Stick-on supplements from Shark Tank India become viral. But do you work at all?

The trend that brands that are not new to fame or fading after a function in the Shark Tank is not new. Such a brand, which not only finished financing from one of the sharks, Anupam Mittal, increased financing, but also saw his founder Radhika Rajpal, was available as “one of the best founders”.

Your product? Adhesive nutritional supplements.

Radhika shared her trip in Shark Tank and mentioned that she saw potential on the market for stick-on nutritional supplements or plates, as you call it as an alternative to oral. Their motivation was to create a clean supplement brand that is free of additives and also helps people have difficulty swallowing pills.

The Radhika brand is one of the pioneer in India, although the concept of stick-on nutritional supplements is not new. These dietary supplements promise an unobtrusive way to absorb essential nutrients through the skin.

Although these patches are a bit expensive, these patches generate both curiosity and skepticism online, since various patches promise numerous things, including replacement for vitamin D, magnesium preparations and even one for weight loss.

So we have asked experts, should you switch to these patches instead of additions? We found the following.

Patches can help

According to Vriti Srivastav, a holistic nutritionist and founder of Saurasya Teas, the patches can work to certain nutrients to a certain extent. However, research on its reliability is very limited. “

She says that nutrients such as vitamin D, which are of course synthesized in the skin, and magnesium, which is known for its external use in the form of EPSOM salts and oils, may be better suited for patch delivery.

Patches could be helpful in:

• People with intestinal problems or malabsorption
• Those with swallowing difficulties or cognitive impairments
• Children with a bad stomach movement or special needs

However, like other experts we spoke to, Vriti warn against the fact that most of the available studies are animal -based. “Very few human studies were carried out to examine the effectiveness of patches,” she says.

But can patches replace tablets?

One of the main reasons why patches could help was that they promise to replace oral nutritional supplements because many of us have problems swallowing pills, including additions that help in this case.

Today, the market for Indian nutritional supplements worth $ 42.97 billion will probably reach USD $ 46.39 billion in 2025 in 2024. However, can he replace your traditional addition tablets?

The consensus among experts is clear NO.

Debjani Guppa, a nutritionist and wellness expert from Mumbai, says: “This patch food supplements have no comprehensive research to support their effectiveness. They contain a very low concentration of the nutrients that make them available. “

Vriti Srivastav agrees.

“Patches cannot do justice to all nutrient needs,” she says.

“For other nutrients, especially those with larger molecular structures such as fat -soluble vitamins A, E and K, which may not be effectively absorbed”, it will also be necessary for other nutrients, “she adds.

While Shivi Tyagi, a therapeutic nutritionist, agrees that these patches are a “comfortable, need -friendly” alternative, it agrees that they cannot completely replace tablets.

“Our skin acts as a barrier and does not let certain nutrients go through. Water-soluble vitamins such as B complex and C require special formulations, which makes them better suited for oral consumption, ”says Shivi.

Possible side effects

Patches seem to be used, but they are not without side effects. According to all three experts, joint topics include:

• Skin allergies and irritation
• Redness, swelling or itching at the application site
• In hot climates, excessive sweating can affect,
• Uneven or overaborn nutrients
• Sensitivity to additional ingredients such as essential oils or caffeine

Shivi Tyagi adds: “Some patches that relieve energy, sleep or fear can contain ingredients that interfere with hormones, which leads to mood changes or hormonal imbalances.”

National Geographic also published a report in which vitamin patches were examined, and found that the effective effectiveness, especially in comparison to traditional oral supplements, was not effective.

Things are pretty stained

Experts say that in certain cases, these patches can be a helpful addition to oral nutritional supplements, but far from a miracle solution. Their effectiveness varies depending on:

• Skin type and thickness
• Moisture and body temperature
• Placement and wording of the patch

In addition, we need more research, as Namita Thapar emerges in the show in Shark Tank by Namita Thapar, before we promote it as an alternative to nutritional supplements.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP_ZWWRT8WW

As Debjani says:

For the time being, these stick-on patches could ensure an interesting addition to your wellness routine, but do not leave your daily vitamins (which you get from your food and not from nutritional supplements). Pay attention to solid research before having your nutritional supplements replace.