The Supplement Ratings

Methodology

Every score is calculated from verifiable label data. This page explains exactly how — down to every point.

Overview

Every supplement in our database (116,409+ products) receives a SupplementScore from 0 to 100. The score is split into 4 categories, each based on data from the product's physical label as recorded in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD).

Dosage Transparency35 ptsAre all doses explicitly disclosed on the label?
Label Transparency25 ptsIs everything disclosed?
Formulation Cleanliness25 ptsHow clean are the inactive ingredients?
Ingredient Profile15 ptsFormula composition and branded ingredient forms
Total100 pts

No brand can pay for a higher score. The algorithm is deterministic — same label data always produces the same score.

1. Dosage Transparency (0–35 points)

Measures how transparently the product discloses its ingredient doses. This does not evaluate whether doses are clinically effective — it evaluates whether you can see what you're getting.

How points are awarded:

0–15 ptsRatio of ingredients with explicit amounts listed on the label (not hidden behind proprietary blends).
0–15 ptsFor ingredients with %DV: ratio in the 50–200% DV range. Note: %DV reflects recommended daily intake, not therapeutic dose. Many effective ingredients (botanicals, omega-3) have no established %DV.
0–5 ptsBonus for ingredients without %DV (botanicals, herbals) that still list explicit amounts — shows good faith transparency.
-3 penaltyProportion of ingredients with %DV below 25%. Low disclosure relative to recommended intake.
-3 penaltyProportion of ingredients with %DV above 1000%. Unusually high amounts relative to recommended intake.

Data source: supplementFacts[].amount and supplementFacts[].dailyValuePercent from the product's Supplement Facts panel.

2. Label Transparency (0–25 points)

Measures how completely the product discloses its contents. Proprietary blends that hide individual doses are penalized.

How points are awarded:

0–10 ptsRatio of ingredients with explicit amounts (not hidden behind "proprietary blend").
0–5 ptsRatio of ingredients with %DV provided (where an RDA exists).
+2 ptsBonus if ALL ingredients have explicit amounts (100% transparency).
+3 ptsServings per container is clearly stated on the label.
+2 ptsServing size is explicitly defined (not just "1 serving").
+3 ptsTarget groups / dietary info provided (Adult, Vegan, Gluten Free, etc.).

Data source: supplementFacts, servingsPerContainer, servingSizes, targetGroups from the label.

3. Formulation Cleanliness (0–25 points)

Starts at 25 points (full score) and deducts for each unnecessary additive found in the "Other Ingredients" list.

Deductions:

-6 eachSevere: titanium dioxide, artificial colors (Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5/6, FD&C), artificial sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame), high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, propylene glycol.
-3 eachModerate: magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, silica, stearic acid, maltodextrin, soy lecithin, talc, carrageenan, polysorbate, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate.
0 (no penalty)Acceptable: cellulose, gelatin, glycerin, water, rice flour, citric acid, hypromellose — necessary for formulation.

Bonuses:

+2 ptsLabel indicates Vegan
+2 ptsLabel indicates Organic
+1 ptLabel indicates Gluten Free

Data source: otheringredients[].name and targetGroups from the label.

4. Ingredient Profile (0–15 points)

Evaluates quality signals from the active ingredient list.

Formula focus:

5 ptsFocused formula (1–3 active ingredients) — targeted, purposeful supplementation.
8 ptsGood variety (4–15 active ingredients) — well-rounded, balanced formula.
6 ptsComprehensive (15+ active ingredients) — thorough but potentially diluted.

Branded ingredients (up to +5 pts):

+3 points for each clinically studied, patented ingredient form detected in the name. These indicate the manufacturer invested in verified, bioavailable forms:

KSM-66 · Sensoril · Albion · Quatrefolic · BioPerine · Meriva · Longvida · Cognizin · Suntheanine · Creapure · Carnipure · Ferrochel · TRAACS · K2Vital · Aquamin

Penalty:

-3 maxProportion of ingredients with no amount listed (hidden doses).

Data source: supplementFacts[].ingredientName and supplementFacts.length from the label.

Evidence Levels

On product pages, we display research summaries for individual ingredients. Each claim is assigned an evidence level based on the quality and consistency of published research. These levels reflect the state of evidence for the ingredient in general — not for any specific product or dose.

LevelMeaningTypes of evidenceExample
StrongEffect confirmed repeatedly in large human studies. Scientific consensus exists.Multiple meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), large-scale clinical trialsFolate prevents neural tube defects (also an FDA-authorized health claim). Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption.
ModeratePromising results but with limitations — small sample sizes, dose/form dependency, or mixed results across studies.Small RCTs, consistent observational studies, effects confirmed but context-dependentMelatonin and sleep onset. Ashwagandha and cortisol reduction (at 300–600mg/day KSM-66). Niacin and cholesterol (at pharmacological doses only).
WeakPreliminary data or inconsistent results. No firm conclusions can be drawn.In vitro studies, animal models, conflicting human data, unreplicated findingsBiotin and hair growth (in non-deficient people). Vitamin D and mood improvement.

Evidence levels are not part of the SupplementScore calculation. They are displayed separately as informational context about the ingredients a product contains.

What We Don't Score

We intentionally exclude categories where we lack reliable, verifiable data:

  • Third-party certifications (USP, NSF) — DSLD doesn't include this. We'd rather omit than guess.
  • FDA safety record — we display FDA adverse events separately, but automated brand-matching isn't reliable enough for scoring.
  • Price / value — DSLD has no pricing data. We'll integrate this when retailer data is available.
  • User reviews — not enough reviews yet for statistical significance.

When we add reliable data for these, we'll expand scoring. Honesty over completeness.

Data Source

All scoring data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — a U.S. government database containing 116,409+ product labels with full Supplement Facts, Other Ingredients, serving information, and dietary certifications. Data is public domain (CC0 license).

Each product in DSLD was entered from the physical label by NIH staff. This is not scraped, estimated, or AI-generated data — it's what's printed on the bottle.