Our Clinical Studies: Unpacking the Proof Behind Your Ritual Supplements

Showing you how our supplements work in supporting your health has always been essential. After all, traceability isn’t just about pulling back the curtain for what you’re putting into your body—it’s why, too. As true skeptics, we know that it’s not enough just to say “trust us,” and we’re proud to make “prove it” the new standard.

That’s why we’re investing $5M in gold-standard, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trials. What started with our flagship Essential for Women 18+ and Essential Prenatal multivitamins has expanded across our portfolio—and by 2030, we hope to complete clinical trials for every Ritual product.

Dive into the clinical proof below.

The “Gold Standard” for Study Design

A study’s results are only as powerful as its design. To generate the most reliable and unbiased findings, we adhere to the standards used by leading scientific journals around the world:

• Independently-led. We partner with accredited universities and research institutions so that independent third parties conduct the study and interpret the results.
• Human clinical trials. Our studies are conducted with people to understand how our products perform in real life.
• Randomized. Participants are randomly assigned to either the Ritual group or the control group, reducing the risk that outside factors influence results. The sample of participants is carefully selected to ensure that the results are meaningful for the target population.
• Placebo-controlled. Outcomes are compared against a placebo or a control product, allowing researchers to isolate the true impact of the product itself. In some populations, giving a placebo is not ethical (i.e. pregnant people) so they can receive an “active control” to compare against.
• Double-blind. To prevent bias in the results, neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving a Ritual product or placebo (or control product).
• Duration. Studies run long enough to capture meaningful, measurable changes.

Our Clinical Studies

Essential for Women 18+ Multivitamin

We invested in a clinical trial with Auburn University to quantify the impact of Essential for Women 18+. The study results are published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

Over a 12-week trial, Essential for Women 18+ was shown to:

• Increase vitamin D3 levels by 43%, significantly greater than placebo (1). Vitamin D3 helps support normal immune function, normal muscle function, and bone health.*
• Increase omega-3 DHA levels by 41%, significantly greater than placebo (1). Omega-3 DHA helps support brain health, eye health, and heart health.*

(1) Based on a 12 week double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical study that was carried out on 94 women ages 21 to 40 years old.

Learn more about our clinically-backed women’s multivitamin.

Essential Prenatal Multivitamin

In partnership with Brooklyn College, CUNY, scientists completed a clinical trial during pregnancy to quantify the impact of Essential Prenatal—making it the only leading prenatal multivitamin supported by its own clinical trial. (2)(3)

Over a 24-week period:

• Moms taking Essential Prenatal had 2.4x more biotin in their blood than those taking a leading prenatal. (3) Biotin supports metabolic demand during pregnancy.*
• Moms taking Essential Prenatal had lower overall maternal cortisol levels than those taking a leading prenatal. (3) Cortisol is a stress hormone, which naturally increases during pregnancy.*
• Moms taking Essential Prenatal maintained adequate folate levels throughout pregnancy. It also resulted in less unmetabolized folic acid in mom’s blood and the placenta compared to those taking a leading prenatal with folic acid, indicating more efficient folate utilization.* (3)

(2) Based on net sales from industry data including Nielsen IQ and Stackline as of Q3, 2025 and top 5 products.

(3) Based on a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial on 62 second and third trimester pregnant women.

Learn more about our clinically backed, #1-bestselling prenatal multivitamin. (2)

HyaCera™

We quantified the impact of our HyaCera™ on skin health and skin smoothness in partnership with Princeton Consumer Research (PCR). The results are published in Dermatology and Therapy.

In a 12-week human clinical trial, HyaCera™ led to:

• A 356% reduction in crow’s feet wrinkles, compared to placebo. (4)
• A 290% increase in facial smoothness, compared to placebo. (4)

(4) Based on a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on 63 women and men ages 26 to 64 years old

Learn more about our clinically proven wrinkle support supplement.* (4)

Sleep BioSeries™

We partnered with Exeter University to study the impact of our Sleep BioSeries™ Melatonin.

In a gold-standard clinical trial, Sleep BioSeries™ was clinically proven to:

• Help participants fall asleep 43% faster* (5)
• Optimize melatonin release throughout the night for a better sleep-wake cycle* (6)(7)
• Promote better deep sleep patterns* (7)
• Help participants wake up feeling more rested and refreshed* (8)

(5) Based on average reported time to sleep in a 2-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical study of Sleep BioSeries™ Melatonin among 12 adults ages 18-31 with reported sleep difficulty.

(6) Compared to placebo, based on a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmacokinetic crossover study of Sleep BioSeries™ Melatonin among 10 adults ages 18-31 with reported sleep difficulty.

(7) Compared to placebo, based on a 2-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical study of Sleep BioSeries™ Melatonin among 12 adults ages 18-31 with reported sleep difficulty.

(8) Based on survey assessment of feeling waking up fresh and rested versus placebo, in a 2-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical study of Sleep BioSeries™ Melatonin among 12 adults ages 18-31 with reported sleep difficulty. .

Learn more about our clinically proven sleep support.* (6)