Daily Vitals: The 10 Ingredients (Extended)

Sources, science, tradition & longevity — a complete guide

Extended version: 20 min read

Daily Vitals contains ten actives. Not ten randomly assembled nutrients, but a coordinated formula designed around five biological systems that research consistently identifies as the foundation of how well we age. This guide covers each ingredient in full — where it comes from, why it's included, its roots in traditional wellness practice, and the evidence connecting it to longevity and AEVUM's five systems.

AEVUM's five systems — inflammation balance, cellular resilience, metabolic health, energy production, and nervous system regulation — are deeply interconnected. Chronic inflammation degrades each of the others; support one system meaningfully and you create better conditions for the rest. The ten ingredients in Daily Vitals were selected, dosed, and formulated with this interconnection in mind.

HydroCurc® (Curcumin)

Inflammation Balance | Nervous System Regulation

What is curcumin and where does it come from?

Curcumin is the principal bioactive polyphenol found in turmeric root (Curcuma longa), the golden-yellow spice cultivated across South and Southeast Asia for millennia. It belongs to a family of compounds called curcuminoids, comprising around 75–80% of the curcuminoid content of dried turmeric. The plant is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Traditional use in holistic wellness

In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric occupies a position of exceptional importance — described in ancient texts as a 'universal healer.' Charaka Samhita (compiled roughly 300–500 BCE) references it for skin conditions, digestion, wound healing, and respiratory ailments. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the dried rhizome (jiānghuáng) has been used for over 2,000 years for its effects on circulation, pain, and blood stagnation. In Unani medicine it is used as an anti-inflammatory and liver support. 

Why it's included: the science

Curcumin's anti-inflammatory mechanism is well-characterised. It modulates NF-κB — the master regulator of inflammatory gene expression — and inhibits COX-2 and LOX enzymes, suppressing production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. It also activates the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway. For longevity, these mechanisms intersect with 'inflammaging' — the chronic low-level inflammation identified as a central driver of age-related decline across cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and metabolic domains.

The absorption problem — and how HydroCurc® solves it

Standard curcumin is highly lipophilic and poorly water-soluble, meaning most orally ingested standard curcumin never reaches systemic circulation in meaningful concentrations. HydroCurc® uses LipiSperse® technology — a patented cold-dispersion process — to create a water-dispersible form with up to 3× greater bioavailability. The clinical evidence for curcumin is largely attached to bioavailable forms; efficacy with standard powder is considerably less predictable.

Evidence & longevity relevance

A 2020 RCT demonstrated significant reductions in exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation markers (CK, LDH) with HydroCurc®. A 2021 study found improvements in BDNF — brain-derived neurotrophic factor — a protein critical to neuroplasticity and linked to protection against cognitive decline. A 2019 meta-analysis (Nutrients, 15 RCTs) found consistent reductions in CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α. Elevated CRP is one of the most reliably replicated predictors of cardiovascular risk and all-cause mortality; interventions reducing CRP are directly relevant to healthspan.

Levagen®+ (Palmitoylethanolamide / PEA)

Inflammation Balance | Nervous System Regulation    

What is PEA and where does it come from?

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a naturally occurring fatty acid amide the body produces in response to physical stress, inflammation, and cellular injury. Commercially, PEA is derived from palm kernel oil — the same fatty acid substrate the body uses to produce PEA naturally. Palm kernel has been central to West African food and medicine systems for an estimated 4,000–5,000 years, used both nutritionally and therapeutically across Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire.

Traditional use in holistic wellness

PEA was first isolated in 1957 from egg yolk extracts, but its roots in traditional use trace through the palm kernel traditions of West and Central Africa. The kernel oil has been used in traditional Nigerian and Ghanaian medicine as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory, applied topically to joints and consumed for fever. The broader endocannabinoid system — which PEA supports — has deep parallels with Ayurvedic concepts of the body's own regulatory intelligence (Prakriti) maintaining balance, and with Traditional Chinese Medicine's concept of qi regulation.

Why it's included: the science

PEA works through three mechanisms: PPAR-α activation (regulating inflammatory gene expression), modulation of mast cell and glial cell activity (key mediators of inflammation and nerve sensitivity), and support of the endocannabinoid system (regulating mood, pain, sleep, and immune response). These mechanisms make PEA complementary to curcumin: curcumin addresses systemic inflammatory signalling broadly; PEA works at a more localised, cellular and neurological level. Together they are more comprehensive than either alone.

The absorption challenge — and Levagen®+

Like curcumin, standard PEA is highly lipophilic. Levagen®+ resolves this using LipiSperse® technology, producing 1.75× greater bioavailability. Levagen®+ is supported by 16 published human clinical studies — one of the most clinically validated forms of PEA available.

Evidence & longevity relevance

Across 16 clinical studies, effects have been demonstrated across: joint comfort and stiffness (2019 RCT); exercise recovery and reduced muscle damage (2020 study); sleep latency and morning alertness (2021 study); BDNF elevation and improved memory (2024 study); and reduced cold and respiratory tract infection symptoms (2021 study). Emerging 2025 research explores PEA's effects on gut and metabolic health. The endocannabinoid system declines with age — its dysregulation is associated with increased inflammatory signalling, disrupted sleep, and impaired stress regulation — making PEA's ECS-modulating role directly relevant to longevity.

Astaxanthin

Cellular Resilience    

What is astaxanthin and where does it come from?

Astaxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid responsible for the red-pink colour of salmon, shrimp, krill, and flamingos. It is produced primarily by the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, which synthesises it as a protective response to UV radiation, nutrient deprivation, and temperature extremes. Animals with this colouration consume algae or crustaceans that have done so — they cannot synthesise astaxanthin themselves. Commercial supplemental astaxanthin is produced through controlled cultivation of H. pluvialis; the natural form significantly outperforms the synthetic in antioxidant potency.

Traditional use in holistic wellness

As an isolated compound, astaxanthin has no pre-modern medicinal history. However, traditional Japanese, Korean, and Scandinavian coastal diets providing krill and fatty fish delivered consistent astaxanthin intake as part of dietary patterns associated with low inflammatory burden and longevity.

Why it's included: the science

Astaxanthin's molecular structure spans the full width of the lipid bilayer, neutralising free radicals on both inner and outer cell membrane surfaces simultaneously — a property unique to it among common antioxidants. Studies estimate it to be approximately 6,000× more potent than vitamin C, 800× more potent than CoQ10, and 550× more potent than vitamin E in certain assays. It also crosses the blood-brain barrier — making neuroprotection a direct benefit rather than a secondary consequence of systemic antioxidant effects.

Evidence & longevity relevance

A 2011 RCT (British Journal of Nutrition) found significant reductions in oxidative stress biomarkers and improved immune function after 8 weeks. A 2020 review (Marine Drugs) synthesised 44 clinical trials noting effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, skin ageing, cardiovascular markers, and cognition. A 2021 study found significant reductions in TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP. A 2020 cognitive study found improved memory and performance in adults aged 60–80 over 12 weeks.

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)

Cellular Resilience | Metabolic Health    

What is ALA and where does it come from?

Alpha lipoic acid is a sulfur-containing fatty acid that functions as both an antioxidant and a critical coenzyme in mitochondrial energy metabolism. Unlike most antioxidants it is produced endogenously — synthesised within mitochondria, where it serves as a cofactor for enzyme complexes involved in energy production. Dietary sources (red meat, spinach, broccoli, nutritional yeast) provide it in small quantities; supplemental concentrations are required for the effects observed in research.

Traditional use in holistic wellness

ALA was first identified in 1951 and has no traditional medicinal history as an isolated compound. However, traditional diets heavy in organ meats — common across many cultures — provided higher dietary ALA than modern Western diets. The Ayurvedic concept of ojas (the vital essence considered the most refined product of digestion and metabolism) resonates with ALA's role in mitochondrial function and cellular energy — the idea that certain foods nourish and preserve biological vitality at a cellular level.

Why it's included: the science

ALA contributes to Daily Vitals through two distinct roles. As an antioxidant, it is both water-soluble and fat-soluble — operating across the full range of cellular environments — and actively regenerates vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, and CoQ10, amplifying the effectiveness of other antioxidants rather than simply adding to them. For metabolic health, it activates GLUT4 translocation (increasing glucose uptake independently of insulin) and supports mitochondrial efficiency — effects particularly relevant as insulin sensitivity declines with age.

Evidence & longevity relevance

A 2018 meta-analysis (Obesity Reviews, 12 RCTs) found significant improvements in fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance. A landmark 2010 study (Hagen et al., FASEB) demonstrated ALA combined with acetyl-L-carnitine produced improvements in mitochondrial function and reduced oxidative stress in aged models, partially reversing age-associated mitochondrial dysfunction. ALA's ability to regenerate brain glutathione positions it as a neuroprotective agent — an emerging area of interest given glutathione depletion in ageing brain tissue.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Energy Production | Cellular Resilience    

What is CoQ10 and where does it come from?

Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) is a fat-soluble compound present in virtually every cell, with highest concentrations in the heart, liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle — the tissues with the greatest energy demands. It is produced endogenously through a biosynthetic pathway requiring B vitamins and vitamin C. Dietary sources (beef heart, sardines, mackerel) provide meaningful but insufficient quantities compared to supplemental doses studied in research.

Traditional use in holistic wellness

CoQ10 was discovered in 1957 and has no traditional medicinal history as an isolated compound. However, the long history of organ meat emphasis in traditional medicine is relevant: beef heart features in traditional North American indigenous medicine for stamina, and in TCM for 'nourishing the heart and supporting vitality.' Ayurvedic rasayana (rejuvenating) therapies focused on restoring biological energy parallel CoQ10's role in mitochondrial energy production at a conceptual level.

Why it's included: the science

CoQ10 is essential to cellular energy production, functioning as the mobile electron carrier within the mitochondrial electron transport chain — the mechanism by which ATP is produced. Endogenous production declines by an estimated 40–65% between ages 20 and 80. This is a biochemical contributor to age-related fatigue and reduced physical capacity. CoQ10 also connects to cellular resilience: mitochondria are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress, making the antioxidant and energy production systems reinforcing of each other.

Evidence & longevity relevance

The Q-SYMBIO trial (2014, JACC Heart Failure) — a large multicentre RCT — found significant reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality with CoQ10 supplementation; one of the first supplements to demonstrate mortality reduction in a powered trial. A 2018 meta-analysis (Nutrients) found significant reductions in CRP and oxidative damage markers. The mitochondrial free radical theory of ageing positions CoQ10's role in reducing electron 'leak' (the source of mitochondrial free radicals) as directly mechanistically relevant to biological ageing rate.

Resveratrol 98%

Cellular Resilience | Metabolic Health    

What is resveratrol and where does it come from?

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic stilbene — a plant defence compound produced in response to injury, infection, or UV stress. It is found in the skin of red grapes, berries, peanuts, and in high concentrations in Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), which is the primary commercial source for supplementation. 

Traditional use in holistic wellness

Japanese knotweed (hù zhàng in TCM) has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2,000 years to support liver health, address blood stagnation, and ease joint discomfort. The 1596 Bencao Gangmu documents its use as anti-inflammatory and liver-protective — properties now understood to relate partly to its resveratrol content. In Japanese Kampo medicine, itadori (the same plant) has traditional application to cardiovascular conditions.

Why it's included: the science

Resveratrol's most significant mechanism is SIRT1 activation — a sirtuin enzyme regulating DNA repair, gene expression, mitochondrial biogenesis, and stress response. SIRT1 activation was proposed as a molecular mimic of caloric restriction by David Sinclair (Nature, 2003) — still a significant framework in longevity biology. Resveratrol also demonstrates direct antioxidant activity via Nrf2 pathway upregulation (cellular resilience) and has been studied extensively for effects on glucose regulation and lipid metabolism (metabolic health).

Evidence & longevity relevance

A 2018 meta-analysis (Pharmacological Research, 21 RCTs) found significant reductions in fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and insulin resistance. A 2019 meta-analysis found significant reductions in total and LDL cholesterol in metabolically at-risk populations. A 2020 study (Nutrients) demonstrated increased SIRT1 gene expression in human subjects. A 2021 systematic review (11 trials) found significant reductions in CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Cellular Resilience | Metabolic Health    

What is vitamin C and where does it come from?

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble essential vitamin that humans cannot synthesise endogenously — we lack the enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase. We depend entirely on dietary intake. Rich sources include citrus fruits, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli, blackcurrants, and rosehips. Consistent daily intake is important as the body maintains limited storage capacity.

Traditional use in holistic wellness

Of the ten ingredients in Daily Vitals, vitamin C has perhaps the longest and most widely distributed traditional use. In Ayurveda, amalaki (Indian gooseberry — one of the world's richest natural vitamin C sources) is the single most important plant for promoting longevity, described in Charaka Samhita as a tonic for all three doshas. In TCM, rose hips and sea buckthorn berries have been used for centuries as tonics — both exceptional vitamin C sources. 

Why it's included: the science

Vitamin C contributes to cellular resilience as a direct aqueous-environment antioxidant and as a regenerator of vitamin E, extending the network antioxidant effect. It is a cofactor for carnitine biosynthesis (fatty acid transport for energy production), collagen synthesis (vascular health), and the regulation of iron absorption. 
EU-authorised claims include: protection of cells from oxidative stress, normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal immune function, and reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

Evidence & longevity relevance

A 2020 meta-analysis (European Journal of Epidemiology, 29 cohort studies) found higher dietary and plasma vitamin C significantly associated with reduced all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. A 2020 population study found higher serum vitamin C correlated with longer telomere length after adjustment for confounders — mechanistically plausible given that oxidative stress accelerates telomere shortening, which vitamin C reduces. A 2019 systematic review found consistent isoprostane reductions across diverse populations.

Chromium Picolinate

Metabolic Health    

What is chromium and where does it come from?

Chromium is a trace mineral required only in microgram quantities. Trivalent chromium (Cr3+), the biologically relevant form, is found in broccoli (a particularly rich source), whole grains, meat, brewer's yeast, and grape juice. Processing and refining significantly reduce chromium content — the standard Western diet, heavy in refined foods, commonly delivers chromium at or below the lower end of adequacy. Chromium picolinate (chromium bound to picolinic acid) is used in Daily Vitals for superior bioavailability versus other chromium salts.

Traditional use in holistic wellness

Chromium as an element was not identified until 1797. Brewer's yeast — the richest bioavailable chromium source — has a documented medicinal history spanning millennia: ancient Egyptian texts reference its use for digestive ailments, traditional Chinese qu (fermented grains) has been used for over 3,000 years for digestive health and energy restoration. 

Why it's included: the science

Chromium's primary role is potentiating insulin action via chromodulin — a chromium-binding oligopeptide that amplifies insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity. The result is improved insulin sensitivity at a cellular level. Within the metabolic health system, this addresses one of the most age-relevant metabolic changes: the progressive decline in insulin sensitivity beginning in middle age. Glucose variability damages cellular structures via glycation, contributes to energy instability and brain fog, and is a predictor of both cognitive and cardiovascular ageing.

Evidence & longevity relevance

A Cochrane-level meta-analysis (Obesity Reviews, 2014, 20 RCTs) found significant reductions in fasting blood glucose and insulin levels in overweight individuals. A 2010 meta-analysis in type 2 diabetes populations found significant HbA1c improvements. For healthy adults, evidence supports chromium's role in maintaining glucose homeostasis under metabolic challenge. Subclinical glucose dysregulation — in the technically normal range but trending toward impairment — is associated with accelerated cognitive and cardiovascular ageing in population studies.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Metabolic Health | Energy Production   

What is vitamin B1 and where does it come from?

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is a water-soluble essential B vitamin — the first vitamin ever discovered, isolated in 1926. Thiamine is found in whole grains (particularly the bran layer removed in milling), legumes, pork, sunflower seeds, and nutritional yeast. The body cannot store significant amounts, making consistent intake important. The widespread adoption of refined grains during industrialisation created significant deficiency problems.

Traditional use in holistic wellness

Thiamine as a compound has no pre-modern medicinal history, but whole grains and legumes — its richest sources — sit at the foundation of virtually every major traditional food and medicine system. In Ayurveda, whole grains and dals are the cornerstone of sattvic diet, associated with clarity, vitality, and longevity. In TCM, grains are among the five essential food groups, associated with the stomach and spleen meridians governing digestive and metabolic energy. Brown rice, millet, and barley appear in TCM nutritional therapy as qi tonics.

Why it's included: the science

Thiamine is a coenzyme in three major enzyme complexes: pyruvate dehydrogenase (converting pyruvate to acetyl-CoA for the energy cycle), alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (within the citric acid cycle), and transketolase (pentose phosphate pathway). In practical terms: without adequate thiamine, carbohydrates cannot be efficiently converted into cellular energy. In Daily Vitals, thiamine sits at the interface of the metabolic health and energy production systems — the gatekeeper enzyme cofactor ensuring carbohydrate-derived energy reaches the mitochondria.

Evidence & longevity relevance

EU-authorised health claims for thiamine include: normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal macronutrient metabolism, normal nervous system function, normal psychological function, and normal heart function. Thiamine's role in neurological health is particularly acute: the nervous system is almost entirely dependent on glucose for energy, making any disruption to glucose metabolism neurologically felt before other systems are affected. Consistent whole-grain thiamine intake is characteristic of multiple Blue Zone longevity populations including Okinawan and Sardinian centenarians.

Zinc Bisglycinate (Core Chelate®)

Cellular Resilience | Nervous System Regulation    

What is zinc bisglycinate and where does it come from?

Zinc is an essential trace mineral involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions. Dietary sources include oysters (the richest source by far), red meat, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, and cashews. Despite its importance, zinc deficiency is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies globally, and particularly prevalent in older adults where both reduced dietary intake and impaired intestinal absorption combine with increased physiological demand. Core Chelate® zinc bisglycinate is zinc chelated to two glycine molecules — a form with superior bioavailability and better gastrointestinal tolerance compared to zinc oxide or sulfate.

Traditional use in holistic wellness

Oysters are the most zinc-rich food in existence — they have been used as fertility and vitality tonics across Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese, and European herbal traditions for millennia — an intuitive recognition of their dense micronutrient profile. In TCM, oysters (mǔlì) are used to anchor yang, calm the spirit, and nourish yin — functions that map onto zinc's known roles in neurotransmitter regulation, stress response, and immune function. Traditional European herbal medicine has long associated seafood and organ meats with male reproductive health — an early recognition of zinc's role in fertility.

Why it's included: the science

Zinc contributes to AEVUM's systems through multiple mechanisms. For cellular resilience, it is a cofactor for superoxide dismutase (SOD) — one of the body's primary endogenous antioxidant enzymes — making it a structural component of the antioxidant defence network. For nervous system regulation, it plays a role in neurotransmitter synthesis, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive function. Zinc also supports normal immune function, DNA synthesis and repair, and normal skin, hair, and nail maintenance.

Evidence & longevity relevance

For longevity specifically, zinc's role in immune senescence (the age-related decline of immune competence) is increasingly recognised as important. Population studies consistently show that zinc status predicts immune competence in older adults, and adequate zinc is associated with reduced all-cause mortality in longitudinal studies. A 2007 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found zinc supplementation reduced incidence of infections and markers of oxidative stress in older adults. Zinc's role in DNA repair is also directly relevant to cellular ageing: zinc finger proteins are among the most common DNA-binding proteins, and adequate zinc is required for the genome maintenance mechanisms that protect against age-related cellular deterioration.

How the 10 Ingredients Work Together

The ten ingredients in Daily Vitals are designed to operate as a coordinated system — with meaningful overlap across AEVUM's five biological systems, deliberate complementarity in mechanism, and synergistic interactions that make the whole more than the sum of its parts.

Inflammation balance is the foundation. HydroCurc® and Levagen®+ address it from complementary angles: curcumin via systemic NF-κB suppression, PEA via localised PPAR-α activation and endocannabinoid modulation. Together they provide more comprehensive coverage than either alone.

The cellular resilience system adds four ingredients protecting against oxidative damage: astaxanthin (potent, full-membrane protection), ALA (mitochondrially active, regenerates other antioxidants), vitamin C (aqueous protection and antioxidant network support), and zinc (SOD cofactor and DNA repair support). These operate in different cellular environments and through different mechanisms — they are not redundant.

ALA, resveratrol, chromium, and vitamin B1 form the metabolic health support: addressing insulin sensitisation (chromium, ALA), sirtuin pathway metabolic effects (resveratrol), and carbohydrate metabolism efficiency (thiamine) — collectively addressing the metabolic inefficiency that characterises middle age from multiple angles.

CoQ10 anchors energy production — providing the mitochondrial substrate the electron transport chain requires, operating synergistically with astaxanthin and ALA to produce energy while protecting the mitochondria from the oxidative stress that energy production generates.

Throughout, HydroCurc®, Levagen®+, and zinc extend into nervous system regulation: curcumin via BDNF elevation, PEA via ECS modulation and demonstrated sleep and cognitive effects, zinc via neurotransmitter synthesis and synaptic plasticity.

The design principle is integration.

Reduce inflammation, and you create better conditions for cellular resilience. Support cellular resilience, and mitochondria function more efficiently. Improve metabolic health, and energy production stabilises. Regulate the nervous system, and inflammatory signalling is dampened. Each system reinforces the others — which is exactly what a well-designed formula should reflect.

Ageing well is a practice, not a product. Daily Vitals is designed to support the biology that makes that practice possible.

Sources & Further Reading

• HydroCurc®: Gal et al. (2020, Nutrients); BDNF study (2021); Nutrients meta-analysis (2019, 15 RCTs)
• Levagen®+: 16 human clinical studies — levagenplus.com/science-research (2019–2024)
• Astaxanthin: Fassett & Coombes (2011, British Journal of Nutrition); Marine Drugs review (2020)
• Alpha Lipoic Acid: Obesity Reviews (2018, 12 RCTs); Hagen et al. (2010, FASEB)
• CoQ10: Mortensen et al. (2014, Q-SYMBIO, JACC Heart Failure); Nutrients meta-analysis (2018)
• Resveratrol: Sinclair et al. (2003, Nature); Pharmacological Research (2018, 21 RCTs); Nutrients (2020)
• Vitamin C: European Journal of Epidemiology (2020, 29 cohorts); Telomere study (2020)
• Chromium: Obesity Reviews (2014, 20 RCTs); HbA1c meta-analysis (2010)
• Vitamin B1: Classical nutrition literature; Blue Zone dietary pattern studies
• Zinc: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007); EU NHC Register authorised claims

Food supplements are not medicines and cannot diagnose, treat, or cure diseases. Always consult your doctor before starting a new dietary supplement programme. Not intended for those under 18, those who are pregnant or lactating, or those on medication without medical advice.