Comparison of Unived's PCOS Management with Other Brands
PCOS is a serious, hormonal imbalance issue, which if not addressed, can prove to be challenging and life altering for most women who are diagnosed with it.
While there are many supplements that claim to treat PCOS, a closer look at the nutrition facts & ingredients used clearly conveys that most brands in the market fail to understand the seriousness and the desperation of the women dealing with this condition. A researched based formulation will make use of clinically validated ingredients that are proven to treat the condition, and will provide these ingredients in the right ratio and quantity necessary to achieve the result.
A person who is recently diagnosed and has little or no knowledge about PCOS, or the ingredients required to address it, will find it difficult to differentiate genuine formulations from marketing gimmicks. It is also important to note, that a supplement alone will not do all the work, one needs to make dietary and lifestyle changes as well in order for the supplement to thrive.
We have compared two well marketed FMCG products, &me PCOS PCOD Drink, and OZiva Herbalance For PCOS, with our PCOS Management supplement, in an effort to educate and help consumers make informed decisions.
Let us now study the nutrition facts & ingredient list mentioned on each product and then break it down scientifically to understand how the ingredients & formulations work.
While studying an ingredient list, it is important to know that ingredients have to be listed in descending order, meaning, the first ingredient on the label is present in the largest quantity, and the last ingredient on the label is present in the least quantity.
me PCOS/PCOD Drink – Label Observations
Each 200ml serving contains, in descending (highest to lowest) order -- Water, Natures Blend (4.25%) [Apple Juice Conc., Lemon Juice Conc., Beetroot Juice Conc., Cranberry Juice Conc.], Nutrient Reserves [Prebiotic Fibre (Fructooligosaccharides), Vitamins & Minerals], Others [Black Carrot Extract], Ayurvedic Herb Extracts [Garcinia, Lodhra, Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Ashoka]
Let us now understand the relation of each ingredient in treating PCOS, starting with the ingredient used in the highest quantity
- Water – no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
- Natures Blend – none of the juices have any clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
- Natures Reserves
- Fiber (Fructooligosaccharides) - this is actually FOS, a common ingredient used as a sweetener in the food & beverage industry. However, it can also be labeled as Fiber, and hence one can make the ‘zero added sugar’ claim, as this product has made. FOS has no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
- Vitamins & Minerals – From the nutrition facts it is clear that a synthetic vitamin & mineral blend has been used. The only mineral that does have a clinically significant effect on PCOS, is Chromium. However, the clinically validated required daily intake is 200mcg of Chromium Picolinate giving 25mcg of Elemental Chromium, where as one serving of this product delivers 13.5mcg of an unknown form of Chromium (not declared if it is Chromium Picolinate or Elemental Chromium)
- Black Carrot Extract – no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
- Ayurvedic herbs
- Garcinia - no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal. Typically used as a fat burner in weight loss products.
- Lodhra - no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
- Ashwagandha - no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
- Shatavari - Although shatavari is one of the major health tonics and most popular rasayana drugs to treat reproductive ailments of women, the underlying mechanism of shatavari action at the level of ovary remains poorly understood.
- Ashoka - no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
The bulk of the product is made up of mostly simple sugars. The product claims to meet 30% RDA of vitamins A, C, D, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12 but fails to convey transparency of the source and forms of these vitamins. Although the product makes a claim for regular periods it does not provide any information about how each ingredient, or the formulation as a whole, is involved in the mechanism of reversing PCOS, inducing ovulation, or regularizing the menstrual cycle.
The herbs are mentioned at the end of the ingredients list which assures the fact that they contribute little in the bulk of the product making their dosage and efficacy questionable.
Inositol is not an ingredient in the product but they claim to achieve the same benefits of inositol with ingredients like zinc & chromium. Inositol is completely different from zinc and chromium, and these products cannot substitute one another. While chromium is beneficial for PCOS symptoms, it clearly cannot replace Inositol.
We were unable to find any mode of action, or clinically validated ingredient in this product which would make it stand out as a supplement specifically formulated for PCOS.
Based on the ingredients used, this product does not qualify as a scientifically formulated product to treat PCOS.
We also took a look at the claim made on the brand website.
We are unclear on how they make these claims.
- Focuses on Hormonal Balance: We fail to understand how. There is no mechanism of action
- Manages all symptoms of PCOS: The only ingredient used that does work is Chromium, but the quantity and form used is inadequate, and even if the right quantity was used, it cannot work in isolation.
- Has NO side effects: it may be possible that this would have no negative side effects.
- NO chemicals: Incorrect. The vitamin & mineral blend used in the product is clearly synthetic. A chemical blend. Hence, chemicals are used in this product.
- Can switch to regular diet after: Not sure what they mean by this.
Oziva’s Herbalance for PCOS – Label Observations
Each 5g serving contains, in descending (highest to lowest) order.
- Hormonal Blend – 2.34g: (Shatavari, Chasteberry, Punarnawa Extract, Ashoka, Pomegranate Powder, Amla Powder, Red Raspberry, Gokhru, Anantmool Extract, Aloevera, Vitamin B8(Inositol), Chromium
- Digestive Blend – 0.95g: (Fennel Seed Powder, Tamarind Powder Papain)
Let us now understand the relation of each ingredient in reversing PCOS, starting with the ingredient used in the highest quantity
Hormonal Blend – quantity of the herbs and their active ingredients are not declared. The mode of action of each is not explained.
- Shatavari– underlying mechanism of shatavari’s action at the level of ovary remains poorly understood.
- Chasteberry – is proven to help with hyperprolactinemia. However, research is mainly on branded and standardized chasteberry extracts.
- Punarnawa Extract - often used in herbal preparations but no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
- Ashoka – often used in herbal preparations but no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
- Pomegranate, Amla & Raspberry – no validated association with PCOS reversal.
- Gokhru - no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
- Anantmool extract - no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
Digestive Blend – It is always important to maintain gut health. However, the ingredients in this blend are more for “improving digestion” than maintaining a healthier gut environment. Digestive health is in itself is a generalized category and important for every individual and this blend has no clinically validated association with PCOS reversal.
Unlike &Me this brand has 500mg inositol in it but just like &Me this brand is not transparent on the source and form used. There is no scientific mode of action of these ingredients making its efficacy questionable. They do claim 100% RDA for chromium – however, chromium alone cannot work on PCOS reversal.
From the ingredients we can tell that this product is made with herbs and botanical extracts, which is not necessarily bad. However, the product is being marketed for PCOS, whereas the formulation does not contain the necessary ingredients required for PCOS any mode of act.
We were unable to find any mode of action, or clinically validated ingredients in this product which would make it stand out as a supplement specifically formulated for PCOS.
Based on the ingredients used, this product does not qualify as a scientifically formulated product to treat PCOS.
We also took a look at the claim made on the brand website.
1. Better menstrual cycle & hormonal balance: Better? a menstrual cycle cannot be better or worse, is either regular or irregular and none of the ingredients is scientifically backed up to help regularized menstrual cycles or improve hormonal balance.
2. Reproductive health: Ovulation is key in maintaining a women’s reproductive health. There are no clinically validated ingredients used that help promote a healthy ovulation.
3. Higher energy - this may be one of the benefits of chromium, but this claim would have been more accurate if the form used was the one that is researched for insulin resistance.
Other claims that this product makes are for digestion, bloating, hormonal imbalance and menstrual cramps. These are not the true concerns of someone who is diagnosed with PCOS.
Both these products seem to have neglected the concept of:
- Clinically validated ingredients
- Formulation with a mode of action
- The need and desperation of the consumer
- Honest & transparent label & marketing claims
Unived’s PCOS Management - Label Observations
Each serving (4 capsules) contains, in descending (highest to lowest) order:
- Myo-Inositol - 2000mg
- Alpha Lipoic Acid - 300mg
- Algas calcareas - 206mg of which Calcium - 66mg & Magnesium - 5mg
- Caronositol® Natural D-Chiro-Inositol 97% from Carob pods - 50mg
- Vitashine™ (Vitamin D3 as Cholecalciferol from Lichen) - 400 I.U.
- Folate (as L-5 Methyltetrahydrofolate) - 200mcg
- Chromium Picolinate - 200mcg
Let us now understand the relation of each ingredient in treating PCOS,
Unived’s PCOS Management supplement is a scientifically formulated product to not only correct the hormonal imbalance but also maintain the right balance once achieved. It is formulated with the right Myo-inositlol to D-Chiro-Inositol ratio i.e. 40:1 (2000mg MI: 50mg DCI). Unived uses Caronositol® which is a standardized Plant-Based inositol and clinically validated for reversing PCOS. It also includes ingredients like Alpha lipoic Acid, Plant-based Vitamin D3, folate as 5-MTHF, Chromium Picolinate and natural Calcium from Algae.
Unived’s PCOS Management is made with the scientifically researched 40:1 ratio of MI: DCI which is proven to reverse PCOS and regularize the menstrual cycle by restoring the inositol balance which further reduces androgen levels, luteinizing hormone, insulin levels and insulin resistance, increases insulin sensitivity and FSH sensitivity. All this together promotes and supports maturation and release of egg and finally causing ovulation to occur and regularizing menstrual cycle. Once the menstrual cycle is regularized and the right hormonal balance is achieved PCOS symptoms will reduce.
The formulation is well-researched and the product communication clearly explains why inositol is important, which inositol is important and how they will contribute in the reversal journey.
The product has a clean and transparent label and contains only necessary ingredients in the required amount, based on research. The source and form of each ingredient is declared.
Our Claims: 
- Helps reduces hyperinsulinemia, hyperandrogenism, LH levels to help restore ovulation – because of the synergy of the ingredients
- Helps maintain healthy hormonal balance – it is studied that once inositol balance is maintain to normal then all hormone level will reverse back to normal.
- Helps regularize healthy menstrual cycle – reduces LH & LH/FSH ratio increasing chances for ovulation.
- Helps reduce symptoms of PCOS like hirsutism, acne, insulin resistance – once the balance of inositol and hormones is restored and the menstrual cycles start functioning regularly, the symptoms will begin to subside.
- Reduces oxidative stress – Alpha lipoic Acid is a potent antioxidant and with DCI it is studied to reduce oxidative stress during PCOS.
We also offer a PCOS Fertility supplement which is formulated with a 3.6:1 MI: DCI ratio and clearly explain why this ratio is important for conception in PCOS. We highlight the difference between both formulations and educate the consumer on which may be right for them.