Dr.Vegan: the story behind the plant based supplements that win over non vegans too

A supplement brand with “vegan” in its name, yet only 13 percent of its customers are vegan. That says a lot about Dr.Vegan. The British brand started in 2020 with a simple idea: supplements without unnecessary fillers, made with ingredients your body can absorb well, in packaging that is kind to the planet. That idea turned out to appeal not just to vegans, but to anyone who makes conscious choices about what they take.

Dr.Vegan has recently joined our range. Reason enough to dive into the history of this brand and highlight a few products that really caught our eye.

How it started: a brand born in lockdown

Dr.Vegan was founded in 2020 in the United Kingdom. The timing was remarkable: the brand went live around the moment the country entered its first Covid lockdown. Not an easy time to launch a new business, but certainly a time when many people were thinking about their health more than ever.

The driving force behind the brand is cofounder and CEO Gordon Lott. He knew the supplement world from the inside, having previously worked at big names such as Solgar and Nature’s Bounty. That very experience made him critical. According to Lott, if people knew how most supplements are made, they would never choose a non vegan supplement again. Many products contain additives that add nothing to your health and are often of animal origin.

The mission was captured in a slogan the brand has carried from day one: Better Me, Better Planet. Better for you, and better for the planet. Dr.Vegan set out to make nutrition and supplements simpler, with formulas developed by nutritionists and sold at a fair price.

The brand caught on quickly. Within a few months, Dr.Vegan featured in Vogue’s Winter Wishlist and earned an “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot. In that very first year, the brand’s own research showed that around 66 percent of its customers did not identify as vegan. An early sign that the brand appealed far more widely than its name suggested.

What Dr.Vegan does differently

What sets Dr.Vegan apart is mostly what is not in it. The formulas contain no fillers, binders or anticaking agents. You also won’t find artificial colours, flavours, fragrances or sweeteners. All products are gluten free, free from most allergens such as milk, lactose and soya, and made without genetically modified ingredients.

For Dr.Vegan, a “clean” ingredient means one thing above all: that your body can absorb it well. That is why the brand deliberately chooses highly absorbable forms of vitamins and minerals. A good example is magnesium as glycinate, a form that is gentler on the stomach than many cheaper alternatives. Several formulas also contain BioPerine, a black pepper extract that supports the absorption of other ingredients.

Transparency is a second pillar. The brand does not do so called “fairy dusting”, where an ingredient is added in such a tiny amount that it mainly looks good on the label. Dr.Vegan lists the full ingredients and dosages on the packaging.

Finally, sustainability plays a big role. The first packaging was plastic free and home compostable, and new customers in the UK received a refillable pill tin with their first order. Dr.Vegan is also a member of the British trade association HFMA and of The Vegan Society, and some of its formulas are certified by Informed Sport, so even professional athletes can use them.

From startup to established name

In six years, Dr.Vegan grew from a small online shop into a brand available in nine countries. These are the key moments.

The best selling categories are women’s health, gut health and multivitamins. The core customer group consists of women aged 35 and over.

From Dr.Vegan to DRV+

In October 2026, the brand took a striking step: Dr.Vegan is now called DRV+. The letters stand for Designed, Researched and Verified.

The reason makes perfect sense. Customer research showed that only 13 percent of buyers are vegan. Many people who are not vegan assumed from the name Dr.Vegan that the products were not meant for them. According to Gordon Lott, the name change is about how the brand is perceived, not about the formulas.

And that is the most important thing to know: nothing changes on the inside. All products remain 100 percent vegan, the formulas, nutrient forms and dosages stay the same, and the brand continues to work without fillers. What does change is the packaging. The new pouches are recyclable and show on the front, in two columns, what is inside and why.

So if you come across a DRV+ pack soon, you are simply holding the same trusted product. In our web shop, you will find the products under the name Dr.Vegan for the time being.

Five products we find truly special

The Dr.Vegan range is large, but a few products stand out. Not because they are the best known, but because they do something you won’t easily find with other brands.

PeriMenoFriend: 22 botanicals for an often overlooked life stage

Menopause is talked about more and more, but perimenopause, the years leading up to it, often remains in the shadows. Yet that is exactly when many women notice their bodies changing. PeriMenoFriend was developed specifically for this phase.

What makes this product special is the breadth of the formula. It combines 22 botanical ingredients and phytoestrogens with vitamins and minerals. Think wild yam, maca, shatavari, sea moss, lemon balm, sea buckthorn, sage, red clover and ashwagandha. It also contains vitamin B6, which contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity, as well as magnesium and zinc.

Dr.Vegan recommends using PeriMenoFriend for at least two months, to give your body time. In the brand’s own survey of 293 customers, 95 percent said they found the product effective after two months or longer. Please note: the brand advises against taking PeriMenoFriend if you are on the contraceptive pill. Already in menopause? Then MenoFriend is the matching formula.

pH Hero: a probiotic made especially for women

We mostly know probiotics from the gut. pH Hero focuses on something far fewer products address: the vaginal flora. A topic many women deal with, but one that is rarely talked about.

Each capsule contains 20 billion colony forming units from five selected lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus crispatus, reuteri, acidophilus, rhamnosus and plantarum. Crispatus is particularly interesting, as this strain naturally occurs in large numbers in a healthy vaginal flora. On top of that comes inulin as a prebiotic, plus cranberry, nettle, sea buckthorn, parsley and vitamin B6.

Take one capsule a day on an empty stomach, at least 20 minutes before or after food or a hot drink. That gives the bacteria the best chance.

Vegan Nights: sleep support without melatonin

Many sleep supplements rely on melatonin. Vegan Nights takes a different route. The formula contains griffonia seed extract, a natural source of 5HTP. Your body uses 5HTP to produce serotonin, and serotonin in turn is the building block of melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep cycle.

It also contains the amino acids glycine and theanine, plus magnesium, zinc and chamomile. Magnesium contributes to normal psychological function and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. A touch of BioPerine helps everything absorb well.

Take one or two capsules up to two hours before bedtime. Taking antidepressants? Then Vegan Nights is not suitable, because 5HTP affects your serotonin levels. If in doubt, always consult your doctor.

Vegan Omega 3: straight from the source

This might be the best story of them all. Fish barely produce omega 3 themselves. They get it from the algae they eat, directly or through smaller fish. Vegan Omega 3 simply skips the fish and takes the fatty acids straight from algae oil.

Each serving gives you 1000 mg of algae oil with 300 mg of DHA and 150 mg of EPA. That is well above the 250 mg needed for the well known health claims: EPA and DHA contribute to the normal function of the heart, and DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and normal vision. No fishy aftertaste, no pressure on fish stocks, and suitable for anyone who doesn’t eat fish.

Men’s ProMulti: a multivitamin with a personal story

Most supplement brands focus on women. With Men’s ProMulti, Dr.Vegan deliberately chose men in 2024, especially the changing needs of older men. There is a personal reason behind it. Gordon Lott’s father had prostate cancer, which doubled his own risk of the disease. He saw how little was available for men at that stage of life.

The result is a comprehensive formula with 32 ingredients, including 18 vitamins and minerals, prebiotic fibre, active bacteria, amino acids and botanicals. A multivitamin that goes beyond the standard list of vitamins, developed with men’s hormonal balance, prostate and immunity in mind.

Also worth discovering

Beyond these five, Dr.Vegan has plenty more to offer. Magnesium Glycinate is a great basic for anyone who wants to top up their magnesium without upsetting their stomach. The award winning Daily Multi Vitamin contains 24 essential nutrients and suits every diet. PMS Hero was developed for the different phases of the menstrual cycle. And athletes will appreciate the Protein & Creatine Superblend, with protein from pea, pumpkin and hemp, combined with creatine and the mushrooms reishi and cordyceps.

Good to know

Supplements are an addition to a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle, not a replacement. Gordon Lott agrees: he stresses that supplements should never take the place of healthy eating. Are you pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical supervision? Then consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting a new supplement. Always stick to the recommended daily dose on the packaging.

In conclusion

Dr.Vegan shows that plant based and effective go perfectly well together. The brand combines inside knowledge of the supplement industry with an honest, transparent approach and a clear focus on sustainability. Whether you are vegan or not, chances are there is a formula that suits you. Curious? Explore the full Dr.Vegan range in our web shop.

Sources

• NutraIngredients: Dr. Vegan rebrands as DRV+ (October 2026)
• LBB Online: A startup story (November 2020)
• Natural Products Online: Dr.Vegan launch
• Vegconomist: investment and turnover
• NutraIngredients: Men’s ProMulti (2024)
• Dr.Vegan FAQ
• Dr.Vegan: PeriMenoFriend
• Dr.Vegan: pH Hero