| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity / Body Weight In a 2026 animal study, threonic acid synergized with intermittent fasting to reduce body weight and food intake in diet-induced obese mice (n=6/group). Threonic acid suppressed hypothalamic NPY and AGRP neuropeptides and competed with glucose for GLUT3 transporter uptake, suggesting a novel appetite-regulation mechanism. No human trials exist. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 1 study | |||
Studies that measured obesity / body weight | ||||||
Supplement
L-threonate is a natural breakdown product of vitamin C, often sold paired with minerals such as calcium or magnesium. The most notable finding came from a 2026 study in obese mice, where it worked alongside intermittent fasting to lower body weight and food intake, though the evidence is very limited. No human trials of this exist, and other work, on hair, bone and vitamin C uptake, was done in cells in lab dishes.
Sources: PMID 41507308
- Updated
- How we grade
- 6 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade D
- Conditions studied
- 4
- Outcomes
- 5
- Graded outcomes
- 0005
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Function (as Magnesium L-Threonate) Limited human studies and animal data suggest magnesium L-threonate (Magtein) may enhance brain magnesium levels and cognitive function. However, this evidence pertains to the magnesium chelate, not isolated L-threonate. The comparative advantage over other bioavailable magnesium forms remains unestablished. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
Studies that measured cognitive function (as magnesium l-threonate) | ||||||
General
- Hair Loss (Androgenetic Alopecia): changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair Loss (Androgenetic Alopecia) An in vitro study using human dermal papilla cells found L-threonate attenuated DHT-induced DKK-1 expression and reversed DHT-mediated growth inhibition in co-cultured hair keratinocytes. This suggests a potential anti-androgenetic alopecia mechanism, but no animal or human studies have been conducted. | Changes; see studies | Small effect | 1 study | |||
Studies that measured hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) | ||||||
Antioxidant Status
- Vitamin C Absorption / Antioxidant Status: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C Absorption / Antioxidant Status An in vitro study (1991) demonstrated that calcium L-threonate stimulated ascorbic acid uptake by human T-lymphoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. This provides mechanistic support for L-threonate enhancing cellular vitamin C bioavailability, but has not been confirmed in vivo. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | |||
Studies that measured vitamin c absorption / antioxidant status | ||||||
Bone Health
- Bone Mineralization / Collagen Production: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone Mineralization / Collagen Production An in vitro study found calcium threonate enhanced mineralized nodule formation and collagenous protein production in cultured cells over 5 weeks. Collagenous proteins accounted for 85% of the increase in total protein. No in vivo confirmation exists. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | |||
Studies that measured bone mineralization / collagen production | ||||||
Key findings
- Cognitive Function (as Magnesium L-Threonate)Improves (the measure goes up)
- Obesity / Body WeightImproves (the measure goes down)
- Hair Loss (Androgenetic Alopecia)Changes; see studies
Shop L-Threonate
Third-party tested L-Threonate products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.
- Grade D
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Studies cited
6 studies from PubMed
- Threonic acid, an ascorbic acid metabolite, synergizes with intermittent fasting to ameliorate obesity.
- In vitro characterization of alternative l-threonate and d-erythronate catabolic pathways.
- Distinct metabolomic signature in cerebrospinal fluid in early parkinson's disease.
- Preventable effect of L-threonate, an ascorbate metabolite, on androgen-driven balding via repression of dihydrotestosterone-induced dickkopf-1 expression in human hair dermal papilla cells.
- Enhanced production of mineralized nodules and collagenous proteins in vitro by calcium ascorbate supplemented with vitamin C metabolites.
- Stimulatory action of calcium L-threonate on ascorbic acid uptake by a human T-lymphoma cell line.