Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to dietary supplements.
Thorne is a US-based supplement brand recommended by some physicians, athletes, and healthcare practitioners for its focus on ingredient quality and third-party testing. The company sells a broad product line covering sports nutrition, prenatal vitamins, and general wellness.
But are their formulations clinically supported? Do any products contain inactive ingredients we consider unhealthy? Is their Basic Prenatal complete for pregnancy? And is Thorne better or worse than popular supplement companies like Momentous?
In this article, we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in two of Thorne's most popular products: Thorne Creatine and Thorne Basic Prenatal.
We'll also compare Thorne against three other popular supplement brands to pick our winners (and losers) from a formulation perspective.
Key Takeaways
- Creatine contains no unhealthy additives
- Thorne Basic Prenatal contains one ingredient we consider underdosed
- We currently recommend Thorne Creatine
Thorne Creatine Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in the unflavored version of Thorne Creatine are shown below:
image source: https://www.thorne.com/products/dp/creatine
Creatine monohydrate is the most well-researched performance supplement in sports nutrition.
It's clinically shown to increase muscle strength and power output when combined with resistance training, according to a meta-analysis published in the Nutrients journal.
Research also suggests cognitive benefits.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Frontiers in Nutrition journal found significant positive effects on memory and information processing speed.
The unflavored version contains no inactive ingredients like unhealthy flavoring compounds.
Thorne Creatine is NSF Certified for Sport, which tests for over 270 banned substances, label accuracy, and harmful contaminants. We consider this a meaningful quality indicator.
We currently recommend Thorne Creatine.
Thorne Basic Prenatal Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Thorne Basic Prenatal (a multivitamin for pregnant women) are shown below:
image source: https://www.thorne.com/products/dp/basic-prenatal
Thorne Basic Prenatal contains 18 vitamins and minerals, plus choline.
L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate is the bioactive form of folate, known as 5-MTHF.
Research published found that 5-MTHF is unaffected by MTHFR gene variants that impair folic acid conversion, making it a superior prenatal choice.
Methylcobalamin is the active form of B12 that requires no enzymatic conversion. It is the preferred form for prenatal supplementation over cyanocobalamin.
Iron is clinically shown to produce fewer gastrointestinal side effects than ferrous sulfate, according to the above-linked review.
This matters for pregnant women who commonly experience digestive sensitivity.
Vitamin D3 is included at a standard maintenance dose of 1,000 International Units (IU).
Some research suggests higher amounts may be needed for women with existing deficiency, but 1,000 IU falls within standard recommended ranges, as we documented in our Ritual review.
Zinc is included as a chelated form with superior absorption compared to zinc oxide, which is common in lower-quality prenatal vitamins.
Choline may be underdosed, in our opinion.
The US Adequate Intake for choline during pregnancy is 450 milligrams (mg) per day, and Thorne's prenatal vitamin provides only 110 mg, around 24% of that amount.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Nutrients journal found that low maternal choline intake is associated with increased risk of neural tube defects and impaired fetal brain development.
Thorne Basic Prenatal does not include DHA, a critical omega-3 fatty acid for fetal brain and eye development.
The inactive ingredients in this supplement should be safe and non-toxic.
We do not currently recommend Thorne Prenatal given our (minor) issues about choline ingredient dosing, and due to the lack of DHA.
Thorne vs. Popular Supplement Companies
Olly Vitamins
Some products in Olly's gummy vitamin line contain glucose syrup and added sugar as inactive ingredients.
These refined sugars are clinically shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease when consumed in excess.
The Thorne formulations we analyzed contain no added sugar or glucose syrup, so Thorne is the winner from a health perspective.
Winner: Thorne
Blueprint
Bryan Johnson Blueprint includes vitamin E at 447% of the Daily Value (DV) in its flagship stack.
We flagged this as a concern in the above-linked review, as fat-soluble vitamins accumulate in the body and can reach harmful levels with prolonged high-dose use.
The Thorne formulations we analyzed utilized conservative, evidence-based dosing.
Thorne is the winner from a healthiness and potential efficacy perspective.
Winner: Thorne
Momentous Supplements
Momentous makes clean, well-formulated supplements without harmful inactive ingredients, a standard Thorne also meets.
Both brands are NSF Certified for Sport on select products. Neither brand includes ingredients we consider unhealthy in the products we reviewed.
The two brands are closely matched on formulation quality, with Thorne having a broader product line and longer practitioner track record.
Winner: Tie
Thorne Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Thorne Creatine (unflavored) contains only creatine monohydrate with zero inactive ingredients
- NSF Certified for Sport
- Basic Prenatal uses active 5-MTHF folate
- Methylcobalamin B12 and chelated iron and zinc included
- No unhealthy additives
- Healthier than most competitors
Cons:
- Basic Prenatal provides around 24% of choline dose recommended during pregnancy
- Basic Prenatal does not include DHA, requiring a separate omega-3 supplement
