Every ingredient, why it's here, and exactly what the evidence says — including where the evidence is still developing.
This page distinguishes between two things we're careful never to blur: nutrition claims that are formally authorised for use in the UK/EU, and current academic research that informs why an ingredient is in this formula but isn't yet an approved claim. Both matter. Only one belongs on a label.
Two kinds of evidence, clearly separated
Every ingredient below is tagged against one or both categories. This isn't a formality — it's the difference between what we're legally able to promise you and what the wider scientific field currently understands.
Seven ingredients. Every one earns its place.
Bovine collagen
5g / servingBovine-derived hydrolysed collagen peptides, carrying predominantly Type I and Type III collagen — the structural proteins that make up skin, tendon, bone and connective tissue.
Mechanism
Natural collagen production declines by roughly 1–1.5% per year from the mid-20s onward. Supplementing hydrolysed peptides provides the amino acid building blocks (glycine, proline, hydroxyproline) the body uses to synthesise its own collagen.
Claim status
Current researchCollagen peptides do not currently carry an authorised GB health claim. Skin elasticity/hydration and joint-comfort findings come from clinical literature, not the approved claims register.
Marine collagen
5g / servingFish-derived hydrolysed collagen, predominantly Type I, with a smaller average peptide molecular weight than bovine collagen.
Mechanism
The smaller peptide size is associated with faster absorption. Paired with bovine collagen, the formula covers a broader range of collagen types than a single-source product at the same total dose — deliberate coverage, not duplication.
Claim status
Current researchSame claim status as bovine collagen — no authorised GB health claim exists yet for collagen peptides generally.
Creatine monohydrate
3g / servingThe most-researched form of creatine, supporting the phosphocreatine energy system used by muscle and brain tissue for rapid cellular energy availability.
Mechanism
Creatine increases the muscle's capacity to regenerate ATP rapidly. This is the basis for its exercise-performance effect, and the proposed basis (via the "muscle-brain axis") for research interest in cognitive and healthy-ageing applications.
Claim status
Current researchAuthorised for physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high-intensity exercise, at 3g/day. Cognitive, sarcopenia and healthy-ageing findings are current research, not an approved claim — see the dedicated section below.
Vitamin B12
2.5mcg / servingMechanism
Included to complement creatine's role in cellular energy availability — B12 supports the body's normal energy-yielding metabolic pathways.
Claim status
Contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, and to the normal function of the nervous system, and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Vitamin D3
2000IU / servingMechanism
Included to complement collagen's structural role — vitamin D supports normal bone maintenance, the same tissue collagen is a structural component of.
Claim status
Contributes to the maintenance of normal bones, and to normal muscle function.
Vitamin C
80mg / servingMechanism
Vitamin C is a required cofactor for the body's own collagen synthesis. Without adequate vitamin C, supplemented collagen peptides can't be fully used by the body — this is why it's here, not as an incidental add-on.
Claim status
Contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, bones, cartilage, gums, teeth and blood vessels.
CocoVital®
1111mg / servingMechanism
Coconut-derived electrolytes. Creatine draws additional water into muscle cells as part of how it works — this is included as a direct functional complement to that mechanism, supporting normal hydration and fluid balance.
Claim status
Current researchGeneral electrolyte/hydration function; specific supplier claim substantiation to be confirmed before this is used in on-pack copy.
What the research says about creatine and ageing
Creatine is one of the most active current research areas in healthy ageing. None of this is an on-pack claim — it's the field of evidence that informs why this formula is built the way it is.
Creatine and Cognition in Aging: A Systematic Review
Reviews the "muscle-brain axis" linking muscle health to cognitive performance, citing a study of over 8,000 older adults that found low muscle mass associated with faster cognitive decline, particularly in executive function.
Creatine monohydrate supplementation for older adults and clinical populations
A review of multiple meta-analyses showing creatine (typically ≥5g/day) combined with resistance training improves measures of muscle strength in older adults — directly relevant to sarcopenia, and to the reduced fall and frailty risk associated with greater strength.
Impact of 12-Week Creatine HCl Supplementation in Older Adults With Sarcopenia
An ongoing randomised controlled trial measuring body composition, functional muscle performance and brain performance together in older adults with diagnosed sarcopenia — one of several current trials treating muscle and cognitive outcomes as connected, not separate.
Creatine supplementation and exercise in aging: a narrative review of the muscle-brain axis
Concludes that creatine combined with structured exercise is a "safe and promising strategy" against age-related physical and cognitive decline, while noting that larger, longer-term studies are still needed to establish long-term benefit and optimal dosing.
The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Found benefits across several cognitive domains, but no significant effect on attention specifically — included here because an honest science page reports the limits of the evidence, not just the favourable parts.
Why these amounts, specifically
| Ingredient | Dose | Why this amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bovine collagen | 5g | Combined with marine collagen for a 10g total daily dose, within the 5–15g range used across clinical collagen research. |
| Marine collagen | 5g | Matched to the bovine dose for balanced dual-source coverage rather than a bovine-heavy blend. |
| Creatine monohydrate | 3g | A well-supported maintenance dose, and the exact amount specified in creatine's authorised exercise-performance claim. Lower than the 5g+ used in most older-adult sarcopenia research — see the dosing note above. |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.5mcg | Set to contribute meaningfully toward daily reference intake alongside a varied diet. |
| Vitamin D3 | 2000IU | Within commonly recommended supplemental ranges for adults, particularly relevant given limited UK sunlight exposure for much of the year. |
| Vitamin C | 80mg | Set above the dose typically required to support normal collagen formation as a metabolic cofactor. |
| CocoVital® | 1111mg | Supplier-recommended serving for electrolyte/hydration support. |
Manufactured in a BRCGS AA-certified facility
The highest grade of the leading global food safety standard. Every batch is also third-party tested — search your pack's lot number against our published Certificate of Analysis library.
Curious how these figures stack up against other UK collagen brands? See our honest, side-by-side comparison.
Restore & Grow is a food supplement, not a medicine. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical condition, including menopause-related symptoms. Statements on this page distinguish between claims authorised under the GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register and current academic research; only the former are formal claims about this product's effects. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult a healthcare professional before use. Individual results vary.