Gundry Total Restore is a dietary supplement “designed to promote a strong, healthy gut lining.” No doubt leaky gut syndrome, IBS, and Crohn's disease are issues for many people. But is Total Restore the answer to your health problems or is it a scam? In this Gundry MD Total Restore review, you'll discover the ingredients and research on the supplement as well as potential side effects and Pros and Cons. I'll also highlight ingredients that research shows may benefit humans.
Gundry Total Restore Research
No clinical trials on the Total Restore supplement could be located. In other words, it appears researchers have not tested Total Restore to see if it helps leaky gut syndrome, bloating, digestive troubles, fatigue, unwanted body weight, or food cravings. That is unfortunate.
One page of the Gundry website lists an investigation of how some supplements may help leaky gut in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Some of these ingredients listed in the study- such as glutamine, zinc, and NAC – are found in the Total Restore supplement. That's good.
Let's look at the ingredients.
Gundry Total Restore Ingredients
According to the Supplement Facts label, 3 capsules contain the following ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Percent Daily Value |
| Magnesium beta-hydroxybutyrate | 7mg | 2% DV |
| Zinc | 2 mg | 13% DV |
| Glutamine | 213 mg | N/A |
| NAG | 142 mg | N/A |
| Magnesium beta-hydroxybutyrate | 86 mg | N/A |
| Grape seed extract | 58 mg | N/A |
| Licorice roots powder | 54 mg | N/A |
| Wormwood powder | 50 mg | N/A |
| Cinnamon bark powder | 50 mg | N/A |
| Maitake mushroom extract | 34 mg | N/A |
| Vita Berry | 22 mg | N/A |
| Cloves buds powder | 17 mg | N/A |
| Black pepper | 17 mg | N/A |
| Grapefruit seeds extract | 17 mg | N/A |
| Marshmallow roots powder | 10 mg | N/A |
| Zinc L carnosine (PepZin GL) | 10 mg | N/A |
| Berberine bark powder | 3 mg | N/A |
mg = milligrams. N/A = no daily value established
In the supplement facts, Vita Berry is a combination of these ingredients
- Organic strawberry
- organic raspberry
- organic blueberry
- organic tart cherry
- organic elderberry
- organic cranberry
Other ingredients (inactive)
- Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (for the veggie capsule)
- microcrystalline cellulose
- Silicon dioxide
- magnesium stearate
- contains shellfish
Magnesium Beta Hydroxy Butyrate
Notice in the Supplement Facts list above, magnesium is listed twice. Both times it is called magnesium beta-hydroxy butyrate. What's that? It's the mineral magnesium bonded to beta-hydroxybutyrate. Beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is a ketone. The BHB ketone is popular with those doing the ketogenic diet. Taking BHB supplements will raise ketones in the blood. But what about gut health?
Some research suggests BHB may reduce inflammation. Animal studies suggest BHB reduces inflammation and even improves social behavior. Human research on BHB and leaky gut, IBS, and Crohn's needs to be conducted.
Grape Seed Extract
Grapes and their seeds are a good source of phytonutrients including proanthocyanidins. One question however is what extract is being used? We are not told which extract of grapes is in Total Restore.
Zinc
Zinc plays a role in both inflammation and how well the immune system functions. Deficiencies in zinc can increase inflammation and interfere with the immune response. The RDA for zinc is 9-13 mg per day for men and women. The Total Restore supplement has 2 mg.
In one investigation a combination of supplements that included zinc improved leaky gut symptoms in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Foods with zinc include pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, whole grains, dairy foods, and meats. In the US, zinc deficiency is rare.
What is Zinc Carnosine?
In addition to zinc, Gundry Total Restore also contains zinc carnosine. What's that? It's what you get when you bind to zinc to carnosine. Carnosine is composed of the amino acids histidine and beta-alanine. The zinc carnosine compound also goes by the names PepZin GI and polaprezinc. It's a supplement by a company called XSTO Solutions.
PepZin GI, is a supplement that some research suggests may help improve the gut lining. PepZin GI is thought to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Animal research finds zinc carnosine can heal ulcers. Human research has noted the supplement can heal ulcers associated with cancer therapy.
In one study, 10 people were given 75 mg of zinc carnosine for 5 days – or a placebo – to see the effects it has on gut permeability after treatment with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (which can cause ulcers). The supplement lead to significant reductions in gastrointestinal injury from the NSAID drug.
Zinc plays a role in taste and smell. In another human study, 68 mg of zinc carnosine (PepZinGI) was shown to improve taste when it was given to people for 12 weeks.
Zinc Carnosine (PepZin GI) is available in many supplements.
Glutamine
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the blood of humans. It's also the most abundant ingredient in Total Restore too. Glutamine is popular among those who work out although its effectiveness for exercise is debatable. Glutamine plays an important role in maintaining the intestinal barrier and gut inflammation. As proof glutamine is gut healthy, intestinal cells gobble up about 30% of the glutamine consumed in a meal.
One study has noted glutamine improved irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In that clinical trial, people were given 15 grams of glutamine a day for 2 months. This is more than Gundry Total Restore has. In another study, a combination of supplements that included glutamine improved leaky gut symptoms in people who had chronic fatigue.
N Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG)
Glucosamine is best known for arthritis pain benefits. It also helps mucus membrane formation too. So what about intestinal problems? In one study, N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) was given to 12 children who had Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. After the study, 7 of the kids showed improvements. In this investigation, 3 to 6 grams of NAG was used. This is more NAG than Gundry Total Restore has.
Licorice
Also known as Glycyrrhiza echinate. In one study a supplement containing licorice, slippery elm oat bran, and lactulose improved IBS symptoms after 6 weeks of use. Since this supplement contained many ingredients, it's not known how much licorice itself contributed to these effects. One compound in licorice is called glycyrrhizin. Animal research suggests glycyrrhizin may have anti-inflammatory effects. Human studies need to confirm this. Others have speculated glycyrrhizin may help COVID 19 infection but the human proof is lacking. See the COVID supplements review.
Wormwood
Also known as Artemisia absinthium, wormwood is a smelly plant that grows in the US. As the name implies, it was once used to rid the body of intestinal worms. Today, some feel it may help Crohn's disease. In one study 10 people with Crohn's disease were given 225 mg of wormwood powder in addition to their normal Crohns therapy for 6 weeks.
Eight of the people showed symptom improvement by the end of the trial. Many people also showed a reduction in TNF alpha (Tumor necrosis factor) a protein involved in inflammation. Interestingly, some arthritis drugs work by blocking TNF alpha too.
In another investigation, 40 people with Crohn's disease were given 1500 mg of wormwood or a placebo for 10 weeks. More specifically they took 500 mg of wormwood 3 times a day. People continued taking prednisone during the study. In the end, 18 of the 20 people (90% ) taking wormwood showed improvement in Crohn's symptoms. Those taking wormwood also were able to cut back on steroid medications too.
After 8 weeks, 13 of the wormwood takers (65%) were in “almost complete remission.” None of the people taking the placebo went into remission.
Wormwood contains a compound called thujone. The major types are called alpha and beta thujone. Thujone is a ketone and may interfere with GABA (gamma butyric acid) in the nervous system. In laboratory animals, alpha thujone has caused seizures /convolutions and rhabdomyolysis although the dose that causes this in humans is not known. Human studies of wormwood and Crohns disease report no significant side effects. Still, check with your doctor first to be safe.
Studies looking at thujone poisoning often involved giving people alcoholic beverages like absinth which contain thujone or wormwood oil.
Cinnamon
The spice, cinnamon, can lower blood sugar, making it an attractive option for those with diabetes and prediabetes. There are different types of cinnamon. While most researchers tend to use cassia cinnamon, Gundry Total Restore has Cinnamomum burmannii, also known as Indonesian cinnamon. In one study, 1000 mg of Indonesian cinnamon was shown to lower A1C levels in people with prediabetes.
Maitake Mushroom Extract
What extract of maitake mushrooms is being used? We are not told. We are told the extract contains 30% polysaccharides (carbohydrates). This could be used by the microbiome as a prebiotic. In one investigation maitake mushrooms were shown to help women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study used a specific supplement called SX Fraction.
Other studies suggest maitake mushrooms may lower blood sugar levels.
Vita Berry
Vita Berry is a proprietary formulation of these organic fruits:
- Organic strawberry
- organic raspberry
- organic blueberry
- organic tart cherry
- organic elderberry
- organic cranberry
Because they are fruits, all are rich sources of antioxidants. Vita Berry likely contributes plant extracts (prebiotics) which the microbiome can use to stay healthy.
Clove Buds Powder
This is a powder made from the buds of the clove tree which grows mostly in Indonesia. Like all herbal extracts, cloves have been used to treat a wide array of health issues although human research is lacking.
Black Pepper
Black pepper contains piperine, a well-known nutrient enhancer. It increases the absorption (bioavailability) of other ingredients. Black pepper is likely added to Total Restore to ramp up the absorption of the other ingredients. Some of your other supplements may have black pepper (sometimes called BioPerine) for this reason too.
Berberine
Berberine is a compound found in Goldenseal and other herbal products. Berberine has been investigated for lowering both blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Some studies show it works. One investigation showed berberine could reduce blood sugar and A1c levels when used at a dosage of 1000 mg for 3 months.
With respect to cholesterol, a review of berberine effects indicated it could lower cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides. It may also raise HDL (good cholesterol) as well.
Some speculate berberine may be a natural substitute for expensive PCSK9 inhibitor cholesterol drugs like Repatha but without the side effects. While berberine appears to reduce cholesterol, whether it works as a natural PCSK9 inhibitor needs more study.
Who Makes The Gundry Restore Supplement?
The company is Gundry MD and was created by Dr. Steven Gundry, a medical doctor, and former cardiac surgeon. The company address is 9465 Wilshire Blvd #300 Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2624. This address corresponds to a large office building that houses other businesses.
The Better Business Bureau gives the company an A+ rating. The company was started in 2014 and it has been a BBB accredited business since 10/12/16. The BBB lists over a hundred negative customer complaints. The company responds to customers with refunds when asked. That's good. See the BBB file for more information.
Contact Gundry MD
The contact number is 800-852-0477. Call M-F 6 AM to 5 PM and 6 AM -4 PM on the weekends.
Total Restore Cost
One bottle of Gundry Total Restore costs $69.95. This is for a month's supply. Here are other prices:
- 3 bottles cost $191.85
- 6 bottles cost $317.70
Shipping inside the US is free with all orders over $60.
Gundry Total Restore Customer Reviews and Complaints
On Amazon the supplement has over 6000 ratings with a 4 out of 5-star grade. While 58% of people rated the supplement 5 stars, 29% of people gave the supplement between 1 and 3 stars. Reasons for why people rated Total Restore poorly included:
- caused leg pains and nausea
- did not work
- expensive
- slurred speech, difficulty thinking
- too many marketing emails after purchasing
- vivid dreams /sleeping difficultly
Gundry Total Restore FAQ
1 How do you take it?
The company suggests 3 capsules per day with 8 oz of water. Dr. Gundry suggests taking all 3 capsules with your biggest meal of the day. Dr. Gundray says he takes his with breakfast.
2 Where is Gundry Total Restore made?
The supplement is made in America.
3 How long will a bottle of Total Restore last?
Each bottle has 90 capsules. if you take 3 capsules a day (the recommended dose), a bottle will last 1 month.
4 Any added sugars?
There are no added sugars, artificial sweeteners, soy, or dairy.
5 Is it Vegan?
No. Total Restore contains NAG (glucosamine) which comes from shellfish.
6 Does it contain lectins?
The supplement is lectin-free. As an aside, despite Dr. Gundry's claims, most people don't need to worry about lectins.
7 Why is there a warning about shellfish?
This may refer to N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG). Glucosamine may be derived from shellfish.
8 How long until Gundry MD Total Restore works?
Dr. Gundry says brain fog may start to dissipate in a few days. For others, it may take 2-3 weeks. He says some people may start to notice differences in an hour or so.
9 Does Total Restore contain probiotic bacteria?
Three are no probiotics in the supplement.
Gundry MD Guarantee
The supplement comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied, the company will refund 100% of your money back, minus shipping and handling. Follow these steps to return Dr. Gundry's supplements:
1. Pack the supplements securely when returning
2. Print out a return information sheet that you get from this page of the website: GundryMD.com/returns
3. Ship the supplements to this address:
GundryMD
c/o Golden Bolt Fulfillment
9361 Canoga Ave.
Chatsworth, CA 91311
4. Make sure you get a tracking number for the supplements in case they are lost in the mail. It usually takes 5-7 days to get a refund. If you have any questions about returning Gundry supplements call customer support at 800-852-0477.
Gundry MD Total Restore Side Effects
From online testimonials, it appears some people have been helped by the supplement while others, not so much. As far as side effects, people don't seem to be reporting any allergies or serious adverse, so that is good. The supplement contains low amounts of most ingredients. That said here are some things to consider when using this supplement. This list is not complete:
- Start with less than recommended for the first week.
- Ask your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Some ingredients should be avoided during pregnancy.
- Stop taking at least 2 weeks before surgery.
- Speak to your doctor if you take any medications (prescription or over-the-counter).
- Licorice can raise blood pressure.
- Grapefruit seed extract may interact with medication such as cholesterol-lowering statin drugs
- In theory, grapefruit seed extract might interfere with medications. It may depend on the extract used.
- Glucosamine might raise blood sugar levels.
- Some studies find glucosamine can increase intraocular pressure in the eyes. The significance of this is not known. It's not known of NAG does this also. Those with glaucoma should consult their eye doctor.
- Wormwood has caused seizures in lab animals.
- Speak to your doctor first if you have epilepsy as wormwood may interact with epilepsy medications.
Gundry Total Restore Pros & Cons
| Pro | Con |
| Some ingredients have human studies | Expensive |
| 90-day money-back guarantee | No research on Total Restore supplement |
| Made in America | Some ingredients present in lower levels than used in research |
| Gundry supplements are 3rd party tested for purity | |
| Customer service is easy to reach | |
| BBB accredited business |
What Do I Suggest?
Given the supplement seems to have helped some people, taking Total Restore is an option. You can get it directly from GundryMD and Amazon may have it too. Another option is to try these supplements:
There's no guarantee these will work better than Total Restore but each has research (see above). Instead of starting with all 3 at the same time, begin with just one to see how you react before adding in the others. Because GI issues like leaky gut, IBS, and Crohn's are complicated it may take some experimenting to see which works for you.
Does Gundry Total Restore Work?
It's difficult to say if it works or not without clinical proof. The lack of research on Gundry supplements is odd since Dr. Gundry is a physician and understands the benefits of peer-reviewed clinical evidence. While there is research on some of the ingredients in the supplement, the amounts appear to be less than that used in clinical trials.