Our method

How We Review Supplements

Last updated September 28, 2026

Every review on Supplements Unpacked follows the same method. This page explains it, including its limits, so you can judge our work for yourself.

What we check

  1. The label. We list every ingredient and the dose per serving. When a brand hides doses inside a "proprietary blend", we say so, because you cannot judge a dose you cannot see.
  2. Dose against the evidence. We compare each dose with the doses used in published human studies. An ingredient below the studied dose does not count toward the score.
  3. Value. We work out the price per serving and compare it with similar products.
  4. Safety. We flag known side effects, drug interactions, and groups who should avoid the product. We put these near the top of the page, not at the bottom.

How we score

Each product gets an editorial rating from 1 to 5, based on the four checks above. We do not score on marketing claims, reviews on the seller's site, or how much a product pays us. Most products we review score between 2 and 4. A low score is common, because many formulas underdose their key ingredients.

What we do not do

  • We do not lab-test products. We have not measured what is inside the capsule. Our reviews are based on the label, the published research, and the price.
  • We do not run clinical trials or collect our own health data.
  • We do not give medical advice. A review cannot tell you if a product is right for your body. Your doctor or pharmacist can.

How we use software and AI

We use software, including AI writing tools, to collect label data, summarize studies, and draft text. The method on this page sets what every draft must cover. Reviews that make health claims we cannot support stay out of search results until an editor checks them by hand.

Sources we trust

We prefer systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials in humans. We also use government sources such as the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements and the CDC. We do not treat animal or test-tube studies as proof that a product works in people.

Money and independence

We earn affiliate commissions from some links. A commission never changes a score. Read the full affiliate and medical disclosure.

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If you think we got something wrong, tell us. See our corrections policy.