Mitolyn Ingredients: What's Inside and What Does the Evidence Say?

Part of our Mitolyn review overview.

Mitolyn names six plant and algae ingredients but no amounts. Below: what each one is, what human studies found when it was tested alone, and why the missing doses make the formula hard to judge.

What ingredients are in Mitolyn?

Mitolyn contains six named ingredients: maqui berry, rhodiola, Haematococcus pluvialis (an algae that supplies astaxanthin), amla, Theobroma cacao and schisandra. The vendor calls them "a unique proprietary blend of 6 science-backed, rare ingredients" and lists no amounts. We found no Supplement Facts panel anywhere on the site.^[1]

The bottle front reads "Proprietary Formula" and "30 NON-GMO CAPSULES".^[2] The directions are one capsule a day with a big glass of cold water.^[1]

How did we grade each ingredient?

Each grade answers one question: how well do human studies of the ingredient support what the vendor says it does? It is not a grade of Mitolyn, because no published trial of Mitolyn exists.

• Moderate: several controlled human trials agree on a benefit matching the claim. No Mitolyn ingredient reached this.
• Limited: some human data points toward a benefit, but the trials are small, uncontrolled, or measure something other than the claim.
• Weak: human trials are missing, contradictory or null, or support comes only from cells and animals.

Mitolyn's doses are unknown, so even a Limited grade cannot be carried over to the capsule. The full method is on our how we review supplements page.

What does research say about each Mitolyn ingredient?

For weight, the research is mostly null. The two ingredients with the largest bodies of human trials, astaxanthin and cocoa, showed no effect on body weight in meta-analyses. Only amla has a positive weight result, from one small trial with no placebo group.

Maqui berry

Evidence: Weak

Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) is a purple berry. The sales page calls it an "exotic purple fruit packed full of the special antioxidant anthocyanin" and says it promotes mitochondria, a healthy heart and healthy cholesterol.^[1] The anthocyanin content is not stated.

In a 4-week randomized trial of 42 overweight adults and smokers, "no significant differences were noted for anthropometric characteristics", meaning body measurements did not change.^[3] A 2026 systematic review of 12 human trials called the longer-term effects on heart and metabolic markers "modest and inconsistent", with certainty rated moderate to very low.^[4]

The clearest signal is blood sugar. In an uncontrolled study, 31 adults with prediabetes took 180 mg a day of a branded extract for 3 months, and HbA1c went from 5.65% to 5.35%.^[5] The vendor's own maqui reference was a study in mice on a high-fat diet.^[6]

Rhodiola

Evidence: Weak

The vendor describes rhodiola as an "adaptogen bursting with over 140 polyphenols like rosavin and salidroside" and says it "Reduces stress & improves mood".^[1] The species and the salidroside percentage are not stated.

We found no human weight-loss trial of rhodiola. On energy and fatigue, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says "there isn't enough reliable evidence to determine whether rhodiola or its components are useful for any health-related purpose."^[7] A 2012 systematic review of 11 trials called the research "contradictory" and rated every trial at high or unclear risk of bias.^[8]

Trials point both ways. In 48 nursing students given 364 to 728 mg a day for 42 days, the placebo group did better on fatigue.^[9] In 161 military cadets, a single dose improved an anti-fatigue index.^[10]

Haematococcus pluvialis (astaxanthin)

Evidence: Weak

Haematococcus pluvialis is a red microalga. The vendor calls it a "unique red algae crammed full of the mighty red antioxidant astaxanthin" and links it to mitochondria, joints and immune response.^[1] How many milligrams of astaxanthin a capsule delivers is not stated.

This is the strongest evidence of the six, and it points away from weight loss. A 2025 meta-analysis of 9 trials concluded that "astaxanthin does not provide benefits in BMI regulation nor in weight control management."^[11] A 2020 meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials also found no link with BMI or body weight. HDL cholesterol rose by 1.473 mg/dL, and CRP, an inflammation marker, fell only in trials of 12 weeks or more or above 12 mg a day.^[12]

Approved daily amounts range from 2 to 24 mg depending on the country.^[13] The vendor's astaxanthin references were done in mice and muscle cells, with co-authors from Fuji Chemical Industries, an astaxanthin maker.^[14]

Amla

Evidence: Limited

Amla is the fruit of Emblica officinalis, also listed as Phyllanthus emblica. The vendor calls it a "special fruit rich in flavonoids, antioxidants and essential nutrients" and ties it to mitochondria, digestion and vision.^[1]

Amla is the only ingredient with a positive human weight result, and the design is weak. In a 2025 trial, 40 adults with obesity took a branded extract (AMX-160, sold as Tri-Low) at 500 mg once or twice a day for 90 days. BMI, weight and visceral fat fell. With no placebo group, expectation and lifestyle changes cannot be ruled out.^[15]

Cholesterol data is stronger. A 2023 meta-analysis of 4 randomized trials with 227 people found, at 12 weeks, total cholesterol down 21.23 mg/dL, LDL down 25.12 mg/dL and HDL up 4.74 mg/dL, with high variation between trials.^[16]

Theobroma cacao (cocoa)

Evidence: Limited

The sales page calls cacao a "tropical superfood overflowing with epicatechin" and lists healthy blood pressure and "Natural aphrodisiac" among its benefits.^[1] The Limited grade covers blood pressure and cholesterol only. For weight, it is Weak.

A 2019 meta-analysis of 35 randomized trials found a body weight change of minus 0.108 kg, which was not statistically significant, and no effect on BMI or waist size. A benefit appeared only in a subgroup eating 30 g or more of chocolate a day.^[18] A 2024 meta-analysis of 31 trials and 1,986 people again found "no effects on body weight, BMI, waist circumference", with LDL down 9.47 mg/dL and systolic blood pressure down 2.52 mmHg.^[19]

Those trials used grams of cocoa. A 2022 review of 11 epicatechin trials found no effects beyond short-term blood vessel widening in healthy young adults.^[27] The vendor's cocoa reference followed 5 patients with no control group and measured muscle markers, not weight.^[21]

Schisandra

Evidence: Weak

The vendor's description is the boldest of the six: "powerful calorie-burning red berries brimming with antioxidant compounds", plus claims for liver health and skin elasticity.^[1] The species is not named.

The only human trial we found tested a schisandra product in 28 Korean women with obesity for 12 weeks. The authors concluded it "was not sufficient to induce significant changes in obesity-related parameters compared with placebo."^[22] The dose is not given in the abstract.

The vendor's schisandra support is a study of muscle cells in a dish and a review of antioxidant effects.^[26] Nothing we read shows schisandra burning calories in people.

Does the combination of ingredients matter?

Nobody has tested it, so we cannot say. The vendor presents the six as working together to "promote calorie-burning mitochondria", yet none of its 12 cited references tests Mitolyn or this blend.^[1]

Combining ingredients does not add their results together. Each study above gave one ingredient at its own dose. In Mitolyn, six share a single capsule, and how they behave together is unknown.

The sales page headline promises a "Purple Peel Exploit" but never says which ingredient that phrase refers to.^[1] For the vendor's theory step by step, see how does Mitolyn work.

How transparent is the Mitolyn formula?

Not very. Mitolyn names its six ingredients but publishes no amounts, no extract types and no Supplement Facts panel on its site.^[1] So buyers cannot check the dose, which decides whether the research applies.

What is a proprietary blend?

A proprietary blend lists ingredients under one name while keeping the individual amounts private. Mitolyn's bottle front says "Proprietary Formula".^[2] On the site we could not find even a total blend weight or capsule size, so there is nothing to divide.

Why do doses matter so much?

Every effect in the research had a dose. Amla trials used 500 mg once or twice a day,^[15] the rhodiola trial used 364 to 728 mg,^[9] and astaxanthin's inflammation effect showed up only in longer trials or above 12 mg a day.^[12]

Simple arithmetic shows the problem. Amla at 500 mg plus rhodiola at 364 mg already comes to 864 mg, before the other four ingredients. Without amounts, nobody outside the company can tell whether any ingredient reaches a studied dose. Safety depends on dose too: amla slowed clotting at 500 mg.^[17]

Which ingredient list should you trust?

The vendor's own page beats any third-party listing; we read it on October 2, 2026.^[1] If you buy, read the panel on the bottle you receive. You can also ask the vendor for the full panel at [email protected].^[28]

Are Mitolyn's ingredients safe?

Most of the six have reassuring short-term safety data alone, but two carry interaction signals and one naturally contains caffeine. With doses hidden, none of this can be confirmed for Mitolyn itself.

The vendor's "No Stimulants" claim sits awkwardly next to cacao.^[1] The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements warns that some weight-loss supplements "can interact or interfere with medications".^[24] MedlinePlus says pregnant or nursing women should never take diet medicines, herbal ones included.^[25] Our guide to what side effects Mitolyn can cause goes further.

Do these ingredients prove Mitolyn works?

No. Ingredient studies show what a compound does at a known dose, not what an undisclosed amount does inside a six-ingredient capsule. The vendor cites 12 references. None tests Mitolyn, none is a controlled human weight-loss trial, and only one involves people at all: 5 patients, with no control group.^[1][21] The Office of Dietary Supplements notes that makers of weight-loss supplements "rarely carry out studies in people to find out whether their product works and is safe."^[24] We weigh the whole evidence picture in does Mitolyn work.

How we evaluated these ingredients

On October 2, 2026, we read the vendor's pages, looked up all 12 of its references on PubMed, and searched PubMed for human trials of each ingredient. NCCIH covers only rhodiola and MedlinePlus none of the six, so most evidence here comes from the trials themselves. We received no free product.

What is our take on the Mitolyn formula?

Hard to recommend: weak evidence and undisclosed doses. The ingredients are familiar foods and botanicals with mostly reassuring short-term safety data. But the human weight evidence runs from null to one uncontrolled trial, and hidden amounts mean no capsule can be matched to any study.

Scored with our How We Review weights (evidence 30, label transparency 20, safety 20, value 15, refund and terms 15), Mitolyn gets 3.7 out of 10. If weight is your goal, our weight loss guides cover better-supported approaches. For price, refunds and our full verdict, see the Mitolyn review overview.

Sources

1. Mitolyn sales page. mitolyn.com, undated (read October 2, 2026).
2. Mitolyn bottle front label image. mitolyn.com, undated (read October 2, 2026).
3. Davinelli: maqui extract in overweight adults and smokers. PubMed, 2015 (read October 2, 2026).
4. Review of 12 human maqui trials. PubMed, 2026 (read October 2, 2026).
5. Alvarado: maqui extract (Delphinol) in adults with prediabetes. PubMed, 2016 (read October 2, 2026).
6. Cremonini: anthocyanins in mice on a high-fat diet. PubMed, 2024 (read October 2, 2026).
7. Rhodiola. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, April 2025 (read October 2, 2026).
8. Review of 11 trials of Rhodiola rosea. PubMed, 2012 (read October 2, 2026).
9. Punja: rhodiola for fatigue in nursing students. PubMed, 2014 (read October 2, 2026).
10. Shevtsov: single-dose rhodiola in military cadets. PubMed, 2003 (read October 2, 2026).
11. Meta-analysis of 9 astaxanthin trials. PubMed, 2025 (read October 2, 2026).
12. Meta-analysis of 14 astaxanthin trials. PubMed, 2020 (read October 2, 2026).
13. Safety review of 87 human studies of astaxanthin. PubMed, 2019 (read October 2, 2026).
14. Nishida: astaxanthin in mice and C2C12 muscle cells. PubMed, 2020 (read October 2, 2026).
15. Open-label amla extract trial in 40 adults with obesity. PubMed, 2025 (read October 2, 2026).
16. Meta-analysis of 4 amla lipid trials. PubMed, 2023 (read October 2, 2026).
17. Fatima: amla and platelets in type 2 diabetes. PubMed, 2014 (read October 2, 2026).
18. Meta-analysis of 35 cocoa trials. PubMed, 2019 (read October 2, 2026).
19. Meta-analysis of 31 cocoa trials. PubMed, 2024 (read October 2, 2026).
20. Theobromine and caffeine in cocoa. PubMed, undated abstract (read October 2, 2026).
21. Taub: epicatechin-rich cocoa in 5 heart failure patients. PubMed, 2012 (read October 2, 2026).
22. Song: schisandra in women with obesity. PubMed, 2015 (read October 2, 2026).
23. Wuzhi capsule and tacrolimus levels, 11 studies. PubMed, undated abstract (read October 2, 2026).
24. Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, March 22, 2021 (read October 2, 2026).
25. Weight-loss medicines. MedlinePlus, July 3, 2025 (read October 2, 2026).
26. Kim: schisandrin C in C2C12 muscle cells. PubMed, 2018 (read October 2, 2026).
27. Review of 11 randomized trials of epicatechin. PubMed, 2022 (read October 2, 2026).
28. Mitolyn support page. mitolyn.com, undated (read October 2, 2026).

Frequently asked questions

What are the ingredients in Mitolyn?

The vendor lists six: maqui berry, rhodiola, Haematococcus pluvialis (a source of astaxanthin), amla, Theobroma cacao and schisandra. No other ingredients, fillers or capsule materials are listed on the site, and the six are sold as a proprietary blend.

How much of each ingredient is in Mitolyn?

The vendor does not say. Mitolyn is sold as a proprietary blend, and we found no Supplement Facts panel on its site, so the amount of each ingredient, the extract type and the capsule size are unknown. You can ask the vendor by email.

Does Mitolyn contain caffeine?

Possibly. The vendor says Mitolyn has no stimulants, but one ingredient, cacao, naturally contains caffeine and theobromine. The amount of cacao per capsule is not disclosed, so the caffeine content is unknown. Caffeine-sensitive and pregnant readers should ask a doctor first.

Which Mitolyn ingredient has the best research?

Astaxanthin, from Haematococcus algae, has the largest body of human trials. Two meta-analyses found it did not change body weight or BMI. Amla has the only positive weight result, from one small trial of 40 people with no placebo group.

Can I take Mitolyn if I am on a blood thinner?

Ask your doctor or pharmacist first. In a small study, 500 mg of amla slowed clotting, alone and with aspirin or clopidogrel. Mitolyn contains amla in an undisclosed amount, so the effect in a capsule cannot be predicted.