Ingredients & Science

The evidence behind every capsule

Most supplements are built on a marketing claim and an underdosed ingredient. KUNO is built the other way around — we start from the human evidence, name the exact branded form, and dose it to match the studies. Here is the science, in full, including where it is still early.

Named, branded activesWe use identified, third-party-tested branded ingredients — not anonymous ‘proprietary blends.’
Doses that match the researchWhere a study used a specific dose, we aim to match it — not a fraction of it.
Mechanism firstWe explain how each compound works on a known biological pathway, with citations you can look up.
Honest about the limitsWhen evidence is early, observational, or mixed, we say so — on this page.

KUNO Biopeptide

Calm · Sleep · Stress support — one clinically studied milk peptide.

Lactium® — milk protein hydrolysate (α-casozepine)

150 mg · contains milk
How it works. α-casozepine, a peptide from αS1-casein, binds the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor — the brain's primary calming system — supporting relaxation without sedation.
  • Built on the same brain pathway your body already uses to wind down (GABAA), so it supports calm without acting as a hormone.
  • Studied at the exact 150 mg serving used in KUNO Biopeptide.
  • In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the milk peptide helped support faster sleep onset, measured objectively by polysomnography.1
  • In healthy women under everyday stress, 150 mg/day for 30 days helped support how they coped across emotional, digestive, and other everyday-comfort domains.2
  • Non-sedative and non-habit-forming — no melatonin and no added hormones.
  • Acute human work explored a calmer physiological response to short-term mental and physical stressors.3
Human RCTChang et al., Clinical Nutrition 2024 — 4-week double-blind RCT: the peptide shortened polysomnography-measured time-to-fall-asleep vs placebo. PMID 39541860
Human RCTKim et al., Eur J Clin Nutr 2007 — double-blind crossover in 63 women: 150 mg/day for 30 days improved self-reported stress-symptom scores. PMID 17136040
Human RCTMessaoudi et al., Eur J Nutr 2005 — small acute human study of the physiological stress response (exploratory/mechanistic). DOI 10.1007/s00394-004-0534-7

Evidence base is genuine but still early-stage; we describe calm, relaxation, and healthy sleep onset only — never a treatment for any sleep or mood condition.

KUNO Cardio

Five compounds, five pathways, one daily capsule — in the forms that actually absorb.

Dihydroberberine (GlucoVantage®)

more-absorbable berberine
How it works. Berberine compounds activate AMPK, a master cellular energy sensor central to how cells handle glucose and lipids. Dihydroberberine is a hydrogenated form selected for absorption.
  • Chosen specifically for its absorption: in a human crossover study it reached higher plasma berberine levels at a lower dose than standard berberine.4
  • Works upstream on the AMPK energy-sensing pathway that supports normal cellular metabolism.
  • A more-absorbable form means less material is needed than conventional berberine — and is often gentler on digestion.
  • Supports healthy metabolism already within a normal range, via its mechanism on AMPK.
Human RCTMoon et al., Nutrients 2021 — randomized crossover pilot: dihydroberberine produced markedly higher plasma berberine exposure than 500 mg berberine. PMID 35010998

We cite this study for absorption only. It was a small pilot and did not show a glucose change over its short duration — so we make no blood-sugar claim; AMPK is described as mechanism.

Spermidine (wheat-germ extract)

contains wheat
How it works. Spermidine is a natural polyamine and one of the most-studied dietary inducers of autophagy — the cell's renewal and clean-up process that is central to healthy-aging research.
  • Supports the body's natural cellular-renewal process (autophagy).
  • One of the most-researched dietary compounds in the longevity field.5
  • In a large prospective human cohort, higher dietary spermidine intake was associated with markers of healthier aging.6
  • Studied in cardiovascular-aging research, where preclinical work links it to cardiac autophagy and mitochondrial function.5
  • Early human work is also exploring spermidine and memory — results are not yet conclusive (see our honesty note below).7,8
PreclinicalEisenberg et al., Nature Medicine 2016 — spermidine extended lifespan and preserved cardiac function in mice (autophagy-dependent); embedded human cohort context. PMID 27841876
Human cohortKiechl et al., Am J Clin Nutr 2018 — prospective Bruneck cohort: higher dietary spermidine intake associated with lower all-cause mortality. DOI 10.1093/ajcn/nqy102
Human RCTWirth 2018 (PMID 30388439) suggested a memory benefit in a small pilot; Schwarz 2022 (PMID 35616942), a larger 12-month RCT, did not confirm it.

Cardiovascular and longevity findings are mostly rodent and observational — associations, not cause. We frame spermidine as cellular renewal, not as a heart, blood-pressure, or memory treatment.

EGCG (green-tea catechin)

below safety-threshold dose
How it works. EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) is a green-tea polyphenol valued as a potent dietary antioxidant that helps support the body's defenses against everyday oxidative stress.
  • Helps support the body's normal antioxidant defenses against oxidative stress.
  • One of the most-researched polyphenols in green tea.
  • Green-tea catechins are widely studied in the context of vascular and cardiometabolic aging.
  • Included at a sensible dose kept well below the regulatory hepatic-safety threshold — best taken with food.

We lead with the antioxidant mechanism. We keep the dose well under ~800 mg/day (the level at which regulators flag liver-enzyme signals) and recommend taking it with food, not on an empty stomach.

Pterostilbene (pTeroPure®)

methylated resveratrol analog
How it works. Pterostilbene is a naturally methylated, more-bioavailable cousin of resveratrol, studied for antioxidant activity and the SIRT1 cell-signaling pathway associated with healthy aging.
  • A more bioavailable, longer-lasting structural cousin of resveratrol.
  • Studied for antioxidant and cell-signaling (SIRT1-pathway) activity in healthy-aging research.
  • Complements the other actives on a distinct cellular-aging pathway — no overlap, no filler.

SIRT1 activity for pterostilbene is largely mechanistic/preclinical, so we say ‘studied for,’ not ‘activates.’ We make no cholesterol or blood-pressure claim — see our honesty note.

BioPerine® (black-pepper piperine)

absorption enhancer
How it works. Piperine slows the body's rapid first-pass breakdown (glucuronidation) and efflux of co-ingested compounds, helping more of the other actives get absorbed.
  • Added to help support the absorption of the other actives in the formula.
  • Works by slowing the rapid clearance (glucuronidation) of co-ingested nutrients.
  • A small, standardized inclusion long used to enhance polyphenol uptake.
  • In a classic human pharmacokinetic study, 20 mg piperine sharply increased the absorption of curcumin.10
Human RCTShoba et al., Planta Med 1998 — human PK study: 20 mg piperine increased curcumin bioavailability ~2000%. PMID 9619120

The ~2000% figure is specific to curcumin, not a blanket multiplier for every ingredient. If you take prescription medication, piperine can affect drug metabolism — check with your physician.

References

  1. Chang C-H, et al. Impact of an αS1-casein hydrolysate on sleep. Clin Nutr. 2024. PMID 39541860.
  2. Kim JH, et al. Efficacy of αS1-casein hydrolysate on stress-related symptoms in women. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007;61(4):536–541. PMID 17136040.
  3. Messaoudi M, et al. Effects of a tryptic hydrolysate from bovine milk αS1-casein on hemodynamic responses in healthy volunteers under stress. Eur J Nutr. 2005;44(2):128–132. DOI 10.1007/s00394-004-0534-7.
  4. Moon JM, et al. Absorption kinetics of berberine and dihydroberberine: a randomized crossover pilot. Nutrients. 2021;14(1):124. PMID 35010998.
  5. Eisenberg T, et al. Cardioprotection and lifespan extension by the natural polyamine spermidine. Nat Med. 2016;22(12):1428–1438. PMID 27841876.
  6. Kiechl S, et al. Higher spermidine intake is linked to lower mortality: a prospective population-based study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018;108(2):371–380. DOI 10.1093/ajcn/nqy102.
  7. Wirth M, et al. Effect of spermidine on memory performance in older adults at risk for dementia. Cortex. 2018;109:181–188. PMID 30388439.
  8. Schwarz C, et al. Spermidine supplementation and cognition in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (12-month RCT, null primary result). JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(5):e2213875. PMID 35616942.
  9. Riche DM, et al. Safety analysis from a human clinical trial of pterostilbene. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:459165. PMID 25057276.
  10. Shoba G, et al. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Med. 1998;64(4):353–356. PMID 9619120.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Statements are structure/function only and reflect research on the individual ingredients, not the finished product. Made with established, third-party-tested branded ingredients. DRAFT — claims pending regulatory review.