Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia

Supplements for energy and fatigue: what the human evidence shows

8 supplements in our encyclopedia have at least one graded human outcome for energy and fatigue. Each row shows the strongest one, ranked by grade and then by the number of people studied. A high grade means the research is solid, not that the effect is large: open the row for the size of the effect and the dose tested.

Strongest evidence per supplement

Supplements with graded human evidence for energy and fatigue, strongest first
SupplementStrongest outcomeGradeStudy
Iron (ferrous sulfate vs bisglycinate vs other forms)Hemoglobin and iron status in menstruating womenImprovedForm tested: daily oral iron, various formsGrade Ameta-analysis · n = 6,861 · 20165 graded rows for this goal
Folate (methylfolate vs folic acid)Neural tube development in pregnancy (periconceptional folic acid)WorsenedForm tested: folic acid, alone or with other vitamins and mineralsGrade Asystematic-review · n = 6,708 · 20153 graded rows for this goal
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine vs P5P)Nausea in early pregnancyWorsenedForm tested: pyridoxine hydrochlorideGrade BRCT · n = 342 · 19952 graded rows for this goal
Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin vs cyanocobalamin)Raising low blood B12: high-dose oral vs injectionNo effectForm tested: oral vitamin B12 vs intramuscular vitamin B12Grade Csystematic-review · n = 153 · 20183 graded rows for this goal
Tongkat aliSexual-function questionnaire scores (IIEF-5)No effectForm tested: Tongkat ali extractGrade Cmeta-analysis · n = 139 · 20152 graded rows for this goal
AshwagandhaFatigue and vigor in older menNo effectForm tested: root-and-leaf extract (Shoden, 21 mg withanolide glycosides/day)Grade Ccrossover-RCT · n = 57 · 2019
Rhodiola roseaFatigue and attention scoresImprovedForm tested: Standardised extract SHR-5 vs placeboGrade DRCT · n = 60 · 2009
CoQ10 (ubiquinol vs ubiquinone)Blood CoQ10 levels: ubiquinol vs ubiquinoneImprovedForm tested: ubiquinol vs ubiquinone (identical softgel excipients)Grade Dopen-label · n = 12 · 2014

Grades follow our methodology. A “no effect” grade means good trials found no benefit. Amounts in trials are what was studied, not advice for you.

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Educational information only, not medical advice. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.