A WORKING DOCUMENT

Behind the build.

This is a working document of how we're building Gutline. Not a polished story, the actual reasoning. What we've decided, what we've deliberately excluded, what the research says, and what we're still working through. It will change as the product evolves.

We'd rather show our work than wait until everything's perfect.

STATUS: FORMULATION REVIEW UPDATED: JUNE 2026 LAUNCH: Q4 2026
SECTION 01 · THE PROBLEM

Why we're building this.

Coeliac disease affects approximately 1 in 70 Australians (around 367,000 people), and an estimated 80% remain undiagnosed.[1] Add in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, wheat allergy, and people who choose gluten-free living for other reasons, and the population that lives gluten-free is significantly larger.

The supplement market has largely ignored them.

Generic multivitamins are formulated for a hypothetical "healthy adult" with a healthy gut absorbing nutrients normally. They aren't designed for someone whose body may absorb differently after years of gluten-related impact. They aren't dosed around the deficiencies that show up consistently in gluten-free populations. And almost none address the broader nutritional gaps, gut nutrition, and prebiotic fibre intake, that the published research consistently flags as different for people living without gluten long-term.

Gutline exists because the clinical picture is well-documented in the research, but the products built around it aren't.

WHY IT MATTERS

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 46 observational studies found that coeliac patients on a gluten-free diet had decreased risk of vitamin D, B12, calcium, and other key nutrient deficiencies, but only over time, with persistent gaps remaining for many.[2] A 2019 Mayo Clinic study (n=309) found that micronutrient deficiencies were common even in contemporary newly-diagnosed patients without overt malabsorption symptoms.[3] The deficiency isn't theoretical. It's the baseline.

SECTION 02 · THE FORMULATION

The three layers, and why this isn't a multivitamin.

Our first formulation brief targeted documented micronutrient deficiencies, eight nutrients consistently low in gluten-free populations. Clinical review surfaced an important critique: deficiency correction alone isn't enough if the underlying gut isn't supported. We're now building across three layers.

LAYER 01
Deficiency correction
In clinical review

The eight micronutrients consistently documented to run low across gluten-free populations, iron, B12, folate, D3, magnesium, zinc, selenium, K2, at clinical doses in bioavailable forms. Not a generic multivitamin: the dose ranges and forms are specifically chosen for a population with compromised absorption and reduced dietary fortification.

LAYER 02
Cellular gut nutrition
In clinical review

L-glutamine, an amino acid that published research identifies as the primary fuel source for the cells lining the intestine. The rationale for inclusion: nutritional support for the cells that do the absorbing matters as much as the nutrients being absorbed. Included as a foundational addition for people whose gluten-free routine may be missing what wheat-based diets typically provide.

LAYER 03
Prebiotic fibre
In clinical review

PHGG (partially hydrolysed guar gum), a prebiotic fibre. Gluten-free diets are systematically lower in fibre than wheat-based diets, which is one of the most consistent findings in the published nutritional literature. PHGG is one of the better-studied prebiotic fibres and is well-tolerated at the dose we've chosen.

The expanded format means a slightly larger sachet, around 9g rather than the original 5g. That's a deliberate trade-off: a comprehensive product that addresses the actual clinical picture, rather than a focused product that ignores most of it.

"We didn't set out to build a multivitamin. We set out to fix one specific gap."
BEN, FOUNDER
SECTION 03 · THE ACTIVES, IN DETAIL

Every ingredient, every dose, every form.

The current working formulation. Doses and forms are subject to clinical review and may change before launch. Where they do, we'll update this document and explain why.

Fe 14mg elemental

Iron

BISGLYCINATE CHELATE

The most prevalent deficiency in newly-diagnosed coeliacs. Bisglycinate is chosen for 2–3× the bioavailability of iron sulfate, significantly better gut tolerance, and reduced constipation. Dose moderated from initial 18mg to 14mg, this is a sustainable daily maintenance dose, not aggressive replenishment. Bledsoe et al., 2019 [3]

B12 100mcg

Vitamin B12

METHYLCOBALAMIN

B12 absorption depends on a healthy ileum, which research suggests is often compromised in gluten-related contexts. Methylcobalamin is the active form, bypassing the conversion required for synthetic cyanocobalamin. 100mcg is meaningfully above the RDI (2.4mcg) but well below the upper limit, accounting for absorption variability. Russell et al., 2025 [2]

B9 400mcg DFE

Folate

L-5-MTHF (CALCIUM SALT)

In Australia, wheat-based foods are fortified with folate by law. Gluten-free alternatives are not, creating a quiet gap that compounds over years. L-5-MTHF is the active form, bypassing MTHFR conversion limitations that affect ~40% of the population. Di Nardo et al., 2019 [4]

D3 1,000 IU

Vitamin D3

CHOLECALCIFEROL (VEGAN, LICHEN-DERIVED)

Vitamin D deficiency is consistently observed across coeliac populations on long-term GFD. Lichen-derived D3 is plant-based (suitable for vegan consumers) but provides cholecalciferol equivalent to lanolin-derived D3. Synergistic with K2 (active #8) for bone density, relevant given documented osteoporosis risk in coeliac populations. Russell et al., 2025 [2]; Bristow et al., 2018 [5]

Mg 150mg elemental

Magnesium

BISGLYCINATE

Gluten-free grain alternatives are lower in magnesium than wheat. Bisglycinate form has substantially better gastric tolerance than oxide or citrate (no laxative effect at this dose) and similar bioavailability to threonate at lower cost. Reduced from 200mg to 150mg to accommodate the expanded formulation weight. Di Nardo et al., 2019 [4]

Zn 12mg elemental

Zinc

BISGLYCINATE

Zinc deficiency is documented in 40–60% of newly-diagnosed coeliacs and persists in some patients despite strict GFD adherence. Increased from 8mg in our original brief to 12mg, partly because zinc is a foundational nutrient with multiple roles in published research, including immune and cellular function. Bledsoe et al., 2019 [3]

Se 100mcg

Selenium

SELENOMETHIONINE

Added during clinical review. Australian soils are notably selenium-deficient compared to global averages. People on long-term gluten-free diets show lower selenium status, with thyroid function implications (autoimmune thyroid conditions are a documented comorbidity in this population). 100mcg is conservative, well below the 400mcg upper limit. Stazi & Trinti, 2008 [6]

K2 90mcg

Vitamin K2

MK-7 (MENAQUINONE, SOY-FREE)

Works synergistically with D3 to direct calcium to bones rather than soft tissue. Documented bone density risk in coeliac (a 2018 Australian study found "at-risk" coeliac serology was significantly associated with osteoporosis in older adults). MK-7 has a substantially longer half-life than MK-4, meaningful for daily dosing. Bristow et al., 2018 [5]

L-gln 3g

L-Glutamine

PHARMACEUTICAL-GRADE L-GLUTAMINE

An amino acid identified in published research as the primary fuel source for enterocytes. Evidence base is solid for chemotherapy-induced gut damage and athletic gut function; published research on broader gut nutrition contexts continues to develop.

An honest note on dose: the clinical research optimum is typically 5–10g daily. Our 3g is below that threshold and is positioned as meaningful daily maintenance rather than therapeutic intervention. We've debated this. Including it at this dose is defensible; pretending it's a therapeutic dose would not be.

PHGG 3g

Partially Hydrolysed Guar Gum (Prebiotic Fibre)

SUNFIBER® OR EQUIVALENT

An evidence-based prebiotic fibre with strong published research data in IBS contexts. Well-tolerated, low-FODMAP at 3g, no fermentation discomfort issues at this dose. PHGG was chosen over inulin or FOS partly for tolerability (less gas/bloating) and partly for breadth of published research.

SECTION 04 · WHAT'S NOT IN IT

What we deliberately excluded.

Most supplement brands tell you what they include. The harder discipline, and arguably the more honest one, is being clear about what's left out, and why.

Vitamin B6
Was in our original v1 formulation. Removed on review. The evidence for B6 specifically as a gluten-free related deficiency is weaker than the other B vitamins. May be reconsidered if our clinical reviewer supports inclusion at a token dose.
Probiotics
Deferred to a future SKU. Stable, viable probiotic strains in a room-temperature powder sachet for 24+ months requires either expensive encapsulation OR refrigerated supply chain. Adding low-stability probiotic doses to look good on a label is theatre, not therapy. A future Daily Defence SKU will address this properly.
Collagen
Common in "gut health" products. The published research base for collagen specifically in gluten-free contexts is thin. The weight (5–10g for any meaningful effect) competes with L-glutamine for sachet capacity. Better to commit to one well-evidenced amino acid than dilute both.
Aloe vera, slippery elm, marshmallow root, DGL
Traditional "gut-soothing" herbs frequently included in supplement formulations. Modern clinical evidence for their efficacy in gluten-free populations specifically is limited. Some have evidence in adjacent conditions (e.g. aloe in ulcerative colitis) but the extrapolation isn't there.
Digestive enzymes
Useful for pancreatic insufficiency or specific maldigestion conditions. Not the right tool for coeliac disease, which is an immune response to gluten, not an enzyme deficiency. We won't include them performatively just because "gut health" products often do.
Proprietary blends
Never. Every active in Gutline is listed at its specific dose. "Daily Energy Blend 1.2g" hides individual ingredient amounts, which is how the supplement industry conceals sub-clinical dosing. We won't do it.
Artificial sweeteners, colours, flavours
Sweetened with stevia and monk fruit. Naturally flavoured. The whole brand exists to serve people who already read labels carefully, adding things that wouldn't pass their scrutiny would be self-defeating.
SECTION 05 · HOW IT'S MADE

Manufacturing, testing, and what we'll commit to.

Gutline will be manufactured in Australia. We're prioritising manufacturers with strong gluten-free credentials, the right format capability for our 9g sachet, and audit history that supports our gluten testing commitments. Conversations active with multiple Australian candidates.

The criteria we're using to evaluate manufacturers

We're not picking on price alone. The questions we ask each potential manufacturer:

WHAT "BATCH TESTED FOR GLUTEN" MEANS

The badge on our sachet, "Batch Tested for Gluten", is a commitment to test every commercial production batch independently for gluten content before release, by a third-party laboratory. Our launch commitment is below 20 parts per million, the internationally accepted "gluten-free" threshold used across most global markets. Australia's own FSANZ standard requires no detectable gluten, which is stricter still and represents the direction we're working toward. As our manufacturing partnership matures, our commitment is to keep tightening our threshold over time. We won't claim a stricter number until we can verify it batch-by-batch.

SECTION 06 · WHO'S BUILDING THIS

The team and advisors.

Gutline isn't being formulated by one person in a vacuum. Beyond the founder, the people materially shaping the product include:

Clinical formulation review

An experienced clinical practitioner specialising in gut health and the long-term impacts of gluten-free living is engaged to review and refine the formulation. Their input is what shifted us from a focused micronutrient brief to the three-layer approach you see today. We'll name them publicly once their engagement is formally structured and they consent to be named.

Regulatory advisory

An Australian regulatory consultancy is being engaged at the appropriate stage to review claim language, labelling, and ingredient permissibility ahead of launch. We'll name the firm publicly once the engagement is formally structured.

Manufacturing partners

We're in active evaluation with several Australian manufacturers. The selection will be locked once the formulation is finalised and pricing is benchmarked across candidates. We'll be transparent about who we choose and why.

Founder

Ben, an Australian founder diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2019. Built Gutline because, after five years of cycling through supplements that were never designed for the way his body now worked, he realised the product he needed didn't exist, and neither did one for the broader gluten-free community.

SECTION 07 · WHERE WE ARE NOW

What's locked, in progress, and still open.

This section will be the most frequently updated. Returns visitors will see what's moved since their last visit.

Brand identity and positioning Visual identity, messaging, audience definition
Locked
Core ingredient list (10 actives across three layers) Subject to refinement during clinical review
In review
Specific doses and ingredient forms Working positions documented above; final spec post-clinical review
In review
Manufacturer selection Evaluating multiple Australian candidates
Exploring
Flavour profile Berry profile preferred for B-vitamin masking; locks at sample stage
Exploring
Coeliac Australia endorsement North star goal; application planned post-product finalisation
Goal
Probiotic SKU (separate future product) Will be tackled as a dedicated product, not added to Daily Restore
Deferred
International markets (NZ, UK, US) Australia at launch; New Zealand within 3 months; UK and US in 2027
Post-launch
SECTION 08 · INTEGRITY COMMITMENTS

What we won't claim.

The supplement industry is full of claims that sound impressive but won't hold up to scrutiny. Some explicit commitments about what Gutline will NOT do:

SOMETHING WE GET WRONG?

If you spot something in this document that looks wrong, contradicts research you know, or seems overstated, please tell us. Email support@gutline.com.au. We'd rather hear pushback now than at launch.

REFERENCES

Research base.

The studies and sources cited throughout this document. We'll add to this list as the formulation evolves and new research is published.

  1. Coeliac Australia. "Coeliac disease, affecting approximately 1 in 70 Australians (around 367,000 people), with an estimated 80% remaining undiagnosed." coeliac.org.au
  2. Russell LA, Alliston P, Armstrong D, Verdu EF, Moayyedi P, Pinto-Sanchez MI. "Micronutrient Deficiencies Associated with a Gluten-Free Diet in Patients with Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten or Wheat Sensitivity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025;14(14):4848. PMC12296119
  3. Bledsoe AC, King KS, Larson JJ, Snyder M, Absah I, Choung RS, Murray JA. "Micronutrient Deficiencies Are Common in Contemporary Celiac Disease Despite Lack of Overt Malabsorption Symptoms." Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2019 Jul;94(7):1253–1260. PubMed 31248695
  4. Di Nardo G, Villa MP, Conti L, Ranucci G, Pacchiarotti C, Principessa L, Raucci U, Parisi P. "Nutritional Deficiencies in Children with Celiac Disease Resulting from a Gluten-Free Diet: A Systematic Review." Nutrients. 2019 Jul 13;11(7):1588. PMC6683263
  5. Bristow SM, Gamble GD, Stewart A, Horne AM, Reid IR. "A Serological Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease Is Associated with Osteoporosis in Older Australian Adults." Nutrients. 2018;10(7):849. PMC6073845
  6. Stazi AV, Trinti B. "Selenium deficiency in celiac disease: risk of autoimmune thyroid diseases." Minerva Medica. 2008 Dec;99(6):643–53.
  7. Mayo Clinic. "Gluten-free diet: Foods, considerations, and nutrient considerations." mayoclinic.org
  8. Rural Doctors Foundation of Australia. "80% of people with coeliac disease don't know they have it." ruraldoctorsfoundation.org.au
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION The information on this website is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Gutline is a nutritional supplement in development. References to ingredients or research reflect current information and are not claims about the finished product treating, curing, or preventing any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new supplement, particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking prescription medications, or managing a medical condition. Coeliac disease requires a strict gluten-free diet as the only effective treatment; supplements do not replace this.