients. Naming its raw material supplier commits the brand to a precise origin rather than to an adjective. It does not mechanically make the powder better, but it is verifiable information, and that is rare in this category.

How many servings are there in the 1.5 kg tub?

Fifty servings of 30 g exactly. At one shaker a day, that covers close to two months; at two shakers on training days, reckon on five to six weeks. Close the tub properly and store it in a dry place, away from direct light.

Do DigeZyme® enzymes improve digestion?

No digestive claim is authorised in Europe for this type of enzyme complex, and we will therefore make none. Factually: 30 mg per serving, bringing together amylase, protease, lactase, lipase and cellulase. Lactase is the enzyme that breaks down lactose. We have no data allowing us to state that this amount is enough to change anything for someone who is intolerant.

How much glutamine does a serving contain?

The amount is not disclosed by the manufacturer. L-glutamine appears second in the ingredients list, which suggests a not insignificant share, but we will not turn a position in a list into a figure. If your objective is a precise intake, the glutamine range offers pure powders that you dose yourself.

Can it be prepared with milk?

Yes, 200 to 250 ml of skimmed milk gives a denser texture and a rounder taste. Just be aware that you are thereby adding the calories of the milk to those of the serving, which is useful during a weight-gain phase and a drawback during a restriction phase. With water, stick to 200 to 250 ml as well.

Which flavour should you choose first?

The products are indulgent and either chocolatey or biscuity: Choco Milk Bar Crunchy and Milkyboom Choc for milk chocolate lovers, Cookie Dough and Black Cookies Cheesecake for a patisserie profile, Rochello for a hazelnut note. If you drink three shakers a day, be wary of very sweet flavours: you tire of them faster than of a vanilla.

Does it contain added sugars?

No. The sweet taste comes from sucralose, a sweetener, and not from added sugar. The 0.75 g of sugars per serving corresponds to the lactose naturally present in whey, not to an addition. Per 100 g, that gives 2.5 g of sugars for 15 g of carbohydrate.

Where can you buy IO Genix Whey Sublime 1.5 kg?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe.

A 1.5 kg tub means fifty shakers of the same taste: best not to get it wrong. At our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we happily open the conversation with the question that counts — would you rather have a milk chocolate, biscuit or hazelnut taste? — because it is that, and not the “protein” line, that will decide whether you finish the tub. Enzymes and other digestive supplements are grouped together in the digestive enzymes range.

What is IO Genix Zinc Bisglycinate?

IO Genix Zinc Bisglycinate is a zinc supplement in vegetable capsules, dosed at 15 mg of elemental zinc per capsule, alongside 1.4 mg of vitamin B6. A capsule weighs 0.58 g, which makes it a very compact format to swallow.

The form used is Paul Lohmann® zinc bisglycinate. Paul Lohmann is a German manufacturer of mineral salts, and its name on the label tells you where the raw material comes from, not that it has some magical property. Bisglycinate is zinc bound to two glycine molecules. That bond changes the way the mineral crosses the intestinal wall: it takes the amino acid routes rather than those used by free minerals. In plain terms, it is gentler on the stomach than oxide or sulphate, and that is the real reason to choose it. The rest of the Spanish range can be browsed in our IO Genix section.

The capsule is made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, so it is of plant origin: this product is suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets, which is not the case for every capsule supplement.

What does one capsule contain?

The 85 g of carbohydrate per 100 g come from the maltodextrin that carries the powder. On the scale of a single capsule, that amounts to half a gram and two calories: no impact whatsoever on your day.

15 mg of zinc is the ceiling, not an average dose. It is one and a half times the European reference value, and it is also the daily limit that ANSES applies to food supplements in France. In other words, there is nothing to gain by going higher, and there is something to lose: above 25 mg per day from all sources combined, zinc competes with copper and ends up degrading copper status. This product is calibrated to take up all the room available, which has a direct consequence: do not stack it with a ZMA or a multivitamin that already contains some. We look at these thresholds in detail in our article on zinc bisglycinate dosage.

At this dose the authorised claims are numerous and deserve to be quoted word for word, because they say exactly what the product can do: zinc contributes to normal protein synthesis, to the normal function of the immune system, to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, to the maintenance of normal skin, hair and nails, and to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. Maintaining is not increasing — that distinction determines what you can expect from this bottle.

Vitamin B6 at 1.4 mg covers the reference value exactly. It contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, to the normal functioning of the nervous system, to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and to the regulation of hormonal activity. Its presence here is not decorative: B6 and zinc are both involved in protein metabolism, and the pairing is a classic in formulas aimed at athletes. If it is vitamin B6 on its own that interests you, our vitamin B section offers it dosed in its own right.

Ingredients list

Maltodextrin, vegetable capsule (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), PAUL LOHMANN® zinc bisglycinate, anti-caking agents (magnesium salts of fatty acids and silicon dioxide), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6). May contain traces of GLUTEN (WHEAT and OATS), NUTS, PEANUTS, EGGS, MILK, SULPHITES, FISH and SOYA.

How should you take IO Genix Zinc Bisglycinate?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water, 200 ml is enough. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach, or between two meals, leaving at least an hour before or after a full meal. Frequency: one serving a day, never two. Duration: the manufacturer recommends a course of two to three months.

The “on an empty stomach” instruction is not an affectation. The phytates in wholegrain cereals and pulses, the calcium in dairy products and the tannins in tea and coffee all reduce zinc absorption. A capsule taken with a bowl of porridge oats and a coffee delivers markedly less than a capsule taken with a glass of water. If an empty stomach makes you feel sick — it happens with zinc, even in chelated form — take it just after a light meal rather than giving up on it.

Also space it out from your magnesium if you take that in the evening: the two minerals do not directly compete at these doses, but two hours apart is enough to put the question to rest. The same goes for an iron supplement, where the competition is real.

One piece of information is missing and we would rather say so: the manufacturer does not publish the number of capsules per bottle in the information available to us. The format shown on the packaging you receive is what counts when working out exactly how long your course will last.

Who is this zinc for, and who is it not for?

It suits anyone whose diet is low in animal products, since the best-absorbed dietary zinc comes from meat, eggs and seafood. It also suits athletes in a prolonged calorie deficit, whose micronutrient intake falls automatically along with portion sizes. And it suits vegans, since the capsule is plant-based.

It is not for you if you already take a multivitamin or a ZMA containing zinc: the combined total would quickly exceed 25 mg a day, which achieves nothing and disrupts copper in the long run. It is not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding women without medical advice, and it calls for the opinion of a healthcare professional if you are on any treatment — zinc interferes in particular with the absorption of certain antibiotics, which need to be spaced several hours apart.

The product is made in a factory that handles gluten, nuts, peanuts, eggs, milk, sulphites, fish and soya. If you have a severe allergy, that point alone is enough to rule the product out.

What not to expect from it: this is not a hormonal stimulant. Zinc helps maintain normal testosterone levels in someone who is short of it; it does not raise them in someone whose status is already fine. You will probably feel nothing when you take it, and that is normal. For any question relating to a blood test or a suspected deficiency, speak to your doctor rather than doubling the dose.

Zinc bisglycinate on its own, or ZMA?

This is the choice most buyers face, and both answers hold up depending on the context.

A ZMA combines zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6 in a single evening serving. It is the better choice if you are also short of magnesium, which is common among athletes who sweat a lot, and if you would rather have one bottle than two. Its drawback is well known: zinc doses in ZMA are often above 15 mg, and magnesium at a high dose slightly hinders zinc absorption when the two arrive together.

Zinc bisglycinate on its own follows a different logic. You dose exactly the mineral you are targeting, you take it at the most favourable moment of the day, and you remain free to place your magnesium in the evening, separately. It is the better choice if your need is specific, if you already have a magnesium supplement on the go, or if you want to control your daily total to the milligram.

One thing worth noting in passing: the previous description of this product claimed absorption “43% higher” than conventional forms. That figure rests on no verifiable source and we have removed it. Bisglycinate is better tolerated and well absorbed, and that is all that can honestly be said about it.

Frequently asked questions

Should it be taken in the morning or in the evening?

The morning on an empty stomach is the most effective slot, because nothing competes with absorption at that point. The evening works too, provided it is well away from dinner. What matters more than the time of day is consistency: one capsule every day is worth more than two every other day.

Why choose a bisglycinate rather than a zinc oxide?

For digestive tolerance above all. Zinc oxide is cheap but causes nausea and cramps in some users, especially on an empty stomach. Bisglycinate, bound to two glycines, uses a different absorption route and makes itself far less noticed. At an equal dose of elemental zinc, that is where the difference lies.

Is 15 mg of zinc too much?

No, it is exactly the daily limit applied in France for food supplements. The problem is not this capsule, it is the sum total: if you are also taking a multivitamin with 10 mg and a ZMA with 25 mg, you are well above anything useful. Add it all up before you stack.

Is this product suitable for vegans?

Yes. The capsule is made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, a material of plant origin, and no ingredient in the formula is of animal origin. The point to watch is manufacturing traces, not the composition.

Can it be combined with vitamin C or omega 3?

Without any problem. Neither of those two families competes with zinc for absorption. The only combinations to space out are iron, high-dose calcium and magnesium taken at the same moment.

How long should a course last?

The manufacturer recommends two to three months. That is consistent with the time needed to rebuild zinc status, which is counted in weeks rather than days. Beyond three continuous months, a break or a blood test is more sensible than simply carrying on.

Does zinc raise testosterone?

No, and nobody can honestly write that it does. The only wording authorised in Europe is that zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. In a man whose intake is already sufficient, there is nothing to expect on that front; in someone who is deficient, it helps bring things back to normal.

Where to buy IO Genix Zinc Bisglycinate

You can order it from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the question we always ask before selling a zinc is “what else are you taking?” — because half the customers who come in for one are already taking it without realising, in another formula. The full range of minerals and vitamins can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix ZMA B6?

ZMA is the generic name of a combination that has become a standard in sports nutrition: zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6, taken once in the evening. This version from IO Genix fits into one capsule a day, in a bottle of 60, i.e. two months' worth.

The forms chosen are zinc picolinate and magnesium citrate, two common and well-tolerated salts, completed by vitamin B6 in the form of pyridoxine hydrochloride. The ingredients list is short: those three actives, magnesium stearate as an anti-caking agent, and a gelatine capsule coloured with titanium dioxide.

That last point is worth reading before you buy: as the shell is gelatine, the product is not suitable for vegetarians. It is information few product pages give, and it is decisive for some buyers. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix section.

What does one capsule contain?

Other components: anti-caking agent (magnesium stearate), capsule (gelatine, colour: titanium dioxide). Negligible energy value, less than 1 kcal per capsule. NRV within the meaning of Regulation 1169/2011: 375 mg for magnesium, 10 mg for zinc, 1.4 mg for vitamin B6. Pack size: 60 capsules.

Let us start with what sets this formula apart from conventional ZMAs, because that is the point that counts at the moment of buying. Most ZMAs on the market are taken as three capsules and provide roughly 30 mg of zinc, 450 mg of magnesium and 10 mg of B6. Here, everything fits into one capsule, with doses divided by two to three. That is not a flaw: it is a choice, and it has its advantages.

The first: 15 mg of zinc stays below the safety benchmark of 25 mg a day set by EFSA, which is not the case for a ZMA at 30 mg taken continuously. The second: 150 mg of magnesium stays well below the 250 mg a day that EFSA takes as the limit for magnesium provided by supplements. This formula is therefore easier to stack with the rest of what you take, and simpler to keep up over time. One capsule instead of three also means one pill fewer to swallow.

On what these three nutrients do, the authorised wordings are precise. Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue, to the normal functioning of the nervous system, to normal muscle function, to electrolyte balance and to normal psychological function. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood, to normal protein synthesis, to the normal function of the immune system and to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. Vitamin B6 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, to normal protein and glycogen metabolism, and to the regulation of hormonal activity.

One nuance to keep in mind: the testosterone wording speaks of maintenance of normal levels. That concerns someone whose zinc intake is insufficient, not someone whose status is already fine. Our zinc and magnesium sections let you compare the doses product by product.

How do you take ZMA B6?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: one hour before bed, on an empty stomach or at least two hours after the last meal. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: a course of 8 to 12 weeks followed by a 2-week break, or continuous use according to your needs.

The “two hours after the meal” is not an affectation. Dietary calcium — dairy products above all — competes directly with zinc for intestinal absorption. A ZMA swallowed with a bowl of fromage blanc loses part of its point. For the same reason the manufacturer advises avoiding coffee and tea in the two hours before the serving.

Two precautions on combining, and they matter. Leave at least two hours between this and any calcium or iron. And if you are on a course of antibiotics — tetracyclines, quinolones — be aware that these minerals can reduce their absorption: the manufacturer mentions it, and it is a question for your pharmacist rather than for a product page.

If taking it on an empty stomach makes you feel sick, which does happen with zinc, take the capsule during a light meal. You will lose a little on absorption, and you will see the course through — which matters more over twelve weeks.

Who is this ZMA for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at active adults, and it suits three situations in particular: a prolonged calorie deficit, heavy sweating in training, or simply the wish to cover three micronutrients in one go in the evening. The one-capsule format makes it far easier to keep up than a three-capsule ZMA.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans: the capsule is gelatine. Nor is it suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women, or for children and adolescents — those are the statements carried by the manufacturer. In case of kidney or liver disease, or any ongoing medical treatment, consult a doctor before use. Traces of GLUTEN, EGG, MILK, FISH and SOYA are possible.

It is less suitable if you are after the doses of a conventional ZMA. At 15 mg of zinc and 150 mg of magnesium, this formula is deliberately measured: if what you need is a magnesium load, you will have to top up elsewhere, and the manufacturer provides for only one capsule a day.

What not to expect from it. It is not a sleeping pill: ZMA's reputation as a sleep aid is a stubborn one, but no claim of that kind is authorised, and “contributing to the normal functioning of the nervous system” does not mean sending you to sleep. If your problem is falling asleep, our melatonin section answers the question better, and a doctor better still if the trouble settles in. Nor is it a hormonal booster: zinc helps maintain a normal level in someone who is short of it, it does not raise it in someone who is fine.

ZMA, or magnesium and zinc separately?

That is the real trade-off, and it comes down to a problem the ZMA format cannot solve.

Zinc and magnesium compete for intestinal absorption. Bringing them together in a single capsule is convenient, but it amounts to sending them to the same transporters at the same moment. Taking a magnesium in the morning and a zinc in the evening removes the problem, and lets you choose the form of each into the bargain — a magnesium bisglycinate if your digestion is delicate, for instance, rather than a citrate.

ZMA wins on everything else, and that is no small matter. One product instead of two, one serving instead of two, one price instead of two. With a supplement taken every evening for three months, simplicity is the first factor in success: the best protocol is the one you actually follow. This one-capsule version takes that logic further than most of its competitors.

The advice we give most often: start with the ZMA. If after two months you want to fine-tune — more magnesium, another form, splitting the dose — you will know why, and you can then move to separate products. Just check that your multivitamin does not already contain zinc, otherwise you would be doubling up without knowing it.

Frequently asked questions

Why a single capsule when most ZMAs call for three?

Because the doses are more measured: 15 mg of zinc and 150 mg of magnesium, against roughly 30 mg and 450 mg in a conventional three-capsule formula. It is a choice with two concrete advantages: staying below EFSA's safety benchmarks, and having only one capsule to swallow each evening.

Does it really have to be taken on an empty stomach?

The manufacturer advises it, on an empty stomach or two hours after the last meal, to avoid dietary calcium competing with zinc absorption. In practice, if 15 mg of zinc on an empty stomach makes you feel sick, take the capsule during a light meal: you will lose a little, and you will see the course through.

Does ZMA help you sleep?

No sleep claim is authorised for these three nutrients, and we will not make one. Magnesium contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system, which is not the same thing. The evening serving is explained by absorption precautions, not by a demonstrated sedative effect.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is gelatine, of animal origin, and contains a colour, titanium dioxide. If you are after a formula in a vegetable capsule, several products in our zinc and magnesium sections offer one, to be taken separately.

How long does a bottle last?

Two months, at one capsule a day for 60 capsules. That corresponds almost exactly to the 8 to 12 week course advised by the manufacturer, followed by a two-week break. Allow a bottle and a half to reach the top end of that range.

Can it be combined with other supplements?

Yes, provided you space them out. Calcium and iron should be taken at least two hours apart, and the manufacturer notes that these minerals can reduce the absorption of certain antibiotics. Above all, check that you are not stacking two sources of zinc: beyond 25 mg a day on a lasting basis, the surplus serves no purpose.

Why magnesium citrate rather than a bisglycinate?

Citrate is a well-absorbed salt, cheaper than bisglycinate, with a laxative effect on transit that some people want and others put up with. Bisglycinate is the best tolerated on the shelf, but it weighs more for the same amount of elemental magnesium — hard to fit into a single capsule. That is the trade-off this format accepts. Our vitamin B section rounds out this intake if B6 is your main concern.

Where can you buy IO Genix ZMA B6?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. Two months of use in a single bottle is one of the best dose-to-duration ratios on the shelf in this category.

At the Vendargues counter, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product where we take the time to compare labels out loud: between a three-capsule ZMA and this one with a single capsule, the difference in dosage is real, and the right choice depends entirely on what you are already taking. The rest of the minerals can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is ZMA Plus by IO Genix?

IO Genix ZMA Plus is an evening capsule that pairs the classic ZMA base with two sleep-related ingredients. One capsule provides 15 mg of zinc, 200 mg of magnesium, 2 mg of vitamin B6, 500 mg of L-tryptophan and 1.9 mg of melatonin. The bottle holds 60 capsules, which is two months at one a day.

The initials ZMA originally stand for a simple combination: zinc, magnesium, vitamin B6. It has been sold in bodybuilding circles for decades, with standardised doses and clear European claims. The "Plus" version adds melatonin and tryptophan, which shifts the product from recovery towards sleep.

The real active ingredient in this formula is melatonin. The 1.9 mg per capsule are not there for show: it is the only ingredient in the bottle whose effect on falling asleep is recognised at European level, and it is also what dictates the precautions set out on this page. The rest of the Spanish brand's range can be browsed in our IO Genix section, and the other products in the category in our ZMA section.

What is in one ZMA Plus capsule?

The 1.9 mg of melatonin are worth pausing on, because that figure is not chosen at random. In France, a melatonin-based food supplement remains within the food category as long as it does not exceed 2 mg per daily intake; beyond that, it becomes a medicine. This dose therefore sits just under the limit, and it comfortably exceeds the 1 mg threshold that unlocks the authorised claim: melatonin contributes to the reduction of time taken to fall asleep. A second claim exists and is also met: melatonin contributes to the alleviation of subjective feelings of jet lag.

The three minerals and vitamins in the ZMA base each carry authorised claims, and we stick to the official wordings. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood, to normal protein synthesis and to the normal function of the immune system. Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function, to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to the normal functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity and to normal protein metabolism.

One honest reservation about the magnesium, because it is worth knowing before you buy: the form used here is the oxide. It is the least well absorbed of the magnesiums on the market, the one that offers the most magnesium per gram but the least magnesium actually taken up. It is also the most likely to have a laxative effect. If magnesium is your main goal, this is not the right product: take a look instead at our magnesium section, where the bisglycinate and citrate forms are better tolerated.

L-tryptophan, at 500 mg, is an essential amino acid that acts as a precursor to serotonin and then to melatonin. No claim is authorised in Europe for tryptophan, and that should be said rather than left to be assumed: its presence in the formula follows a logic of composition, not a demonstrated effect at this dose.

Ingredients list

L-tryptophan, magnesium oxide, bulking agent (microcrystalline cellulose), zinc picolinate, anti-caking agent (magnesium stearate), melatonin, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride). Capsule shell: GELATINE and colouring. No added sugar, no sweetener, no preservative, no lactose.

May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA.

How should ZMA Plus be taken?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime, on an empty stomach or at least two hours after the last meal. Frequency: one intake a day, in the evening only. Duration: a 6 to 8 week course, then one to two weeks off.

The instruction to take it away from meals is not a nicety. Tryptophan is an amino acid, and it uses the same transporter as several other amino acids to cross the barrier between the blood and the brain. Taken in the middle of a protein-rich meal, it ends up competing with them and no longer gets through. Two hours after dinner, the way is clear.

The 30 to 60 minute window before bed corresponds to the time melatonin needs to be absorbed and take effect. Taking it as you get into bed delays the effect by just as much. Conversely, taking it far too early can send you to sleep in front of the television.

Do not drive or operate machinery after taking this capsule. The manufacturer says so, and rightly: melatonin causes drowsiness, which is precisely what it is there for. Residual drowsiness on waking is possible in some people; if it happens, bring the time of intake forward rather than reducing the dose, as the capsule cannot be split.

The one to two week break after six to eight weeks of use is good practice, and above all it has the merit of forcing you to check whether the product is still of any use to you. Avoid caffeine in the six hours beforehand: it is probably the most effective lever on this whole page, and it is free. A dark, cool bedroom does the rest. For a different approach to the same subject, our GABA section is built on another molecule.

Who is ZMA Plus for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult who takes a long time to fall asleep, who is dealing with jet lag, or whose training schedule disrupts their sleep pattern.

It is strictly contraindicated for anyone on antidepressant treatment, because of the known interaction between L-tryptophan and those medicines. The manufacturer prints this in capitals on the packaging, and it is the most important warning attached to this product. It is also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, nor for children and adolescents.

The French national agency for food safety also recommends caution with melatonin for people with inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, epilepsy or asthma, as well as for those on any drug treatment. In all these cases, the question should be put to a doctor before buying. Never combine this capsule with another source of melatonin or tryptophan: the doses add up.

The capsule shell is made of gelatine: the product is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans.

What you should not expect from it. Melatonin reduces the time taken to fall asleep — it does not extend the night and it does not prevent waking during it. It does not treat chronic insomnia: if you have not been sleeping for months, it is a doctor you need to see, not a supplement. And ZMA does not build muscle: zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels, which means avoiding a drop caused by a deficiency, not raising a level that is already normal.

ZMA Plus or melatonin on its own?

A common question in the shop, and the answer depends on exactly what you are looking for.

Melatonin on its own does one thing and does it well: it reduces the time taken to fall asleep, from 1 mg upwards. It comes in various doses, as sublingual tablets or as drops, often for a modest budget, and it brings nothing else. If your only problem is taking too long to drop off, that is the most direct choice and our melatonin section answers it.

ZMA Plus makes sense when you wanted a ZMA anyway. An athlete already taking zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6 in the evening gains by bringing it all together in one capsule rather than swallowing three. In that case the melatonin comes on top of a routine that is already in place, and the product is fully justified.

When is neither the answer? If magnesium is your priority. The oxide used here is poorly absorbed, and 200 mg cover only 53 % of the reference value. A dedicated magnesium, in a better form, will give you more. Likewise, if it is zinc alone that interests you, a dedicated product costs less and can be taken at any hour, without causing drowsiness.

Frequently asked questions

How much melatonin per capsule?

1.9 mg, just under the 2 mg threshold above which melatonin is no longer classed as a food supplement in France. That is almost double the 1 mg threshold that gives entitlement to the claim about reducing the time taken to fall asleep, and it is a straightforward dose for this type of product.

Why take it away from meals?

Because of the tryptophan. This amino acid uses the same transporter as other amino acids to reach the brain; taken during a protein meal, it ends up competing with them. The manufacturer therefore asks for it to be taken on an empty stomach or at least two hours after dinner.

Can it be taken with an antidepressant?

No. This is a strict contraindication printed on the packaging, linked to the interaction between L-tryptophan and those treatments. If you are on antidepressant treatment, do not take this product and talk to your doctor about your sleep.

Does it cause drowsiness the next morning?

It is possible in some people, and the manufacturer flags it. If it happens to you, bring the time of intake forward rather than trying to cut the capsule, which cannot be split. Do not drive or operate machinery after the evening dose.

Is magnesium in oxide form a good choice?

It is the least well absorbed form on the market and the most likely to have a laxative effect. It is acceptable here because magnesium is not the formula's main active. If your goal is a magnesium intake, choose a dedicated product in bisglycinate or citrate form.

Does this product increase testosterone?

No. The authorised claim for zinc is that it contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. Maintaining is not increasing: zinc prevents a drop caused by an insufficient intake, it does not raise a level that is already normal in someone who is not short of it.

Can it be taken every night without a break?

The manufacturer provides for 6 to 8 week courses followed by one to two weeks off. Beyond that, and especially if the difficulty falling asleep persists after several courses, the right move is not to carry on indefinitely but to speak to a doctor about it.

Where can you buy ZMA Plus by IO Genix?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the first question we ask about this product concerns current medication: the contraindication with antidepressants is real and many customers are unaware of it. The second concerns the afternoon coffee, which accounts for a good deal of insomnia. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection, and B vitamin intakes in our vitamin B section.

What is this 700 ml shaker with a mixing grid?

It is a BPA-free plastic sports shaker with a 700 ml capacity, fitted with a removable mixing grid and an airtight screw-on lid. It has a double opening: a wide neck for pouring in powder and a drinking spout for drinking without unscrewing it. Grey and black colourway, screen-printed logo.

On paper, every shaker looks the same. In practice, three details separate the one you keep for two years from the one that ends up at the back of a cupboard: how well the lid seals, the mixing system, and how easy it is to clean. This model addresses all three, and that is the yardstick to judge it by rather than its looks.

The 700 ml size is not incidental either. Entry-level shakers often top out at 500 or 600 ml, which is enough for one scoop of powder but not two, nor for a carbohydrate powder that needs a lot of water. Other items in the same family can be found in our accessories section.

What is this shaker worth day to day?

The 700 ml serves a specific purpose, and it is worth doing the sums. One scoop of protein is prepared in 250 to 300 ml. Two scoops in a row, for someone taking 50 g of powder, need 500 to 600 ml: that works here, and it does not in a 500 ml bottle. And a carbohydrate powder such as waxy maize calls for 500 to 700 ml for a single serving — without a shaker of this size, you have to split it in two.

The second thing that matters is the screw closure with a gasket. Shakers with clip-on lids pop open at the bottom of a bag as soon as any weight is put on them, and a litre of protein spilt over your gym kit is not something you recover from. A screw closure takes two seconds longer to fill and removes the problem entirely.

The drinking spout is the detail you only appreciate in use. It lets you drink during a session without unscrewing the lid, so without risking dropping it between two sets or losing it at the edge of a pitch. It is also what makes the shaker usable as a plain water bottle on days when you are not putting powder in it.

The BPA-free claim refers to bisphenol A, a compound whose use is banned in food containers in France. It is a compliance statement, not a claim of superiority: it simply indicates that the plastic used is suitable for food contact.

Data missing from the manufacturer’s file: dishwasher compatibility, overall dimensions and the presence of graduation marks on the body are not documented. We are not going to infer them. In the absence of any indication, wash it by hand in warm water, as the instructions recommend.

How do you prepare a lump-free shake?

Order: liquid first, powder second. Volume: 250 to 300 ml for a scoop of protein, 500 to 700 ml for a carbohydrate powder. Shaking: 10 to 15 vigorous seconds, lid screwed on tight. Resting: a few seconds before opening. Cleaning: rinse immediately after use.

The filling order is the only rule that really matters, and it is the one almost everybody ignores. If you pour the powder in first and the water on top, the powder sticks to the bottom in a compact cake that the grid will struggle to break up. Liquid first, powder second: the powder disperses as soon as it hits the surface, and ten seconds is enough. It is the advice we give most often in the shop, and it settles nine complaints out of ten about lumps.

Shake with the lid pointing up rather than horizontally: less pressure is put on the gasket, and the drinking spout stays dry. A few seconds of rest before opening lets the foam settle, which avoids an overflow when you go to drink — whey proteins foam a great deal, which is normal and says nothing about their quality.

Cleaning it straight away is not a comfort recommendation, it is what keeps your shaker alive. Protein left for twelve hours in a closed, lukewarm container develops a smell that never fully goes. If you cannot wash it right away, rinse it with clean water and leave the lid unscrewed: that is enough to avoid the worst.

For a proper clean: warm water and washing-up liquid, taking the mixing grid out to reach what has caught in it. Avoid abrasive sponges, which scratch the plastic and create micro-grooves where residue settles in. Dry it completely, lid separate from the body, before putting it away. And never pour boiling liquid into it: the plastic is not designed for it, and the gasket even less so.

This shaker suits every powder in the range: proteins, BCAAs, creatine monohydrate or pre-workouts.

Who is this shaker for, and who is it not for?

It suits anyone preparing powders away from home: the gym, the office, a travel bag. The screw closure and the drinking spout are made for that, and the 700 ml volume means you are not limited to a single scoop.

It is not suitable as a storage container. A shaker is not an insulated flask: it keeps neither cold nor heat, and a protein drink left in it for several hours at room temperature is no longer fit to drink. Mix it when you are about to drink it, not in the morning for the evening.

Nor is it suitable for hot liquids. No coffee, no tea, no heated milk: the plastic and the gasket are not designed for heat, and the pressure that builds up in an airtight container sealed over a hot liquid can send the lid flying when you open it.

And it will not work miracles on a powder that dissolves badly. A mixing grid breaks up clumps; it does not turn a thick casein into a fluid drink, nor a cheap, poorly micronised powder into a silky shake. If your problem comes from the powder, change the powder. A well-made isolate dissolves with a spoon, and our whey isolate section gives a good idea of that.

One last honest point: no shaker lasts forever. The gasket is the part that ages first, and a tired gasket eventually leaks. Check it from time to time, and replace the shaker when it no longer holds liquid, rather than discovering the problem inside your bag.

Mixing grid or metal ball?

The two systems are fitted to almost every shaker on the market, and they are not equally good depending on how you use them.

The mixing grid is a fixed part that breaks the liquid up as it passes through. It has three concrete advantages: it makes no noise at all, it cannot be left behind in the sink after washing, and it does not scratch the plastic inside the shaker. It comes apart for cleaning, which is essential, and it is the system chosen here.

The metal ball, for its part, agitates more violently and copes better with very dense powders, such as certain caseins or certain gainers. In return, it makes an unmistakable racket in a changing room, it ends up marking the inside of the container, and it gets lost. That is the classic trade-off in this category.

When is the ball the better choice? When you regularly mix thick powders, or when you prepare gainers dosed at 100 g and above. For a protein, EAAs or a creatine, the grid is more than enough and spares you the noise. It is also the easier option to keep clean over time, and on an accessory you use every day, that is what counts most.

Frequently asked questions

What is the real capacity, and how many servings?

700 ml. Allow 250 to 300 ml for a scoop of protein, so two scoops fit without difficulty. For a carbohydrate powder needing 500 to 700 ml per serving, a single preparation fills the shaker: that is exactly the case where a 500 ml model falls short.

How do you avoid lumps?

Always pour the liquid in before the powder. The other way round, the powder forms a cake at the bottom that the grid struggles to break up. Then ten to fifteen seconds of vigorous shaking, lid screwed on tight, then a few seconds of rest to let the foam settle before opening.

Is it dishwasher safe?

The manufacturer does not say, and we are not going to assume it on their behalf. The instructions recommend washing in warm water with washing-up liquid, avoiding abrasive products. In the absence of any indication to the contrary, stick to washing it by hand: that is also what best preserves the gasket.

How do you get rid of the protein smell?

Prevention beats cure: rinse it immediately after use and leave the lid unscrewed while it dries. If the smell has set in, take the grid out, leave the parts to soak in warm water with a little bicarbonate of soda, then dry them completely. A smell that has been there for weeks never goes entirely.

Is the lid genuinely leak-proof?

It screws shut and has a sealing gasket, which puts it above lids that simply clip on. All the same, check it is screwed on properly before slipping it into a bag, and inspect the state of the gasket from time to time: it is the part that ages first on any shaker.

Can you put a hot drink in it?

No. No boiling liquid and no hot drinks: the plastic and the gasket are not designed for heat, and the pressure that builds up in an airtight container can throw the contents out when you open it. Keep it for cold or lukewarm preparations.

Does it need replacing regularly?

As long as the gasket holds and the plastic is neither cracked nor deeply scratched, there is no reason to change it. The two signs that should make up your mind: a leak at the lid, and a lingering smell despite a thorough clean. In either case, it is time.

Where can you buy this 700 ml shaker?

The shaker can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is the item we add as a matter of course to a beginner’s first tub of protein, with the same advice every time: water before powder, and a rinse on the way out of the gym. The rest of the accessories and the full range of powders can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.