Catalyn is a whole food multivitamin for general well-being specially formulated to promote healthy cell function, bridge nutritional gaps in the diet, and improve overall health.
The formula is rich in vitamins (Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Thiamine, Riboflavin, and Vitamin B6), minerals, enzymes, and trace minerals in
combination with their naturally occurring synergistic cofactors.
According to Standard Process, the extracts from bovine and ovine tissues provide nutrients and support to the corresponding tissues in humans. In contrast, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients from plants and animal tissues work synergistically for maximum effect.
Catalyn has amassed an extraordinary number of stellar reviews on Amazon, and it’s one of the best Standard Process selling supplements.
Background
Catalyn, launched in 1929, is advertised as an exceptional whole food multivitamin supplement consisting of various phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals, from approximately 15 different whole food sources.
The product is the first product developed by Dr. Royal Lee. Rather than using the common megadose approach plus incomplete isolated nutrients, he formulated Catalyn with several whole food ingredients completed with complex nutrients.
Furthermore, Catalyn includes specific glandular tissue to complement the whole food ingredients to stimulate tissue and cell repair.
As a result, the complex of whole food ingredients and other minerals and vitamins that make up Catalyn broadly support both the human body’s biological and physiological processes.
Read our full Standard Process Catalyn review below for an in-depth analysis of this dietary supplement’s key features.
Who makes it?
Catalyn is produced and sold by Standard Process, a Wisconsin-based family-owned company dedicated to offering nutrient-dense and high-quality therapeutic supplements for three generations.
The company is widely known for using a holistic approach to how they farm, manufacture, and preserve the quality of their supplements. Standard Process is going to great lengths to guarantee all its ingredients are sourced from a healthy ecosystem.
A healthy ecosystem is created by using organic farming techniques, such as crop rotation, fertilizing the soil with nutrient-rich cover crops and byproducts from the manufacturing process, practicing strict weed-control standards, and continually monitoring plants’ health.
Furthermore, all Standard Process supplements go through stringent testing. Degreed microbiologists and chemists in their on-site laboratories continuously carry bacterial and analytical tests on raw materials, product batches, and finished products.
Some of Standard Process’s best selling products include:
- Immuplex
- ProSynbiotic
- Congaplex
- Ligaplex II
- Symplex F
- Drenamin
- Ferrofood
- Cyruta Plus
- SP Complete
- Tuna Omega-3 Oil EPA and DHA
- Catalyn
How to contact the Standard Process company:
- Phone: 800-558-8740 (toll-free)
- Address: 1200 W. Royal Lee Drive, Palmyra, WI 53156
- Fax: 800-438-3799
- Website: standardprocess.com
Evaluation of ingredients
Catalyn contains the following active ingredients per serving (3 tablets):
- Vitamin A 360 mcg
- Vitamin C 4 mg
- Vitamin D 7.8 mcg
- Thiamine 0.2 mg
- Riboflavin 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B6 1 mg
- Proprietary blend [calcium lactate, defatted wheat (germ), organic carrot (root), nutritional yeast, organic sweet potato, bovine adrenal, bovine liver, bovine spleen, magnesium citrate, bovine kidney, ovine spleen, organic dried alfalfa (aerial parts) juice, organic dried pea (vine) juice, oat flour, organic shiitake mushroom powder, sunflower lecithin, organic reishi mushroom powder and rice (bran)] 766 mg
Inactive ingredients include glycerin, honey, ascorbic acid, arabic gum, starch, cholecalciferol, calcium stearate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, sucrose, vitamin A palmitate, riboflavin, and thiamine hydrochloride.
Are the ingredients effective?
This next part of our Standard Process Catalyn review will analyze some core active ingredients in the formula, starting with the vitamins.
Vitamin A (360 mcg)
Even in small doses, vitamin A (also known as retinoic acid or retinol) is a nutrient essential for your health, supporting the immune system, cell growth, fertility, and fetal development.
However, perhaps one of the best-known functions of vitamin A is its role in vision and eye health. Sufficient dietary intake of vitamin A benefits vision and protects against some eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
According to clinical data, higher blood levels of beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene may reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration by up to 25%.
Vitamin A also has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are substances that defend cells against the effects of free radicals – molecules created when your body is exposed to radiation and smoke or breaks down food.
Free radicals generate oxidative stress, which has been connected to many chronic illnesses, like heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline, and cancer.
Vitamin C (4 mg)
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an important vitamin that keeps the body functioning. Found in dietary supplements and many foods, it aids in multiple biological functions, including wounds healing, collagen synthesis, and the maintenance and repair of bones, cartilage, and teeth.
But perhaps vitamin C’s best-known benefit is the positive effect it has on the immune system.
In a study published in Nutrients in 2017, vitamin C was found to strengthen the immune system by shielding against oxidative stress, minimizing the potential for tissue damage, and aiding in microbial killing. A deficiency in vitamin C has been correlated to an increased rate of viral infections.
Vitamin D (7.8 mcg)
Despite its name, vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a prohormone (a hormone precursor).
Vitamins are nutrients that the body can’t make independently, so we must obtain them through diet. However, the body can produce vitamin D as a response to sun exposure.
Vitamin D has multiple roles in the body. It assists in:
- Supporting brain, immune, and nervous system health
- Promoting healthy teeth and bones
- Supporting cardiovascular health and lung function
- Regulating insulin levels and supporting diabetes management
- Influencing the expression of genes involved in cancer development
Thiamine (0.2 mg)
Thiamine (vitamin B1) helps prevent complications in the nervous system, muscles, brain, intestines, stomach, and heart. It is also involved in the flow of electrolytes into and out of nerve cells and muscle.
Other conditions in which vitamin B1 supplements may help include:
- Canker sores
- AIDS
- Glaucoma and other vision problems
- Cataracts
- Cervical cancer
- Cerebellar syndrome, a type of brain damage
- Stress
- Diabetic pain
- Kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- A weakened immune system
- Motion sickness
However, not all of these potential benefits have been definitively confirmed by clinical data.
In the United States, the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of thiamine is 1.4 mg for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers of any age, 1.2 mg for males, and 1.1 mg for females over 18 years.
Riboflavin (0.2 mg)
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is an important nutrient needed for growth and overall good health. It allows oxygen to be used by the body, and it helps the body break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to produce energy.
Riboflavin is also essential for forming new antibodies and red blood cells in humans, which increases oxygenation and circulation to various organs of the body.
Furthermore, vitamin B2 is required for ensuring proper growth and development of the reproductive organs, and the growth of body tissues such as the connective tissue, skin, mucous membranes, eyes, immune system, and nervous system.
Vitamin B6 (1 mg)
Vitamin B6 is a vitamin that benefits metabolism and the central nervous system. Its roles include turning food into energy and helping create neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin.
Vitamin B6 helps regulate energy use in the brain. It also plays a vital role in creating new neurotransmitters, essential chemical messengers in the brain.
In fact, multiple clinical studies indicate that vitamin B6 deficiency may be linked with dementia and cognitive decline.
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, available research data suggests that older adults with higher blood levels of vitamin B6 have better memory.
Because of these properties, vitamin B6 is one of the most commonly used vitamins in dietary supplements for cognitive health, stress, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, calm, and focus.
Proprietary blend (766 mg)
The most important part of the Catalyn formulation is the 766 mg proprietary blend consisting of crucial ingredients such as bovine adrenal extract, organic shiitake mushroom, organic reishi mushroom, organic dried alfalfa, magnesium citrate, and sunflower lecithin.
Many people perceive shiitake mushrooms as superfoods, the reason why they have gained so much attention from the dietary supplements industry.
Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) have been a known herbal remedy in alternative medicine for centuries. Some of their claimed benefits include:
- Support the immune system
- Improve heart health
- Decrease the risk of prostate cancer
- Help prevent gingivitis
Reishi mushrooms are acknowledged for their purported effects in improving the efficacy of specific cancer treatments and promoting the immune system. However, more research data and human trials are needed to assess all the potential benefits of reishi mushrooms thoroughly.
For example, limited evidence from in vitro and animal studies showed that reishi mushrooms might support the immune system. Still, high-quality studies in humans are necessary before researchers draw any conclusions.
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a perennial plant belonging to the Fabaceae family that has long been used in traditional medicine to treat various health conditions.
Alfalfa has been shown to help lower cholesterol, and may also have benefits for blood sugar control and relieving symptoms of menopause.
People also take it for its high antioxidants content, vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, copper, and magnesium. Alfalfa is also extremely low in calories.
Shopping tips
Standard Process Catalyn is available in two packages:
- 90 tablets for $17.98 ($0.20 per tablet)
- 360 tablets for $57.04 ($0.16 per tablet)
For those interested in buying this dietary supplement, there are a couple of ways of doing that.
First is through your healthcare practitioner. Standard Process sells primarily through healthcare providers. You can find the closest office to your location using the search feature available on the company’s website here.
Second, you can order Catalyn from several online retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, or eBay. Please keep in mind that prices can vary significantly from one store to another.
Variations
Standard Process Catalyn comes in three variations:
Catalyn Standard – First introduced in 1929, the formula is a whole food multivitamin containing several vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients from approximately 15 different whole food sources.
Catalyn Chewable – The formula is similar to Catalyn Standard but available in bottles of 90 chewable capsules, each with a natural cherry flavor.
Catalyn GF: A gluten-free version of the original Catalyn formula, Catalyn GF provides the same nutritional density as the original formula, minus the gluten.
Catalyn review – Claimed benefits
Pros
Cons
Customer reviews
Great product. I no longer need naps in the afternoon and have consistent energy throughout the day. I also wake up early in the morning before the sun. Much cheaper if you […] Read full review
Since I started taking this vitamin two months ago, I feel full of energy, and in the afternoon, I used to feel tired and sleepy. I am now active and energized. I take three pills in the AM, and that does it for me. Highly recommended. My two little girls on folic acid, they never […] Read full review
I use the Catalyn as a multivitamin and AF Betafood that helped tremendously with gallbladder issues and Cataplex G and Livaplex, all for gut and liver support. My gut issues cleared and another issue […] Read full review
Recommendations, adverse effects, and warnings
Catalyn (as all Standard Process supplements) is advertised as safe to use. All ingredients used in this formulation have been carefully selected to work together synergistically and be safe and well-tolerated by all users.
Some individuals may still need to avoid alfalfa, including people taking blood-thinning medications, pregnant women, or individuals with an autoimmune disorder.
Another good example is the reishi mushroom. While likely safe in most users, reishi mushrooms can cause dizziness, nausea, itching, dry mouth, rashes, and stomach upset when taken daily for up to three months.
As always, we recommend consulting the product packaging label for the most accurate product information.
Dosage
As a dietary supplement, take three (3) tablets daily with food. Following their healthcare provider’s advice, some users take one tablet per 50 pounds body weight instead of the three daily tablets suggested by the manufacturer.
Comparison with competitors
Before we conclude our Catalyn review, let’s take a quick look over several other multivitamins for general well-being that may represent good alternatives for those not convinced by this formulation’s benefits.
Whole Food Multivitamin Plus made by Supplements Studio – This whole food multivitamin supplement is made with 100% organic fruits and vegetables.
It offers good amounts of vitamins (i.e., vitamin A, vitamin B-complex, vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin K2, vitamin E, and biotin), minerals (i.e., iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, selenium, and copper), amino acids (i.e., L-arginine and L-carnitine), omega-3 fatty acids, herbal extracts, and a probiotic blend.
Whole Food Multivitamin Plus may be a good choice for people looking for a supplement to strengthen their immune system, improve mental clarity, boost energy, and promote a healthy digestive system.
One bottle of Whole Food Multivitamin Plus by Supplements Studio costs $23.47 ($0.26 per capsule).
Whole Food Vitamin made by NATURELO – This complete line of products for children, teenagers, adults, men, and women from NATURELO is among the best-selling whole foods multivitamins in the United States.
While more expensive than most similar products available on the market, these products distinguish themselves with quality ingredients obtained from organically-grown fruits and vegetables.
Whole Food Multivitamin made by PlantVital – While less known than Standard Process or NATURELO, PlantVital is a company with a lot of experience developing and producing quality supplements.
PlantVital offers complex formulations designed to support general health in both men and women. Its Whole Food Multivitamin supplement contains 56 non-GMO superfoods, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, probiotics, phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals delivered from almost 100% whole food vitamins, not lab-created chemicals.
One bottle of Whole Food Multivitamin is priced at $19.95 ($0.22 per tablet).
Outlook
Catalyn is one of Standard Process’s best-selling and most recommended supplements. For anyone knowing anything about this company, that says a lot.
The formula is solid, with carefully selected nutrients that work together synergistically. Nothing was added randomly, just to look good on the label.
More importantly, the nutrients in Standard Process Catalyn are processed to remain intact, complete nutritional compounds, rather than megadoses of incomplete, isolated nutrients commonly used in many dietary supplements today.
Standard Process sells mainly through healthcare practitioners. Ask around, and many of them will recommend at least one product made by this company.
Furthermore, Catalyn received stellar reviews online from thousands of satisfied customers who completely turned their lives around with Standard Process supplements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
At OneBrainReviews, we only use primary references for our articles, including peer-reviewed medical journals or well-respected academic institutions.
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