Irwin Naturals Concentrated Maca Root And Ashwagandha, 75 Liquid Soft-Gels

Six-dimension breakdown

Why this scored 48/100

Irwin Naturals is a well-known mainstream US supplement brand recognized for its proprietary 'BioPerine Complex' liquid softgel format (an oil-based softgel with black pepper extract to enhance absorption). The brand has significant retail distribution (Vitamin Shoppe, Amazon, mass retail) and real cGMP manufacturing. However, the brand's category-typical labeling structure uses proprietary blends that combine the featured actives (Maca + Ashwagandha in this SKU) with a range of supporting ingredients under grouped panel line items, without disclosing per-ingredient milligrams. Both maca and ashwagandha have real evidence bases — maca for menopausal/libido symptom management (gelatinized extract 1.5-3g/day), ashwagandha (particularly KSM-66 or Sensoril standardization) for stress-related cortisol and modest testosterone/thyroid effects at 300-600 mg/day — but the studied effects require the studied doses of the specific standardized extracts. Without ingredient standardization disclosure (KSM-66 vs generic ashwagandha vary substantially) and per-ingredient milligram breakdown, the product cannot be verified against the evidence base. Autofailed under proprietary_blend_hides_dose despite the legitimate brand identity and defensible individual ingredient choices.

Evidence & sources

The Vyvata score's Evidence dimension measures the quality of published RCT support for a product's active ingredients at the label dose. Our source hierarchy: double-blind RCTs in MEDLINE-indexed journals > single-blind RCTs > open-label trials > observational studies > mechanism papers > N=1 case studies (anecdotes). Predatory journals and manufacturer-authored studies without independent replication are weighted down.

Product-specific evidence citations for this item are embedded in the analysis text on the "Analysis" tab. For the full framework and evidence hierarchy, see the methodology page.

How to read the Evidence dimension

• 80–100: Multiple double-blind RCTs in indexed journals directly testing this product OR the exact ingredients at the exact dose.
• 60–79: Single double-blind RCT + supporting ingredient literature at the studied dose.
• 40–59: Open-label trials + ingredient literature; no product-specific double-blind evidence.
• 20–39: Ingredient literature only; no product-specific trials or trials in predatory venues.
• 0–19: No credible evidence base or unverifiable claims.

FAQ data has not been generated for this product yet. See the site FAQ for general questions.

Customer reviews

All the data we have on this product

Every VSF-related metafield surfaced verbatim. Nothing hidden. If you spot data that looks wrong, let us know.

VSF score

48 / 100

Tier

Rejected

Category

Supplements

Subcategory

hormonal endocrine

Last scored

August 24, 2026

Third-party certifications

None on record at time of scoring

Vendor

Pasteur Pharmacy

Product type

Vitamins & Supplements

Tags

Pasteur Pharmacy, Shopify Collective

Every score is set from the published rubric, audit-logged, and rescored whenever new evidence emerges (published trials, updated labels, third-party testing releases). Every vendor is scored on the same criteria — no pay-to-play. See our editorial-independence disclosure for the full policy, including brands with an editorial relationship to this site.