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618 peer-reviewed studies behind 63 AXEL ingredients, each verified on PubMed and linked to the original paper.
Across hundreds of clinical trials, one pattern repeats: the strongest results come when an ingredient meets a real need in the body.
That is the science behind AXEL. We map your terrain first, then build a regimen around what your body actually needs — not a generic stack.
How the Terrain Kit worksWe mapped each active ingredient across all AXEL formulas, exactly as printed on the pack.
For each one we searched the US National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database, prioritising meta-analyses, systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials in humans.
Benefits, mixed results and safety data, side by side — the same standard a clinician would apply.
Each study was retrieved from PubMed and checked a second time by an independent reviewer. Every card links to the original paper.
Each ingredient receives a research tier, from Traditional & emerging to Clinically established.
Clinically established
Backed by multiple meta-analyses of human clinical trials — the highest level of scientific evidence.
Clinically supported
Supported by randomised human trials and meta-analyses in the people it is designed for.
Clinically studied
Investigated in human clinical trials, with an active and growing body of research.
Traditional & emerging
A long history of traditional use, supported by early laboratory and emerging human research.
637 studies
Cochrane review · Pregnant women 10–24 weeks · n = 7 RCTs; 1319 women · Myo-inositol, various doses · To delivery
May reduce gestational diabetes (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.31–0.90), hypertensive disorders (RR 0.34) and preterm birth; low to very low certainty; 6 of 7 trials from Italy.
Cochrane review · Menstruating women · n = 25 trials, 10,996 women · Iron 1–3 times weekly · Various
Intermittent iron worked about as well as daily iron for preventing anaemia (RR 1.09 vs daily) and caused fewer side effects (RR 0.41).
Cochrane review · Adults with chronic bronchitis or COPD · n = 38 trials, 10,377 participants · Various oral mucolytics incl. NAC (typically 600 mg+/day) · 2 months-3 years
[NAC/mucolytics] Mucolytics made people more likely to stay flare-up-free (Peto OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.56-1.91; NNT 8 over ~9 months), with little effect on lung function or quality of life. Newer trials showed smaller benefits than older ones.
Cochrane review · Adults with B12 deficiency · n = 3 RCTs, 153 · Oral 1,000–2,000 µg/day vs IM · 3–4 months
Oral B12 normalised serum B12 about as well as injections. One trial at 2,000 µg/day favoured oral (MD +680 pg/mL). Evidence quality was low.
Cochrane review · Menstruating women · n = 67 trials, 8,506 women · Daily oral iron, various doses · ≥5 days/week, various
Daily iron cut the risk of anaemia (RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.25–0.60) and raised haemoglobin by about 5.3 g/L. It also improved exercise performance and reduced symptomatic fatigue. GI side effects roughly doubled (RR 1.99).
Cochrane review · Adults with OA, 43 RCTs · n = 9110 · Various (not stated in abstract) · 1 month to 3 years
Short-term pain improved about 10% more than placebo (NNT 5, low-quality evidence, high heterogeneity). In 2 high-quality trials, 53% vs 47% reached a 20% pain reduction. Joint-space loss was slightly less. Serious side effects were fewer than placebo. Benefits became uncertain in large or non-industry trials.
Cochrane review · Men with symptomatic BPH · n = 4 RCTs, 519 · Non-glucosidic beta-sitosterols (3 trials) or a pure beta-sitosteryl-beta-D-glucoside preparation (1 trial); doses not given in abstract · 4-26 weeks
IPSS improved by 4.9 points (95% CI -6.3 to -3.5), peak flow by 3.91 mL/s (95% CI 0.91-6.90) and residual volume by -28.6 mL versus placebo; no prostate shrinkage; withdrawals similar to placebo.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Children with iron-deficiency anaemia · n = 4 RCTs, 454 · Liposomal vs conventional oral iron · Up to 6 months
Liposomal iron gave a slightly larger haemoglobin rise at 6 months (MD 0.96 g/dL, very high heterogeneity). It caused fewer adverse events (RR 0.29) and less constipation. The authors call the evidence preliminary.
Network meta-analysis · Dilated cardiomyopathy · n = 14 RCTs, 1,259 · CoQ10 90–150 mg/d and other supplements · Various
CoQ10 at 150 mg/day ranked best for ejection fraction (MD +11.3%), but the trials were mostly small, open-label Chinese studies, and certainty was low to very low.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Adults with diabetic polyneuropathy · n = 15 studies (12 analysed) · Various, mostly 600 mg/day · Varied
Improved tingling, numbness and pain scores; no significant change in HbA1c or several nerve-conduction measures.
Network meta-analysis · Adults with diabetic peripheral neuropathy · n = 9 RCTs · 600-1,800 mg/day oral, IV or sequential · 3-208 weeks
After removing biased studies, IV ALA ranked best for symptoms and oral ALA for lower-limb impairment scores.
Network meta-analysis · Heart failure patients · n = 18 studies, 1,584 patients · 16 Astragalus-containing Chinese patent medicines + standard care · Varied
Several formulas improved heart failure markers versus standard care alone; limited, low-quality studies.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Adults with type 2 diabetes · n = 30+ trials, >2,000 (probiotics, synbiotics, berberine) · Various · Varied
Pooled interventions gave significant but clinically modest falls in fasting glucose and HbA1c; supports adjunct rather than primary use.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Adults with MASLD · n = 123 trials; n=8595 · Various herbs · Varied
Artichoke leaf lowered triglycerides (MD −52.6 mg/dL) and was the only herb with high-confidence evidence (for total cholesterol). Also covers green tea and flaxseed.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Adults with obesity-related metabolic disorders, 40 RCTs · n = 2551 · Various · Various
Insulin resistance, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and inflammatory markers fell modestly. Body weight, BMI, waist, fat mass and liver fat did not change consistently.
Meta-analysis (12 RCTs + 6 pre-post studies) · Non-anaemic children, adolescents and menstruating adults · n = 18 studies, 1,408 · Oral iron, various · Various
In RCTs, iron improved fatigue (d=0.34) and anxiety. Benefits disappeared when people without iron deficiency were analysed separately.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Statin users with muscle symptoms · n = 7 RCTs, 389 · 100–600 mg/day · 30–90 days
A modest reduction in pain intensity (WMD -0.96, 95% CI -1.88 to -0.03). Four trials were positive and three were null.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Middle-aged and older adults · n = 15 RCTs, 415 · Citrulline or watermelon · Various
Systolic BP fell by 4.0 mmHg and diastolic by 2.5 mmHg. Citrulline plus arginine gave larger reductions.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Men with idiopathic infertility · n = 7 RCTs (3 NAC) · NAC monotherapy (dose not reported in abstract) · ~3 months
[NAC] Improved sperm concentration, motility, morphology and ejaculate volume versus placebo. Pregnancy rates not assessed.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Adults (various health states) · n = 63 RCTs · Various · Varied
Small reductions in insulin resistance, waist (~1 cm), weight (~0.6 kg), fasting glucose (~5 mg/dL), HbA1c (~0.4%) and triglycerides; no effect on LDL, HDL or blood pressure.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Patients with liver injury of various causes · n = 55 studies, 3,545 patients · Various · Varied
Reduced AST and ALT overall, mainly in NAFLD and viral hepatitis; no effect in drug-induced or alcohol-related liver injury.
Network meta-analysis · Adults with type 2 diabetes · n = 17 studies, 1,337 participants · Silymarin vs curcumin, resveratrol, berberine · Varied
Silymarin significantly improved fasting glucose, insulin resistance and HbA1c versus placebo; authors call for larger trials.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Cancer patients with fatigue · n = 8 studies · Astragalus alone · Varied
Reduced cancer-related fatigue and improved quality of life, but small, low-quality studies; authors say evidence insufficient for strong support.
Meta-analysis · Patients with chronic venous disease · n = 51 studies, ~39,900 treated · MPFF 1,000 mg/day (diosmin + hesperidin) · >=1 month
Venous leg symptoms (pain, heaviness, cramps) decreased from baseline in single-arm pooled analyses; includes non-randomised studies.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Pre-diabetes and T2D · n = 25 trials (34 sub-studies) · Various · Varied
Moderate reductions in FBG (SMD −0.46), HbA1c (−0.57), insulin and HOMA-IR; no effect on beta-cell function.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Adults with knee OA · n = 21 studies; n=1705 · Curcumin · Varied
CRP (SMD −0.91) and TNF-α fell; no change in ESR, IL-1β, IL-6 or PGE2.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · OA, 23 RCTs of 21 supplements · n = 2455 · Various · Various
MSM ranked second of 21 supplements for reducing WOMAC pain in a ranking analysis, but the overall evidence quality was rated low by GRADE.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · 7 RCTs of oral HA for skin · n = 7 trials · Various (not stated in abstract) · Various
Skin hydration, elasticity and wrinkle depth improved significantly; firmness, wrinkle volume and water loss did not. Small studies with heterogeneity.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Knee OA, 39 RCTs of 7 supplements · n = 4599 · Various · Various
Boswellia showed the largest improvements versus placebo in WOMAC pain (about 10.6 points), stiffness and function, and ranked first among seven supplements; no increase in side effects.
Meta-analysis of RCTs · Knee OA, 20 RCTs · n = 1633 · Various · Various
Modified (enhanced) Boswellia formulations improved WOMAC pain, stiffness and function; adverse events did not differ between groups.
This library summarises published research on individual ingredients for education. It is not medical advice, and AXEL products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak with your physician before starting supplements, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding.