Fighting chronic fatigue can be a tiresome process.
As well as proving there’s really no “one size fits all” approach to tiredness and a lack of energy, it can be difficult to know where to start or how long to try each method before moving on. What might work wonders for one person might do absolutely nothing for another.
“Treating chronic fatigue is a complex process and everyone’s needs are different,” says Dr Joshua Berkowitz, founder of the IV Boost clinic. “It’s well documented that certain vitamins and minerals can improve energy levels, most notably, Vitamin B6, B12 and B Complex, vitamin C, iron and magnesium. Less well-known is the vital role of NAD+ (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide): an essential coenzyme present in every cell of the body which helps us metabolise energy from our food, maintain healthy cell function and protect our cells from stress.
“NAD+ transfers energy released from our food to the mitochondria – our body’s ‘powerhouses’ which take in nutrients from each cell and break them down into the energy each cell needs to carry out various functions. If your NAD+ levels are low due to illness or stress, the mitochondria can’t work to full capacity and our energy production slows down.”
Claire Nevinson, Superintendent Pharmacist at Boots, added: "Nutrients such as B12, iron and magnesium can help to reduce tiredness and fatigue. You may want to consider taking a supplement if you don’t think you are getting these nutrients from your diet. Vitamin B12 can be found in fish, dairy products, red meat and eggs; if you are a vegetarian or vegan you may want to consider taking a B12 supplement."
We’ve rounded up all of the best supplements for chronic fatigue.
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Laboratoires NHCO Nutrition Aminoscience Fatigue Capsules
The Aminoscience Fatigue Supplement Capsules offer a well-rounded approach to tackling chronic fatigue, making them a great daily addition to your routine without fussing around taking multiple pills.
Recommended for adults who require additional nutrients to support fatigue, these capsules feature a long list of beneficial ingredients including Vitamins B6 and C which contribute to the reduction of tiredness, magnesium, amino acids, and a patented botanical extract.
They also go one step further with extra adaptogenic herbs like Siberian ginseng and Rhodiola to support mental and physical well-being.
Buy now £8.59, eBay
Nourished The High Flyer Stack
Nourished’s High Flyer stack doesn’t just tackle fatigue from one angle, instead offering a whole stack of different nutrients that aim to combat those feelings of exhaustion in multiple ways.
Containing scientifically proven nourishments to help reduce stress and anxiety, maintain focus and boost natural energy levels, it brings together a range of impressive ingredients including ashwagandha, LactoSpore Probiotics, vitamin B12 and black pepper extract. Bonus points for its sweet, blackberry-esque flavour: the closest thing you’ll find to adult-sized gummy vitamins.
Buy now £28.00, Nourished
VITL Rise & Energise
VITL’s Rise & Energise vegan pills are a popular choice for tackling fatigue during day-to-day life. Formulated with a range of the purest and most bioavailable vitamins, they’re easy to absorb, allowing you to enjoy all of the goodness contained in each digestible capsule.
These hard-hitting supplements don’t hold back the benefits. There’s a blend of a full B vitamin complex with vitamin C as well as Siberian ginseng to help reduce fatigue and support energy levels and CoQ10 to help reduce symptoms of fatigue.
Buy now £10.99, VITL
Boots High Strength Vitamin B12
Not sure where to start with chronic fatigue? One of the best options to lean towards first is ensuring your B12 levels are correct. If you’re lacking, a high-strength supplement can do the work to bring you back to normal. Boots’ feature 250µg of vitamin B12 in each capsule, which works out as 10000 per cent of your Nutrient Reference Value. In short: above and beyond what your body requires, which leaves plenty of room even if you struggle with proper absorption.
Buy now £6.50, Boots
Purolabs Iron Complex
While iron supplements shouldn’t be taken without consulting a doctor first, PuroLabs’ are some of the best once you’ve got that seal of approval. Formulated with easy to digest vitamin C, B12 and folic acid, these capsules are stomach-friendly and less likely to cause any digestive issues that other iron supplements may result in. Plant-powered and vegan-friendly, each of these capsules contains gentle iron bisglycinate and is totally free of any unnecessary or unnatural bulking ingredients.
Buy now £23.99, PuroLabs
Pure Encapsulations Vitamin B12
If you’ve tried different supplements before without having much luck, your problem may lie with absorption rather than a lack of nutrients. If you fall into that category, it’s worth trying a different option: liquid supplements rather than tablets.
Enter Pure Encapsulations - Vitamin B12 Liquid Methylcobalamin. Designed to be dropped under the tongue and served with food, these droplets provide 1000ug of vitamin B12 per serving, which should help to encourage an energy-yielding metabolism as well as the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Buy now £22.24, Pure Encapsulations
Miracle Greens CoQ10 400mg
If you’ve tried CoQ10 for fatigue before and have been impressed with the results, you’ll love this high-strength option that promises to keep you feeling alive a little longer. With superior potency compared to regular CoQ10, these 400 mg Ubiquinol capsules can help you reach optimal levels of Coenzyme Q10 sooner, so you can experience the benefits faster.
Not entirely sure what this particular enzyme is? CoQ10 is a naturally occurring nutrient that plays an important role in the production of energy used by our organs. Taking a CoQ10 supplement helps increase natural CoQ10 levels that can be depleted by stress, diet and lifestyle.
Buy now £16.99, Amazon
The Herbtender Perform & Recover supplements
While The Herbtender’s Perform & Recover supplements are designed mostly to be used post-workout, these supplements are also brilliant at fighting fatigue. They don’t offer immediate relief, instead building up an impressive suit of fatigue-fighting armour from the inside that gradually builds over time.
Combining Rhodiola root, Red Ginseng, White Ginseng and Acerola cherry, these impressive supplements are a great choice for sustaining athletic performance and recovery or just giving you an extra boost in day-to-day life.
Buy now £27.50, The Herbtender
Vitabiotics Feroglobin Liquid 200ml
Vitabiotics’ Feroglobin Liquid 200ml is another easily absorbable fatigue supplement that’s great for almost immediately perking you up. While it’s mostly an iron-based supplement, it also includes an extra 13 different ingredients that also work their individual magic to fight tiredness.
Providing a gentle (and organic) form of iron citrate complex for improved absorption, it comes bolstered with B vitamins and supporting minerals. These collectively contribute to the normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin and normal oxygen transport to every tissue and organ in the body AKA everything you need to give your body a helping hand.
Buy now £3.66, Holland & Barrett
Holland & Barrett High Fibre Blend 90 Capsules
Repeat after me: fibre is your friend. Ensure you get your daily dose with Holland & Barrett’s High Fibre Blend. The 90 capsules have got you covered. The magic tablets work by increasing the size and weight of your stool, helping it to pass. Inside each pill, you’ll find a blend of fruit, vegetable, psyllium husk and oat bran fibre, ready to shake up your digestive system.
Buy now £13.99, Holland & Barrett
DIRTEA Lion’s Mane powder
Dirtea makes perhaps the most stylish supplements around and this Lion’s Mane Mushroom Powder is no exception. Lion’s Mane has a lighter taste, a bit like miso soup, and this powder is designed to be added to all kinds of drinks or just mixed with hot water for an effortless addition to your day.
Organic, gluten-free, vegan-friendly and easy to mix, this Lion’s Mane supp is a top hit for regaining focus and keeping you switched on from morning till night.
Buy now £39.99, DIRTEA
Verdict
The well-rounded nature of Laboratoires NHCO Nutrition's Aminoscience Fatigue Supplement Capsules makes them our top choice for fighting chronic fatigue. Fusing together vitamins, minerals, nootropics and more, these vegan-friendly capsules are definitely worth a try.
