At a glance
| Founded | 2018 in Hamburg by Alexander Adlung and Alexander Jansen |
| Manufacturer | ZENKOH GmbH, Leverkusen |
| Focus | Plant-based supplements, mostly complex formulas (several coordinated ingredients) |
| Positioning | Vegan, without fillers/additives, “demonstrably effective ingredients”, made in Germany |
| Range | Around 70 products with descriptive names (e.g. RUHEPOL, SONNENFREUND, KRAFT RESERVE) for areas such as nerves, immune system, metabolism, menopause |
| Distribution | Own online shop, Amazon, over 200 pharmacies |
NATURTREU differs from many competitors through its complex philosophy: instead of single substances, it markets combinations of micronutrients, adaptogens and medicinal plants (e.g. ashwagandha, rhodiola, milk thistle). The value for money is often praised. Note: the brand is still young, much information comes from the company itself, and independent test reports are so far limited.
Metabolism: what counts and what does not
Care is needed here, because adaptogens and medicinal plants are readily loaded with big promises:
- Micronutrient components: Where a complex contains documented micronutrients at sensible doses (e.g. vitamin D3/K2, magnesium), the same applies to deficiency correction as for any supplement: useful with a proven deficit , otherwise questionable.
- Adaptogens (e.g. ashwagandha): There are indications of effects on stress and sleep, but the study situation is heterogeneous and transferability to glucose metabolism is unclear . The indirect route is interesting: if a supplement really improves stress or sleep, that could theoretically have a positive effect on glucose regulation – but this chain of reasoning is not proven for the specific product .
- Complex logic: That a combination automatically works better than single substances is a marketing promise, not a given . Combinations can be sensible – but they don’t have to be.
For my path the stress aspect is especially relevant: in my CGM documentation I regularly see that stress-intensive night call-outs raise my glucose level even without eating . Whether an adaptogen measurably changes that is exactly the kind of question where I have to honestly separate “interesting hypothesis” from “proven”.
Where I look more closely
- Proximity to health claims: Descriptive product names and application areas move close to health-related statements. I check what is actually proven – and what is merely implied.
- Testimonial-heavy communication: Much of the messaging runs via expert and influencer voices. That does not replace studies.
- Dosage within the complex: In combination products, the individual dosing of the active ingredients is decisive – “in it” does not mean “effectively dosed”.
My planned tests
- 1. Ingredient analysis: Which active ingredients at which dose? Comparison with the available research per substance.
- 2. research traffic light per product: Classification of the core claims as established / plausible / open.
- 3. Stress-context observation: If I take an adaptogenic product over several weeks, I document my CGM patterns on call-out and rest days – explicitly as an uncontrolled single-case observation (n=1), not as proof of efficacy.
- 4. CGM for edible forms: If a product contains carbohydrates/sweeteners, I measure the glucose response.
