Metagenics Review: Are the Claimed Clean Ingredients Enough to Justify the Price?

Metagenics is focused on offering a wide range of targeted formulations aimed at supporting various fitness needs. The brand develops supplements across different categories, such as digestive health, cognitive performance, musculoskeletal support, metabolic function, immune balance, and stress regulation.

Metagenics’s product portfolio includes multivitamins, blends, herbal extracts, omega-3s, probiotics, and superfoods.

In this review, we explore what Metagenics stands for, its bestselling products, advantages, and potential brand limitations. The review also discusses two viable substitutes for the Metagenics brand and the factors on which we evaluated the brand.

About Metagenics

Founded in 1983 in Orange County, CA, Metagenics has been operating in the nutritional supplement space for over 40 years. The brand states that its philosophy is built on the idea that true health comes from within and that nutrition may restore balance and resilience.

According to the official site, Metagenics provides an extensive range of 200+ formulations, which span different health areas, such as immune support, hormone balance, stress relief, heart health, etc. These formulations also come in multiple formats, including capsules, powder, softgels, liquid, gummies, etc.

For instance, the Metagenics brand offers the PhytoMulti Multivitamin, which comprises a mix of 13 plant extracts and phytonutrients.

Meanwhile, Metagenics’ UltraFlora Balance is a dual-strain probiotic featuring Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07, which aim to support digestive and immune health.

Metagenics also offers a subscription service that may help you receive your selected supplements regularly. Subscriptions may be set to deliver intervals of 30, 60, or 90 days, which can depend on your preference. You also get the flexibility to manage, pause, or cancel your subscriptions at any time through your online Metagenics account.

Metagenics Best Selling Products

1. Metagenics Vitamin D3 10,000 + K2

   Metagenics’ Vitamin D3 10,000 + K2 aims to support bone strength, cardiovascular health, and immune function. As per the official site, one softgel provides 10,000 IU (250 mcg) of vitamin D, 90 mcg of menaquinone (MK-7), and 20 mcg of vitamin K (as phytonadione USP). The Vitamin D3 10,000 + K2 contains 60 softgels per bottle and costs $31.50 as part of a one-time purchase.

   Vitamin D may support bone strength by enhancing the intestinal absorption of phosphate and calcium, minerals essential for bone mineralization. It might also aid in the production of immune cells like macrophages and T cells, supporting better immunity . Vitamin K may work alongside vitamin D to support bone strength and cardiovascular health.

   The Vitamin D3 10,000 + K2 formula also contains menaquinone-7 (MK-7). MK-7 may activate osteocalcin, a vitamin K-dependent protein that may help bind calcium to the bone matrix, making your bones denser and stronger. It also activates matrix Gla protein (MGP), which restricts calcium from depositing in soft tissues like arteries, thus protecting against vascular calcification.

2. OmegaGenics® Fish Oil EPA-DHA

   OmegaGenics® Fish Oil EPA-DHA offers an omega-3 formula that might help support heart, cognitive, muscle, and cellular health. As per the official site, OmegaGenics® Fish Oil is sourced from wild-caught fish (such as sardine, anchovy, and mackerel). Every two-softgel features 2.5 g of Marine Lipid Concentrate, comprising 580 mg of DHA, 860 mg of EPA, and 160 mg of other omega-3 fatty acids.

   DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are the primary omega-3 fats in OmegaGenics® Fish Oil. EPA could suppress inflammation in the body by blocking the production of inflammatory eicosanoids, which might help lower chronic inflammation linked to heart disease and autoimmune disorders. DHA may support membrane fluidity and synaptic function, which could support cognitive health and healthy vision.

   Metagenics claims that the OmegaGenics® Fish Oil EPA-DHA 720 mg is tested for over 200 potential contaminants, including heavy metals, environmental toxins, and plasticizers from microplastics. As per the official site, one bottle of OmegaGenics® Fish Oil EPA-DHA contains 60 softgels and costs $34 as part of a one-time purchase.

3. Metagenics PhytoMulti Multivitamin

   Metagenics PhytoMulti® is a daily multivitamin that may support immunity through a mix of 13 essential nutrients and plant-based phytonutrients. The formulation aims to support cellular function, help defend against oxidative stress, and provide antioxidant support.

   As per the official site, the PhytoMulti® Multivitamin formulation includes nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K alongside choline, magnesium, zinc, and copper. Every two-tablet serving of PhytoMulti® Multivitamin also features a 400 mg proprietary phytonutrient blend comprising ingredients like green coffee bean extract, pomegranate extract, rosemary extract, etc.

   Vitamin A may support the structural integrity of mucosal barriers in your respiratory and digestive tract, which are your body’s first line of defense against germs. PhytoMulti® Multivitamin also has Vitamin D that may support innate immunity by stimulating antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidins and defensins. Meanwhile, vitamin K could help lower inflammation and support a healthy immune response.

   Choline is also included in PhytoMulti® Multivitamin, which may help build cellular membranes and support brain and nerve function by suppressing inflammation. Zinc is essential in supporting bodily processes like thymic function, immune cell signaling, and gene transcription, all of which may contribute to better immunity.

4. Metagenics Magnesium Glycinate

   As per the official site, Metagenics’ Magnesium Glycinate is formulated with 100 mg of magnesium bis-glycinate per tablet. The bis-glycinate form consists of magnesium bound to two glycine molecules, a structure that may support better magnesium absorption than less bioavailable forms like magnesium oxide or sulfate.

   Magnesium in Metagenics’ Magnesium Glycinate may promote energy metabolism, nerve function, muscle contraction, and the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as GABA and serotonin.

   The makers mention that Metagenics’ Magnesium Glycinate might support neuromuscular relaxation, a balanced stress response, and better sleep quality. The Metagenics Magnesium Glycinate formulation comes in two different serving sizes, with bottles containing 120 and 240 tablets.

5. Metagenics UltraFlora Balance Probiotic

   UltraFlora® Balance might support digestive function and a healthy immune response. It has 2 probiotic strains to support a balanced gut microbiome, including Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM® and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07®.

   According to the official site, each UltraFlora® Balance Probiotic capsule comprises 15 billion CFU of probiotics from a 55 mg proprietary blend. L. acidophilus NCFM® attaches to intestinal epithelial cells and produces lactic acid, which may lower gut pH and restrict the growth of harmful gut bacteria.

   1. lactis Bi-07® may promote the breakdown of dietary fibers into SCFA or short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate, which may serve as energy sources for colon cells and help maintain gut lining integrity. It could also support the maturation of dendritic cells and increase secretory IgA levels, which may support mucosal immunity by eliminating pathogens at the gut surface.

   The makers state that UltraFlora® Balance Probiotic offers a non-GMO and gluten-free formula, which is free from preservatives, lactose, and common allergens. Metagenics also claims that UltraFlora® Balance Probiotic undergoes third-party testing to check for quality and consistency.

6. SPM Active One Daily

   SPM Active One Daily by Metagenics may support the body’s natural inflammation-reducing processes. It provides a concentrated source of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators (SPMs), which are bioactive compounds derived from omega-3s that may help lower inflammation and decrease joint soreness and discomfort.

   As per the official site, each softgel provides a standardized marine lipid concentrate that includes vital SPM compounds, including 18-HEPE, 17-HDHA, and 14-HDHA. These SPMs may support the removal of neutrophils (white blood cells), stimulating macrophages to remove cellular debris and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Such processes may help minimize joint soreness, swelling, and stiffness, which are often linked to physical overuse or inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis.

7. HerWellness Estrovera

   Estrovera is part of the HerWellness lineup of Metagenics. It provides a plant-based, hormone-free formulation that might minimize common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Metagenics claims that its Estrovera helps relieve common menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, irritability, anxiety, and mood swings.

   According to the official site, one Estrovera® tablet contains 4 mg of Rhapontic Rhubarb root extract (ERr 731®), delivering 2.2 mg of rhaponticin and 1 mg of desoxy-rhaponticin. These essential rhubarb compounds may help minimize hormone-related discomfort.

Metagenics Advantages

1. Comprehensive Product Range

   The Metagenics brand offers a broad selection of 200+ formulations across multiple health interests, such as energy and mood, sleep, immune support, digestion, stress, hormone balance, etc.

   Metagenics’s extensive product lineup can make it easy to find targeted formulations within a single brand, whether you are looking to support general wellness, address specific health conditions, or meet daily nutritional needs.

   For example, the Metagenics brand offers formulations like the PhytoMulti® Multivitamin, UltraFlora® Complete Women’s Probiotic, and OmegaGenics® EPA-DHA Fish Oil. Metagenics also provides a separate HerWellness™ line that offers formulations to tackle specific women’s concerns, such as hormone balance, bone strength, and reproductive health.

   Metagenics also subdivides its formulations into categories, such as probiotics, multivitamins, herbals, children’s health, etc. Having access to such a wide selection of formulations from a single brand may reduce the need to rely on multiple brands for supplementation. This might help simplify your supplement routine and improve the continuity of use.

2. Commitment To Ethical and Environmental Standards

   Metagenics claims to maintain a structured commitment to ethical business practices and environmental responsibility.  Its global B Corp™ certification highlights that the brand meets strict verified standards in vital areas, including governance, community, environment, and customers.

   For you as a consumer, Metagenics B Corp certification status can give you assurance that the brand operates with policies and systems designed to reduce harm and minimize its environmental footprint. As a result, you can make more informed and values-aligned choices, knowing the Metagenics brand is held to ongoing third-party review rather than self-declared standards.

Metagenics Limitations

1. Customer Service Issues

   The Metagenics brand has received consistently unfavorable feedback regarding its formulation’s efficacy and customer service, as indicated by numerous negative reviews of Metagenics on genuine review platforms like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

   For instance, Trustpilot user reviews on Metagenics highlight multiple concerns faced by customers. These concerns included excessively long wait times on phone calls, unanswered emails, and unresolved live chat inquiries. Some Trustpilot reviews stated that basic support requests, such as refund processing or order status updates, were often delayed or completely neglected by Metagenics.

   Better Business Bureau (BBB) reviews also revealed issues with auto-shipments, order cancellations, and promotional inconsistencies. Many BBB users found Metagenics’ subscription system hard to manage, and customer service was unwilling to offer flexible resolutions when problems arose.

   Such inconsistencies in customer service issues and complaint resolution raise concerns about Metagenics’ transparency and its ability to tackle customer dissatisfaction issues effectively. These unresolved concerns may reduce your faith in Metagenics’ credibility and lead you to seek formulations from alternative brands (like Now Foods and Pure Encapsulations) that may take consumer concerns more seriously.

2. Emphasis on Subscription Model Commitment

   The Metagenics brand places a strong emphasis on a subscription-based purchasing model across many of its formulations. Metagenics’ subscription-first approach often takes priority over the one-time purchase option on the brand’s product pages, which may create pressure to commit before you’ve had a chance to try a formulation from Metagenics.

   The downsides of the subscription-based model become more obvious when you’re trying to manage your purchase preferences. For example, if you don’t cancel a Metagenics subscription 24 hours before the next billing cycle, you are charged for another order you didn’t want. It may lead to unnecessary spending, particularly if you’re on a tight budget or managing several subscriptions at once.

   The subscription-based purchase model becomes even more inconvenient if your nutritional needs change due to lifestyle, diet, or health reasons. Having to monitor or update your subscription constantly may add an extra layer of hassle.

Metagenics Alternative Brands

1. Now Foods

   Now Foods and Metagenics differ notably in aspects like their formulation range, core focus on nutrition, manufacturing standards, pricing, and refund policies. The brand offers an extensive selection of 1400+ formulations, including dietary supplements, essential oils, beauty formulas, sports nutrition, and personal care items.

   On the other hand, Metagenics offers a more specialized range of around 200 formulations, each aiming to tackle specific nutritional concerns, such as gut health, hormone balance, metabolic support, or immune resilience.

   The brands also differ in terms of their return and refund policies. Now Foods offers a 30-day return window for unopened formulations purchased directly from its official brand website, handled through its customer support process.

   Meanwhile, the Metagenics brand provides a 60-day satisfaction guarantee on purchases, which may allow you to request a refund or claim product replacement in the specified refund window.

   In terms of manufacturing and certification standards, both the Now Foods and Metagenics brands also have some differences. Now Foods states that its formulations meet the required FDA’s cGMP standards of production, which also hold third-party certifications from reputable organizations like Intertek, NASC, Non-GMO Project Verified, etc. However, Metagenics just states that all its formulations undergo quality checks to meet pharmaceutical-grade standards. It does not specify the exact testing or manufacturing standards used for its formulations.

   Pricing is another differentiator between the Now Foods and the Metagenics brand. For instance, one bottle of Magnesium Glycinate Tablets from Now Foods features 180 capsules and costs $31.99 as part of a one-time purchase. Meanwhile, one bottle of Metagenics’ Magnesium Glycinate provides 120 tablets per bottle and costs $33.75.

2. Pure Encapsulations

   When comparing the Pure Encapsulations and Metagenics brands, both provide an extensive range of nutritional formulations. However, the brands diverge on their range of formulations, core focus, pricing, manufacturing standards, etc.

   Pure Encapsulations offers a broad range of 400+ formulations catering to 16 health categories, such as blood sugar support, immunity, cognitive health, sleep support, multivitamins, etc. These formulations primarily come as single-ingredient supplements that are hypoallergenic and free from common additives. On the other hand, Metagenics offers a narrower range of over 200 formulations, which tend to focus more on complex, multi-ingredient blends that claim to align with functional medicine approaches.

   As per the manufacturing standards and quality assurance, both brands aim to maintain high production values. As per its official site, the formulations from Pure Encapsulations undergo twice-yearly audits by NSF to verify compliance with the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). These formulations also undergo rigorous third-party testing for allergens, contaminants, and heavy metals.

   On the other hand, Metagenics claims to adhere to clean-label principles but is not uniformly strict in excluding additives or certain excipients. Many of its formulations are marketed as gluten-free and non-GMO. However, the Metagenics brand does not maintain the same level of transparency in manufacturing standards as Pure Encapsulations.

   Pricing is another point of divergence when it comes to the pricing of similar formulations from both brands. For example, one bottle of Pure Encapsulations’ Probiotic G.I. provides 30 capsules and costs $24.60 as part of a one-time purchase. In contrast, one bottle (30 capsules) of UltraFlora® Balance Probiotic from Metagenics costs $25.50.

How Did We Evaluate Metagenics?

1. Brand Credibility

   To evaluate Metagenics’ brand credibility, we considered both its historical background and available feedback on third-party review websites. Metagenics has been in operation since 1983, which may indicate a long-standing presence in the nutritional supplement space.

   However, brand credibility also involves public perception and customer satisfaction, so we analyzed Metagenics reviews across independent platforms. On Trustpilot, Metagenics holds a rating of 2.2 out of 5 based on 10 reviews. While the sample size is limited, the user sentiment of Metagenics on Trustpilot points to some dissatisfaction, particularly regarding customer service and formulation effectiveness.

   Metagenics has a “B” rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), with many complaints filed against the brand on the platform. The average rating and high number of complaints may indicate consumer dissatisfaction. Metagenics is also unlisted on the ConsumerAffairs platform, which restricts further access to verified customer experiences.

2. Refund Policy

   As part of our evaluation, we looked closely at Metagenics’ refund policy to understand its consumer-friendliness and transparency. The brand offers a 60-day Satisfaction Guarantee, which allows you to request a refund or product replacement if you are not completely satisfied.

   However, the refund policy only applies to purchases made directly from Metagenics or through its authorized sellers. Formulations obtained from unauthorized sources are not eligible, which may pose an issue if you are unaware of this restriction.

   Moreover, the refund policy requires you to contact customer service, obtain a confirmation number, and mail back the product along with proof of purchase, all within 60 days of the purchase date. It’s also worth noting that the return shipping costs are your responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are Metagenics Formulations Certified Organic?
   No, Metagenics does not offer a dedicated organic product line. Some formulations from the Metagenics brand (like the PhytoMulti® lineup) may contain organic ingredients, but the brand doesn’t specifically provide USDA-certified organic formulations.
2. Does Metagenics Use Proprietary Blends?
   Yes. Some formulations from Metagenics (such as UltraFlora Balance Probiotic and PhytoMulti® Multivitamin) contain proprietary blends. The use of proprietary blends by Metagenics obscures exact ingredient dosages, limiting dosage transparency.
3. Are Metagenics Herbal Formulations Free From Adulteration Risk?
   Not necessarily. The Metagenics brand claims to emphasize quality control, yet details on DNA or chromatographic verification of herbs in its formulations are not readily available.

Conclusion

Metagenics markets itself as a science-focused supplement brand, with offerings that span across 16 diverse fitness categories. These include vitality, gastrointestinal function, immune defense, and metabolic health.

That said, Metagenics is not without limitations. Many customer feedback platforms like Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau highlight concerns with Metagenics’ customer service. Complaints range from delayed responses to queries, difficulties with claiming refunds, and inconveniences in updating/canceling subscriptions.

Moreover, the Metagenics brand heavily promotes its subscription-first model, which may feel restrictive or inconvenient if your needs change unexpectedly or if you want to try formulations before committing to a consistent supplementation routine.

While Metagenics offers a variety of formulations, the brand does not provide individualized guidance. This makes it essential to evaluate its formulations based on your dietary restrictions, health needs, tolerance, and fitness goals.