Our Methodology

Science Over Marketing

Every score is backed by peer-reviewed research. We don't accept payment for better grades, we don't rely on manufacturer claims, and we certainly don't guess.

500+ Ingredients Tracked
10M+ Research Papers
Zero Sponsored Results
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The SuppMan Score

Your supplement receives a score from 0-100 based on four key pillars

25%

Ingredient Transparency

Are all ingredient amounts clearly listed? No proprietary blends hiding dosages?

Full Transparency90-100
Partial60-89
Limited30-59
Poor0-29
40%

Clinical Dosage

Does each ingredient meet minimum effective dose from clinical studies?

Optimal Dosing90-100
Good Dosing70-89
Moderate40-69
Poor0-39
20%

Bioavailability

Are ingredients in their most bioavailable forms with optimal absorption?

Premium Forms90-100
Standard Forms60-89
Basic Forms30-59
Poor Forms0-29
15%

Safety & Purity

FDA compliance, third-party testing, absence of banned substances

Excellent Safety90-100
Good Safety70-89
Moderate40-69
Poor Safety0-39

Understanding Your Grade

From exceptional to failing, here's what each grade means

A
90-100
Excellent

Exceptional transparency, clinical dosing, and premium forms throughout

B
80-89
Good

Solid product with good transparency and mostly proper dosing

C
70-79
Average

Below average with multiple issues and several areas needing improvement

D-F
<70
Poor/Fail

Major concerns with transparency, dosing, or safety - not recommended

Score Distribution
A
B
C
D
F
100908070600
Our Research Database

The Research Behind Every Score

We maintain a continuously updated database of over 500 common supplement ingredients

10M+

PubMed Central

Peer-reviewed studies

50K+

Cochrane Database

Systematic reviews

5K+

NIH Office

Dietary Supplements

2K+

EFSA

European Safety Authority

Example: Ashwagandha

How we determine effective dosages

Clinical Range (12 studies)300-600mg
Your Supplement Contains100mg
Result: Below Clinical Threshold

Objectivity First

To maintain scientific integrity, here's what we consider and what we don't

What We Consider

  • Primary research papers with DOI links
  • Meta-analyses and systematic reviews
  • Clinical guidelines from health authorities
  • Minimum effective dose (MED) from trials
  • Optimal dose ranges from studies
  • Upper safe limits before side effects
  • Third-party testing verification
  • FDA compliance and GMP certification

What We Exclude

  • Marketing claims or testimonials
  • Proprietary research funded by manufacturers
  • Anecdotal evidence without clinical backing
  • Price (expensive doesn't mean effective)
  • Brand reputation alone
  • Celebrity endorsements
  • Social media influencer promotions
  • Number of Amazon reviews

What the Badges Mean

Awards earned through verified criteria, not marketing dollars

Clinically Dosed

All active ingredients meet research thresholds

Third-Party Tested

Independent lab verification available

Transparent Label

No proprietary blends hiding dosages

Bioavailable

Premium ingredient forms throughout

GMP Certified

Manufactured in FDA-registered facility

No Conflicts

Not sponsored or affiliate influenced

Our Independence Pledge

Trust Through Transparency

No Pay-to-Play

Manufacturers cannot pay for better scores. All products analyzed using identical criteria.

Transparency First

Our methodology is public. Our sources are cited. Our updates are logged.

Your Privacy

We never sell your data. Anonymous insights only. You own your supplement history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about our methodology

Even popular products can have transparency issues or underdosed ingredients. Our scores reflect the science, not popularity. A well-marketed supplement doesn't automatically mean it's well-formulated.
We review new research weekly and update our thresholds when multiple studies show consistent results. Our database undergoes a comprehensive quarterly review by our science team.
Absolutely. Our scores reflect general research findings. Individual responses vary based on genetics, health status, existing medications, and many other factors. Always consult with a healthcare provider about your specific situation.
No. We score based purely on quality markers like dosing, transparency, bioavailability, and safety. A $100 supplement might score poorly while a $20 one excels. Price doesn't equal effectiveness.
We clearly mark these as "Insufficient Research" and don't penalize products for including novel ingredients—we simply note the lack of established evidence. Science is always evolving, and we update our database as new research emerges.
We're human (aided by AI), and science evolves. You can submit research we may have missed, report labeling updates, or provide third-party test results to science@suppman.com. We review all submissions and update scores when warranted.

The Bottom Line

Every SuppMan score represents hours of research distilled into actionable information. We're not here to sell you supplements—we're here to help you understand what you're already buying.

Trust through transparency. Science over marketing.
That's the SuppMan promise.
Methodology Version: 2.0
Updated: Weekly
Next Review: Quarterly