SOME PRODUCTS CONTAIN SO MUCH VITAMIN B, VITAL MEDICAL TESTS COULD BE AFFECTED
STARPOWA HAIR, SKIN, NAILS GUMMIES
£19.99 a month WHAT’S IN THEM? Sweeteners sorbitol, maltitol syrup and isomalt; gelling agent; flavours and colours; Vitamins A, B, C, D, E; iodine, zinc, copper, aloe vera and MSM. The label doesn’t state that it includes any biotin. ANGELA’S VERDICT Said to contain less than one per cent sugar, but these ‘natural sweeteners’ still have a similar effect on the body as table sugar. At least the nutrient doses are modest – just 50 to 100 per cent. Contains MSM, used traditionally to combat hair loss, muscle cramps and stretch marks. starpowa.com
SUGARBEARHAIR HAIR VITAMINS
£24.48 for a month’s supply WHAT’S IN THEM? Just under a teaspoon of sugar, water, gelling agent and coconut oil. Added vitamins include A, C, D, E and biotin, as well as iodine, zinc and choline (a substance found in egg white supposedly linked to hair growth). ANGELA’S VERDICT There’s no clinical evidence that any of the nutrients promote hair growth or strength unless you are deficient. It provides 80 per cent of your daily immune-boosting Vitamin A recommendation, but you could get that from a portion of cheese. Studies show excess Vitamin A can lead to hair loss. Biotin content at 100 times the recommended daily dose could cause rashes, compromise immune function and make medical tests inaccurate, some studies suggest. sugarbearhair.com
HAIR, SKIN AND NAILS GUMMIES BY NATURE’S BOUNTY
£20 a month WHAT’S IN THEM? Three different types of sugar, gelatine, palm oil, citric acid, flavours and colours, Vitamins C, E and B (biotin). ANGELA’S VERDICT: With only three nutrients per dose – including the Vitamin C found in just a quarter of an orange, and the amount of Vitamin E that you’d get in a few almonds – this is hardly value for money. The biotin content is 50 times the daily recommendation and can
affect medical test results. The company said: ‘We firmly stand by our supplements which adhere to safety regulatory requirements.’ naturesbounty.co.uk
BEAUTY & THE BEAR
£14.99 a month WHAT’S IN THEM? Three types of sugar, a gelling agent and flavours. Added vitamins include A, C, D, E and biotin. It also has choline and inositol, or Vitamin B8, which is used to combat diabetes and depression. ANGELA’S VERDICT The website tells users to expect their hair to grow about an inch a month – double the normal rate – but there’s no science to verify this. A daily dose of two gummies contains 5,000 micrograms of biotin – the equivalent of 500 egg yolks. Excess biotin can interfere with medical tests, such as thyroid checks, so tell your doctor if you are taking a biotin supplement. The quantity of vitamins is easily consumed in the daily diet. The firm says the level of Vitamin A in its gummies is well below the recommended upper limit of 10,000 micrograms. beautyandthebear.com
HAIRBURST
£19.99 a month WHAT’S IN THEM? Three types of sugar, gelatine, sorbitol, palm oil, coconut oil, flavours and colours, four B vitamins and zinc. ANGELA’S VERDICT: Contains 100 per cent of the daily recommendation of B vitamins, but you could easily get that from two or three small glasses of milk. Contains just under half the NHS’s recommended maximum intake of zinc. hairburst.com All nutrition refers to a daily dose of two gummies.