Quick answer: UK evening supplements commonly combine vitamins and minerals with botanicals such as valerian, passion flower, chamomile, lemon balm, lavender, ashwagandha and tart cherry. The label should distinguish authorised nutrient claims from unapproved promises about what a botanical or finished supplement will do.
Commercial disclosure: We sell Deepest Sleep, which is used as the worked example below. Ingredient quantities come from its current label. This guide explains composition and GB claim rules; it does not claim that the formula treats insomnia or improves sleep.
Sleep-supplement ingredients at a glance
| Ingredient type | Common examples | What the label can tell you | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamins | Niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, biotin | Amount, %NRV and relevant authorised health claims where conditions are met | Whether the claim remains attached to the named nutrient |
| Minerals | Magnesium | Elemental mineral amount and %NRV—not merely the weight of its compound | Amount across the full daily serving and whether it reaches the claim condition |
| Botanicals | Valerian, chamomile, lemon balm, passion flower, lavender, ashwagandha | Plant identity, part used, extract form, amount and standardisation | Do not confuse traditional use or research discussion with an authorised supplement claim |
| Other substances | L-taurine, L-tyrosine, tart-cherry extract | Identity and quantity | Whether a measured active constituent is declared |
Which vitamins and minerals have authorised GB claims?
Where the formula meets the applicable conditions, the following claims are among those authorised in Great Britain:
- Niacin: contributes to normal psychological function, normal functioning of the nervous system and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Pantothenic acid: contributes to normal mental performance and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Vitamin B6: contributes to normal psychological function, normal functioning of the nervous system, regulation of hormonal activity and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
- Biotin: contributes to normal psychological function and normal functioning of the nervous system.
- Magnesium: contributes to normal psychological function, normal functioning of the nervous system and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
These are not authorised “sleep claims”. The wording must remain attached to the nutrient and must not be presented as proof that the complete product causes sleep or treats a sleep disorder.
Why does the full daily serving matter?
A mineral claim depends on the amount supplied, not merely on magnesium appearing in the ingredients list. Check the elemental magnesium quantity and the intake needed to reach it.
Deepest Sleep provides 50mg magnesium per capsule. At the listed two-capsule intake it supplies 100mg, approximately 27% NRV. The label should make clear when a stated nutrient quantity or claim relies on taking two capsules rather than one.
How should botanical ingredients be described?
A useful botanical declaration answers four questions:
- Which plant? “Cherry” is less specific than Montmorency tart cherry.
- Which plant part? An ashwagandha root extract is not the same declaration as an unspecified whole-plant powder.
- What form? Powder, dry extract and starting-material equivalent are different measures.
- How much? Individual weights are more informative than one proprietary-blend total.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha appears in many evening formulas. Labels may identify a branded or standardised extract, its plant part and withanolide specification. KSM-66® is a named root extract. That identification improves traceability; it does not by itself authorise sleep, cortisol or anxiety claims on a food supplement.
Passion flower, chamomile, lemon balm and lavender
These botanicals have a history of use in evening teas, remedies and supplement blends. A food-supplement label may name and quantify them. Strong statements such as “knocks you out”, “calms anxiety” or “helps you fall asleep” require a legal basis that ordinary food-supplement status does not provide.
Montmorency tart cherry
Montmorency identifies a tart-cherry cultivar. A label may declare its extract quantity or starting-material equivalent. Do not assume that it provides a particular melatonin dose unless the finished product declares a measured amount supported by its specification.
L-taurine and L-tyrosine
These are amino acids or amino-acid-related substances used in some multi-ingredient formulas. Their presence and weights can be stated factually. Neither should be converted into a sleep promise without an authorised basis.
What about valerian?
Valerian can appear in food supplements, but it is also used in registered traditional herbal medicines. These categories are not interchangeable. A product such as Kalms Night One-a-Night carries a registered traditional-use indication and medicine leaflet. An ordinary valerian food supplement does not inherit that medicinal status.
What about melatonin?
Melatonin is a prescription-only medicine in the UK and is not authorised for sale here as an over-the-counter food supplement. The NHS melatonin guide explains its prescribed uses.
“Melatonin-free” can be a factual composition statement. It should not be followed by wording suggesting that a botanical supplement acts like, replaces or is safer than prescribed melatonin.
Worked example: what does Deepest Sleep declare?
Each capsule declares 13 ingredients separately:
- 350mg Montmorency tart-cherry extract
- 250mg KSM-66® ashwagandha root extract
- 100mg passion flower
- 50mg each of German chamomile, lemon balm, magnesium, L-taurine and L-tyrosine
- 25mg lavender
- 50mg pantothenic acid, 12mg niacin, 2mg vitamin B6 and 73.3µg biotin
Seven label checks
- Read the quantities per recommended daily intake.
- Check whether mineral amounts are elemental.
- Distinguish physical extract weight from starting-material equivalent.
- Look for the plant species, part used and extract standardisation.
- Prefer individual quantities over a proprietary-blend total.
- Separate authorised nutrient claims from botanical marketing.
- Read cautions, interactions, age restrictions and pregnancy or breastfeeding advice.
For the category as a whole, read our UK comparison of sleep medicines, herbal remedies and supplements. For habits first, use our sleep-hygiene checklist.
Sources
- GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register
- ASA/CAP: Food health claims
- MHRA: Traditional Herbal Registrations
- NHS: Melatonin
This guide is for general information and label education. It is not medical advice. Always read the product label and ask a healthcare professional about suitability if you take medication, have a health condition, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
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