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How We Review Supplements

Every supplement guide on FactoWiki follows the same review process, whether or not a link on the page earns us a commission.

This page explains exactly how we put a product or ingredient guide together, what evidence we rely on, and the lines we will not cross. The aim is that you can judge our work — and hold us to it.

1. We start with the formula, not the marketing

The first thing we do with any product is ignore the sales video and read the ingredient list. A supplement can only do what its ingredients can do, at the doses provided. So for every named ingredient we ask: what is it, what is it supposed to do, and what does the published research actually show? We look at human studies and reputable health authorities rather than the manufacturer's own claims, and we report the limits of the evidence as plainly as the positives. If an ingredient has weak or no evidence, we say so, even when it is the product's headline component.

2. We rely on primary and authoritative sources

Our ingredient assessments are built on sources such as PubMed-indexed clinical studies and systematic reviews, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), MedlinePlus and the FDA. We link these sources directly on the page so you can read them yourself rather than taking our word for it. Where we cite a specific finding, we try to reflect what the study genuinely concluded — including when a large, well-designed trial found no benefit, which is information sales pages tend to omit.

3. We check the label and dosing transparency

Next we look at how the product is actually formulated and sold: the form (capsule, gummy, liquid), the serving, and crucially whether each ingredient's dose is disclosed or hidden inside a "proprietary blend." Hidden doses are a genuine limitation, because you cannot tell whether an ingredient is present at the amount used in research or merely sprinkled in for the label — so when doses are undisclosed, we flag it explicitly rather than assuming the best.

4. We put safety before persuasion

For every guide we set out the realistic safety picture: common side effects, drug and condition interactions, and the groups who should avoid the product — for example, people who are pregnant, those on blood thinners or diabetes medication, or anyone with a relevant health condition. Where a category carries specific risks (such as liver signals with certain weight-loss ingredients, or the well-documented problem of "male enhancement" products being spiked with hidden prescription drugs), we say so directly. We would rather a reader skip a purchase than miss a safety issue.

5. We review price, packages and the guarantee

We summarise the current pricing structure, the typical per-bottle cost on bundles, and the stated money-back guarantee. Because sellers change these terms frequently, we always tell you to confirm the latest price and refund window on the official product page before buying, rather than treating our snapshot as permanent.

6. We present honest alternatives

A good guide never reads as though one product is your only option. So we point to reasonable alternatives for the same goal — which often includes a dose-transparent single ingredient, a conversation with a doctor, or simply doing nothing. For health decisions in particular, "see a professional" is sometimes the most honest recommendation we can give.

7. We write claims carefully

Supplements are not drugs, and we do not describe them as though they were. We use structure/function language — a product "may support" an aspect of health — and we avoid words like "cure," "treat," "guaranteed" or "miracle." This is not just a legal formality; it reflects what the evidence for most supplements actually justifies.

The lines we will not cross

To be explicit about our standards, here is what we never do:

Updates and corrections

Every page carries a "last updated" date and is reviewed before publishing. We revisit guides as new evidence emerges and correct mistakes as soon as we can verify them. If you think we have got something wrong, please contact us — our full approach is in the correction policy.

A worked example of the process

To make this concrete, here is how the process plays out on a typical men's-health product. We begin by listing its actual ingredients — say tongkat ali, tribulus and horny goat weed. We then check each against the research: tongkat ali has modest, limited human evidence; tribulus, despite being a staple of these formulas, does not reliably raise testosterone in studies; horny goat weed's active compound is a weak, poorly-absorbed cousin of erectile-dysfunction drugs. Next we note that the doses are hidden inside a proprietary blend, so we cannot confirm they match studied amounts. We then flag the category's biggest safety issue — "male enhancement" products are repeatedly recalled for being spiked with hidden prescription drugs — and advise choosing third-party-tested products and seeing a doctor for genuine erectile problems, which can signal heart disease. Finally we summarise the price and guarantee, point to honest alternatives, and write every claim in "may support" language. The result is a guide that still carries the affiliate link, but tells you plainly what the product can and cannot do.

Why our guides sometimes criticise products we link to

If you notice that some of our product guides are openly cautious — pointing out weak evidence, hidden doses or safety concerns for a product we also link to — that is the process working as intended, not a contradiction. An honest guide is more useful to you than a flattering one, and we would rather keep your trust than win a single commission.