Also known as: Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng extract, Absorption enhancer
Branded IngredientsEmerging evidence
A patented blend of astragalus and notoginseng extracts included to improve absorption of everything alongside it. Appears in a great many formulas, with almost all the supporting research coming from one source.
Typical dose
50.0–50.0 mg per day
Taken alongside the compounds it is intended to enhance
What it is
AstraGin is a patented combination of extracts from Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng, standardised to specific saponin fractions.
It is not sold for any effect of its own. It is included in formulas as an absorption enhancer, on the basis that it increases uptake of amino acids, vitamins and other compounds taken alongside it.
That puts it in the same functional category as piperine, though by a proposed different mechanism. It appears in an enormous number of products at a very small dose, which makes it cheap to add and easy to feature on a label.
How it works
The proposed mechanism is upregulation of specific transporter proteins in the intestinal wall, increasing the active uptake of amino acids, glucose and certain vitamins rather than simply slowing their breakdown.
This differs from piperine, which works largely by inhibiting the enzymes and pumps that would otherwise clear compounds. AstraGin is proposed to increase the door width rather than slow the removal.
There are also claims regarding gut lining integrity. Most of this work is in cell culture and animal models, and how much translates to a human taking 50 mg is not established.
What the evidence shows
The published research is largely preclinical, using cell cultures and animal models to demonstrate increased transporter expression and improved uptake of various compounds.
Independent human trials showing that AstraGin meaningfully increases absorption of a co-ingested supplement are scarce. This is the gap between the marketing claim and the evidence, and it is a wide one.
Its ubiquity in formulas reflects how cheaply it can be added at 50 mg and how good it looks on a label rather than a weight of demonstrated benefit. Treat its presence as a neutral rather than a reason to choose one product over another.
Dosing
The standard dose is 50 mg, taken with whatever it is meant to enhance. This figure is consistent across essentially every product using it.
It only makes sense taken simultaneously with the compounds it is intended to help absorb, so it belongs inside a formula rather than as a standalone product.
The practical guidance is not to pay a premium for its presence. If two otherwise identical products differ only in that one contains AstraGin, that is not a strong reason to choose it, and the evidence does not currently support treating it as a meaningful differentiator.
Taken alongside the compounds it is intended to enhance
Competition status
Permitted — not on the WADA Prohibited List
Category
Branded Ingredients
Safety and side effects
AstraGin appears well tolerated at the small doses used, with few adverse effects reported.
If it does what it claims, the logical implication deserves stating: an absorption enhancer cannot distinguish between the supplement you want absorbed and anything else in your system, including medication.
Both parent plants have immune-modulating activity. Speak to your doctor before use if your immune system is being managed or if you take regular medication.
Who should avoid it
Speak to your doctor before use if you take any regular medication, since an absorption enhancer cannot distinguish between supplements and medicines. Speak to your doctor if your immune system is being managed, given the parent plants. Not established at supplemental doses in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
This entry is provided for information only. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical supervision.
