Methodology

How we audit your supplements

Every ingredient on your label is checked against 9 regulatory databases, molecular absorption data, and peer-reviewed systematic reviews.

Step 1

Image Recognition

Upload 1-3 photos of your supplement label. Our OCR system (powered by Claude Vision) extracts every ingredient, dosage, form, serving size, and "Other Ingredients" from the Supplement Facts panel.

Step 2

Ingredient Intelligence

Each ingredient is matched against our database of 373+ classified compounds with molecular-level data including absorption pathways, metabolism routes, bioavailability by form, and evidence grading from systematic reviews.

Step 3

Multi-Database Safety Check

Every ingredient is checked against 9 regulatory databases:

FDA Safety Alerts — Tainted supplements database

FDA CAERS — Supplement adverse event reports

FDA Drug Labels — Interaction warning sections

Health Canada NHP — Natural health product licences

EFSA — European Food Safety Authority

NIH LiverTox — Hepatotoxicity database

NIH ODS — Dietary supplement fact sheets

IARC / NTP — Carcinogen classifications

EU E-Number Registry — Additive safety with ADI limits

Step 4

Dosage Verification

Your dosage is compared against regulatory ranges from Health Canada's Natural Health Products database and NIH Recommended Dietary Allowances. We flag ingredients that fall below minimum effective doses or exceed established upper intake levels.

Step 5

Interaction Detection

We check for pairwise interactions between ingredients in the same product (e.g., iron + calcium absorption competition), drug-supplement interactions from FDA drug labels, and nutrient depletions from common medications.

Step 6

Sugar & Excipient Analysis

"Other Ingredients" are individually analyzed. Sweeteners are scored by glycemic index. Hidden sugars are flagged. Excipients are classified by purpose and safety level. Regulatory status is compared across US, EU, and international jurisdictions.

Step 7

Evidence Scoring

Each ingredient receives an evidence grade (Strong, Moderate, Limited, Preliminary, Traditional) based on the number of systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials indexed in OpenAlex and PubMed.

Step 8

Audit Receipt

A comprehensive summary showing total ingredients analyzed, safety warnings, drug interaction notices, adverse event counts, evidence quality, timing conflicts, and the number of databases checked. When relevant, we suggest specific lab tests you can order through DirectLabs to verify how ingredients are affecting your biomarkers — with transparent pricing and no doctor visit required.

Our Sources

All data is drawn from government regulatory databases, peer-reviewed research, and internationally recognized food safety authorities. We do not use manufacturer claims, influencer endorsements, or unverified sources. Every finding can be traced to its original source document.