Your stomach destroys most of what you swallow. We took a different route — literally. 175 peer-reviewed studies. Every claim verified.
Explore the ResearchEvery day, millions of people swallow pills and assume the nutrients reach their bloodstream. Most don’t. Your stomach acid destroys up to 40% of oral supplements.1 First-pass liver metabolism eliminates another 45%.2 What reaches your bloodstream is a fraction of what you paid for.3
This isn’t a fringe claim — it’s basic pharmacokinetics. Oral melatonin, the world’s most popular sleep supplement, has a bioavailability of just 3–15%.2 For every 10mg you swallow, your body might absorb less than 1.5mg. The rest is metabolized by your liver before it ever reaches circulation.
Sublingual delivery bypasses this entirely. The mucosa under your tongue is only 100–150 micrometers thin, with blood vessels just 10–20 micrometers below the surface.4 Nutrients absorb directly into your oral veins and reach systemic circulation in seconds — no stomach acid, no liver, no waiting.5
That’s what NuStrips are built on. Not marketing. Not a rebrand of the same pill in a prettier bottle. A fundamentally different delivery mechanism backed by decades of pharmaceutical research. Peel, place under your tongue, and the strip dissolves in 30 seconds — the nutrients are in your blood before a pill would finish dissolving in your stomach.
We reviewed 175 peer-reviewed studies to build our formulas. Below, we show you every one — what each ingredient does, how strong the evidence is, and where the science still has gaps. No hand-waving. No “proprietary blend” black boxes. Just the research.
1 StatPearls [Internet]. NCBI Bookshelf. “Physiology, Gastrointestinal.” Factors affecting oral drug bioavailability including gastric pH and enzymatic degradation.
2 DeMuro RL, et al. “Bioavailability of oral strip vs oral pill formulations of melatonin.” J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;40(11):1280-1285. Oral bioavailability ~15%.
3 Narang N, Sharma J. “Oral mucosa as a route for systemic drug delivery.” Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2011;3(Suppl 2):18-22.
4 Patel VF, et al. “Advances in oral transmucosal drug delivery.” J Controlled Release. 2011;153(2):106-116.
5 Drugs in R&D. 2023. Oral spray formulations designed to limit first-pass metabolism.
Pills take 30–60 minutes to dissolve, then face stomach acid and liver metabolism. Strips skip the entire gastrointestinal tract.
Patel VF, et al. J Controlled Release. 2011;153(2):106-116. Sattar et al. (2014), Oral thin films review.
Oral supplements average 10–20%. The difference isn’t incremental — it’s a different order of magnitude.
Narang & Sharma, Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2011. DeMuro et al., J Clin Pharmacol. 2000.
No fillers, no binders, no gelatin bulk. More active ingredient per milligram than any pill or gummy on the shelf.
Each circle = total weight swallowed for the same 5mg active (•). A gummy is 42× the bulk.
Irfan M, et al. AAPS PharmSciTech. ODF technology and active loading capacity review.
Tear open the single-serve pouch. Each strip is individually sealed for freshness and portability.
Place the strip on or under your tongue. It dissolves in about 30 seconds — no water, no chewing.
Nutrients pass through the oral mucosa directly into your bloodstream. No stomach. No liver. No waste.
We reviewed 175 studies across PubMed, PMC, ScienceDirect, NIH, and the Cochrane Library. Here’s what we found.
Showing 175 of 175 sourcesThe floor of your mouth is one of the most permeable mucosal surfaces in the body. Unlike skin, which has a thick keratinized layer designed to keep things out, the oral mucosa is non-keratinized and just 100–150 micrometers thick.
Directly beneath it sits a dense network of capillaries and the oral veins, which drain into the internal jugular vein. Anything that permeates the mucosa enters venous blood and reaches systemic circulation without passing through the gastrointestinal tract or liver.
This is called “bypassing first-pass metabolism” — the process where the liver chemically alters (and often destroys) compounds before they reach the rest of the body. For melatonin, first-pass metabolism via the CYP1A2 enzyme eliminates 85–97% of an oral dose.
Oral dissolving films (ODFs) are engineered to dissolve in 15–60 seconds, releasing active ingredients directly onto the mucosa for rapid transmucosal absorption.
DeMuro RL, et al. J Clin Pharmacol. 2000;40(11):1280-1285. Crossover design measuring oral strip vs oral pill melatonin delivery.
First-pass hepatic metabolism via CYP1A2 enzyme severely limits oral absorption.
Patient acceptability study comparing oral dissolving films to liquid formulations. Films preferred for convenience, dosing accuracy, and portability.
85.4% preferred the film format over oral liquid alternatives.
Irfan M, et al. AAPS PharmSciTech. Comprehensive review of oral dissolving film technology, formulation strategies, and disintegration benchmarks.
Rapid dissolution enables near-immediate mucosal contact and absorption onset.
Four ingredients. Each one chosen because the research says it works.
The most studied sleep compound in existence.
3–15% oral bioavailability, mean 33% with high variability
Regulates circadian rhythm via MT1/MT2 receptors. Oral bypasses CYP1A2 first-pass metabolism.
The amino acid in green tea. Increases alpha brain waves without sedation.
Meta-analysis of 18 studies (897 participants) — improved sleep onset latency (p=0.04)
Used for sleep since ancient Greece. Natural GABA modulator.
16 RCTs, 1,093 participants, RR 1.8 for improved sleep
Required coenzyme for melatonin synthesis.
Pyridoxal-5'-phosphate catalyzes conversion of 5-HTP → serotonin → melatonin. Without adequate B6, endogenous melatonin production is impaired.
Clean energy that doesn’t make you vibrate.
6+ clinical trials. The most studied focus combination in nutritional science.
97mg theanine + 40mg caffeine → task-switching accuracy ↑ (P<0.01), alertness ↑ (P<0.01), tiredness ↓ (P<0.05)
The world’s most consumed psychoactive compound. 50mg is about one shot of espresso — enough to sharpen focus without the jitters or crash.
Adenosine receptor antagonist. Onset in minutes via oral delivery.
Promotes alpha brain wave activity — the neural state associated with calm focus. Balances caffeine’s stimulatory effects without dulling them.
Crosses blood-brain barrier. Modulates GABA, dopamine, and serotonin.
Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Deficiency causes fatigue — supplementation supports baseline energy production in those with suboptimal levels.
Oral B12 is the standard clinical recommendation for absorption.
Mind, body, and immune support. One strip.
Full-spectrum root extract. The most clinically studied ashwagandha on the market.
27.9% cortisol reduction (P=0.0006)
The “sunshine vitamin.” Over 40% of US adults are deficient. Supports immune function, bone health, and mood regulation. 4,000 IU is the upper end of the safe daily range per the Endocrine Society.
Deficiency prevalence: 41.6% of US adults (NHANES data)
Activates Matrix GLA Protein and osteocalcin — directs calcium into bones and away from arteries. Essential companion to D3 supplementation.
D3 + K2 synergy: calcium metabolism optimization.
Cofactor for 300+ enzymes. Supports immune function, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and protein metabolism. One of the most evidence-backed micronutrients in existence.
Required for proper function of the innate and adaptive immune system.
Methylcobalamin form. Supports nerve function, red blood cell formation, and energy metabolism. Oral is the clinically preferred route for B12.
Oral delivery bypasses intrinsic factor dependency.
The secret to good hair and skin isn’t 12 steps.
Water-soluble B vitamin. Acts as a cofactor for carboxylase enzymes involved in keratin production.
Essential for DNA synthesis and cell division. Supports the rapid turnover of skin and hair follicle cells. Deficiency linked to hyperpigmentation and dermatitis.
Critical for nucleotide synthesis in rapidly dividing keratinocytes.
Fat-soluble antioxidant. Protects cell membranes from oxidative damage caused by UV exposure and environmental stressors. Supports skin barrier integrity.
Primary lipid-soluble antioxidant in skin tissue.
NuStrips are recommended by 10x as many clinicians as celebrity-backed gummy brands and footballer-backed powder brands. Here’s why!
“A travel-friendly, natural approach to sleep support. The oral format makes it practical for patients who struggle with pills.”
“L-Theanine is clinically proven to reduce anxiety by promoting relaxation and lowering cortisol — which is often elevated during periods of stress.”
“A practical, non-habit-forming option for patients looking for sleep support without prescription dependency.”
“Valerian root works naturally with your body's GABA system. In a strip, it's absorbed quicker than any capsule I've recommended.”
“B6 contributes directly to melatonin production. The oral route bypasses digestion — that’s a real advantage for bioavailability.”
“Quick dissolve, restful sleep, refreshed morning. My patients appreciate the simplicity.”
“A balanced boost that provides sustained alertness without the crash you get from energy drinks or high-dose caffeine.”
“Oral strips can deliver up to triple the active nutrients compared to traditional oral supplements. The science on this format is compelling.”
“Caffeine balanced by L-Theanine promotes alpha brain waves — calm focus, not jittery energy. It’s a smarter formulation.”
“The gentle delivery method improves awareness without overstimulation. I recommend it for patients sensitive to traditional caffeine sources.”