AG1 is a daily health drink that combines vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, prebiotics, and probiotics, with whole food powders and other similar ingredients.
According to the authors of the newly published study, it is unknown if certain vitamins and minerals exhibit delayed, impaired, or improved absorption within complex matrices like these due to physical and chemical interactions, prompting the need to characterize the absorption kinetics of nutrients in full formulations.
Conducted by AG1 researchers alongside colleagues from several universities across the US, the newly published trial recruited 16 healthy adults (8 males and 8 females) to take either AG1 or placebo, with blood samples taken at regular intervals post-ingestion to analyze circulating levels of micronutrients.
They found statistically significant increases in folate, calcium, zinc, vitamin C, biotin, thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinamide, and hesperidin, with pyridoxine trending in the right direction but not reaching significance.
“The main thing we found is that a single dose of AG1 measurably raised blood levels of nearly every nutrient we assessed compared to placebo,” said Dr. Philip Sapp, senior manager of scientific research at AG1 and lead author of the manuscript, adding that it was encouraging to demonstrate measurable absorption across so many nutrients without relying on mega-dosing.
“Much of the previous pharmacokinetic research has focused on single nutrients given at very high levels,” he said, “whereas this study shows that clinically relevant absorption can also be achieved from a comprehensive daily nutrition product.”
A prior formulation of AG1 was assessed using the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME), which demonstrated that its minerals were bioaccessible and likely to enter systemic circulation in vitro.
While many supplement companies rely on ingredient research alone, Sapp said his team continues to invest in research studies on the full AG1 formula because individual ingredient do not necessarily behave in the same way when taken in combination.
“The literature already points to things like shared absorption pathways between minerals, or how prebiotic fiber can change gut pH and the microbiome and we wanted to see how that plays out in our own blend, using our approach to nutrient synergy. That’s a legitimate scientific reason to test the actual formula,” he told NI.
Investing in research
“Investing in clinical trials is important because customers deserve more clarity around quality, efficacy, and claims in the supplements they choose,” Sapp said, adding that the process is “extremely resource intensive”.
In order to conduct its studies, he said AG1 partners CROs and academic partners, goes through IRB approval, runs power calculations, has outside statisticians review the design, and its own regulatory and legal teams review it before the study is launched.
“Start to finish, getting from study ideation to a published, peer-reviewed paper can take years,” Sapp told NI.
That said, the work provides solid scientific substantiation the team can communicate to consumers through its website and marketing campaigns.
“Putting the science front and center is one of the ways we differentiate ourselves in the market,” added Sapp.
Methodology
Published in Frontiers in Nutrition, the double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial randomized participants to consumed a single serving (13 g) of AG1 or a taste- and appearance-matched placebo mixed in water, following a 10-h overnight fast. Each condition was separated by a 1-week washout period.
Blood samples were collected 0 (baseline), 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 360, and 480 min post-ingestion. Plasma concentrations of folate, calcium, zinc, vitamin C, biotin, nicotinamide, pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine, and hesperidin were measured.
The absorption phase was generally characterized using area under the curve (AUC), Cmax, and Tmax. Safety and tolerability were also assessed throughout the study.
The authors noted limitations of the study included its modest sample size, and the inability to measure for all the nutrients claimed on the AG1 label.
Source: Frontiers in Nutrition, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1793264, “Absorption kinetics of vitamins and minerals from a novel nutritional product in physically active adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial”, Authors: Sapp PA, Townsend JR, et al.
