Plant-Based Supplement Ingredients Explained: EFSA Claims for UK Consumers

What it is: L-Carnitine is an amino acid derivative produced naturally in the body and found in red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy. It is also available as a food supplement in powder, capsule, and sachet form, including as an L-Carnitine coffee sachet supplement.

EFSA claim: L-Carnitine contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. This is an established structure/function claim - it describes L-Carnitine's role in normal physiological processes, not a claim that supplementation treats any condition.

Sourcing: Commercial L-Carnitine is typically synthesised from precursor amino acids (lysine and methionine) in GMP-certified facilities, making it suitable for consistent batch-to-batch quality control.

Not a medicine. Does not treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

What it is: Green coffee bean extract is derived from unroasted Coffea arabica or Coffea canephora beans. Unlike roasted coffee, it retains higher concentrations of chlorogenic acids, which are the subject of ongoing nutritional research. It is a prominent ingredient in the green coffee bean extract supplement UK market.

Traditional use context: Green coffee bean extract is traditionally associated with everyday wellness routines in the regions where coffee cultivation originated. UK food supplement regulations permit its use; marketing claims must not extend beyond what is substantiated.

Sourcing: Sourced primarily from South and Central America and parts of Africa. Responsible sourcing transparency - including country of origin - is a positive quality indicator when evaluating any product containing this extract.

No EFSA-authorised health claim currently exists for green coffee bean extract as a standalone ingredient (as of July 2026). Any product-level claims should be assessed carefully.

What it is: Chromium is an essential trace mineral found in small amounts in a variety of foods - including broccoli, wholegrains, meat, and eggs. In supplement form it commonly appears as chromium picolinate or chromium chloride.

EFSA claim: Chromium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels and normal macronutrient metabolism. This chromium supplement normal blood glucose claim is among the most robustly evidenced nutrient-level claims in the EFSA register.

NRV: The EU/UK Nutrient Reference Value for chromium is 40 µg per day. Supplements typically provide 100% NRV per serving.

Chromium supplementation does not treat diabetes or any blood glucose disorder. Consult your GP before supplementing if you have any blood glucose-related health condition.

What it is: Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin found in poultry, fish, potatoes, and fortified cereals. It plays a role in over 100 enzyme reactions in the body, principally involving amino acid metabolism.

EFSA claims: Vitamin B6 contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. This makes it a relevant inclusion in food supplements for tiredness and fatigue UK consumers consider as part of an everyday wellness routine.

NRV: 1.4 mg per day. Most adults meet this through a varied diet; supplementation at NRV level is generally considered low-risk for healthy adults.

Do not exceed the upper safe level of 25 mg/day from all sources combined (EFSA). At NRV dose (1.4 mg) this is not a concern for the vast majority of adults.

What it is: Zinc is an essential trace element present in meat, shellfish, legumes, seeds, and nuts. It is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism and is the second most abundant trace mineral in the body after iron.

EFSA claim: Zinc contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism. It also contributes to the normal function of the immune system, among other established EFSA claims for this mineral.

NRV: 10 mg per day. Zinc is commonly included in metabolism-support supplement formulations at 100% NRV.

Zinc supplementation is generally safe at NRV; do not exceed 25 mg/day from all supplement sources (EFSA tolerable upper intake level for adults).