| Ingredient | Studied for | Evidence in short | Usual form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotin | Hair, skin and nail quality | Strongest in deficiency states; limited for people who are not deficient | Tablet, capsule, powder, multi-nutrient blend |
| Calcium | Bones and teeth | Bone outcomes studied mainly with vitamin D; the amount per serving and dose splitting matter | Tablet, capsule, chewable, powder; carbonate or citrate forms |
| Chromium | Nutrient metabolism | Weak and inconsistent overall; rare harm reported at high doses; no Japanese nutrient claim | Tablet, capsule; chromium picolinate or other chelated forms |
| Copper | Red blood cell formation; enzyme function and bone formation | Established nutrient function; supplementation research is mostly about avoiding an imbalance with zinc | Tablet, capsule; combined with zinc in mineral formulas |
| Folic Acid | Red blood cell formation; fetal development in early pregnancy | Strong trial evidence around early pregnancy; high intake can mask a B12 shortfall | Tablet, capsule; folic acid or food folate |
| Iodine | Thyroid hormone production | Essential but narrow safe range; Japanese diets already high; kelp content varies widely | Tablet, capsule; potassium iodide or seaweed-derived |
| Iron | Red blood cell formation; everyday fatigue | Modest fatigue benefit in iron-deficient adults; excess intake is the key safety issue | Tablet, capsule; sulfate, gluconate, fumarate or bisglycinate forms |
| Magnesium | Bones, energy production; sleep quality | Sleep evidence inconsistent and low-certainty; one recent RCT found a modest benefit | Tablet, capsule, powder; citrate, oxide, bisglycinate or other salt forms |
| Multivitamin | Filling everyday nutrient gaps; cognition in older adults | Large trials show modest or no effects in well-nourished adults; upper limits drive the design | Tablet, capsule, powder stick |
| Potassium | Normal muscle and nerve function; sodium balance | Studied mainly in patient groups; Japan’s nutrient claim excludes tablets and capsules | Powder, drink mix; NOT eligible for Japan's nutrient-function claim in tablet or capsule form |
| Selenium | Antioxidant-related nutrient status | Not a Japanese Nutrient Function Claims mineral; large prevention trial found no benefit | Tablet, capsule; selenomethionine or sodium selenite |
| Vitamin A / Beta-carotene | Night vision, skin and mucous membrane maintenance | Established nutrient function; high-dose beta-carotene in smokers showed harm, not benefit | Tablet, capsule, softgel; retinyl palmitate or beta-carotene |
| Vitamin B complex | Energy metabolism; everyday fatigue | Benefits mixed to null in people who are not deficient; fixed Japanese nutrient wording available | Tablet, capsule, drink |
| Vitamin C | Immune function; skin and collagen | No prevention effect in the general population; modest effects under heavy physical exertion | Tablet, chewable, capsule, powder |
| Vitamin D | Calcium absorption and bones; immune function | Large VITAL trial found no broad benefit in people with enough vitamin D; helps most where levels are low | Softgel, tablet, oral drops |
| Vitamin E | Antioxidant function | Large long-term trials found no broad benefit and a safety signal at high doses | Soft capsule, tablet, oil |
| Vitamin K2 (MK-4 / MK-7) | Bone-related markers in midlife and older women | Few trials, bone-related markers at very different doses; MK-4 and MK-7 are not interchangeable | Capsule, tablet, softgel |
| Zinc | Taste, skin and immune function | May shorten cold duration (low-certainty evidence); little or no preventive effect; side effects more common | Tablet, capsule, lozenge; gluconate, citrate, oxide or sulfate forms |
Japan-made supplement OEM
Vitamin and mineral supplements made in Japan
In Japan, many vitamins and minerals can carry fixed, government-set wording as Foods with Nutrient Function Claims, as long as the daily amount sits within set limits and the mandatory cautions are printed. No notification is needed.
Outside Japan, the same nutrients follow each market’s own rules, such as the EU’s authorised health claims. The guides below give Japan’s wording and limits for each nutrient, the research and the formulation points.
Vitamins and minerals ingredients at a glance
What each ingredient has been studied for, how strong the published evidence is, and the usual dosage form.
“Studied for” describes research on healthy functions. It is not a claim that any product prevents, treats or cures a disease.
Before you choose a formula
Dosage form selection How tablet, capsule, softgel, powder, jelly, drink and gummy compare for a Japan-made supplement Export labelling and documents Japanese vs destination-market labels, over-labelling, country-of-origin rules, and factory documents to request Food-medicine boundary (食薬区分) How Japan's shoku-yaku kubun system decides food versus medicine status, and what it means for an export OEM order Starting a Japan-made supplement brand The steps from concept to launch for a brand that wants a supplement made in Japan
Frequently asked questions
What are Foods with Nutrient Function Claims?
A Japanese system in which listed vitamins and minerals can use government-set function wording when the daily amount falls within fixed limits. The wording cannot be changed.
Does Japan’s nutrient wording apply abroad?
No. It applies to products sold in Japan. Your market’s rules govern your label abroad.
Which minerals need extra care?
Iron needs child-safety attention, and iodine and selenium have narrow safe ranges. The guides give the details for each nutrient.
Contact
Tell us what you want to buy or sell — in Vietnam or Japan
Selling into Vietnam or Japan, sourcing from either, or a product made under your own brand. One Japanese-managed team in Ho Chi Minh City, working in English, Japanese and Vietnamese.