The rubric in full.
No hidden weights.
Every sub-criterion, score boundary, and edge case in our framework. Published before the first product was reviewed.
| Criterion | Weight | Max points | Hard-fail rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical dose | 30% | 3.0 pts | Below 1.0 → total capped at 6.0 |
| Ingredient form | 25% | 2.5 pts | Below 0.8 → −0.5 penalty |
| Third-party purity | 20% | 2.0 pts | No certification → max 7.5 total |
| Value per serving | 15% | 1.5 pts | None |
| Label honesty | 10% | 1.0 pts | Active misrepresentation → −1.0 |
Clinical dose (30%)
We identify every active ingredient and its minimum effective dose from primary clinical literature. For proprietary blends, we calculate the maximum possible dose each ingredient could hold given the total blend weight. Score mapping: 100% of ingredients at ≥100% of clinical dose = 10/10 · 90–99% = 8–9/10 · 75–89% = 6–7/10 · below 50% = 0–2/10.
Ingredient form (25%)
We rank forms using published pharmacokinetic data. A form hierarchy is established from clinical literature for each ingredient category. Examples: magnesium glycinate > citrate > oxide; creatine monohydrate > HCl (no evidence advantage); vitamin D3 > D2.
Third-party purity (20%)
Only independently verifiable certifications count: NSF Certified for Sport, Informed-Sport, USP Verified, BSCG. Manufacturer certificates of analysis score zero — we cannot verify their authenticity or scope.
Value per clinical serving (15%)
We calculate cost per minimum effective dose — not cost per label serving, which is often sub-clinical. A product priced identically to a competitor but requiring two servings to hit clinical dose scores significantly lower on this criterion.
Label honesty (10%)
Every structure-function and health claim is evaluated against the supporting literature. Claims that exceed available evidence lose points proportionally. Deliberately misleading claims result in a flat −1.0 penalty on the total score.
Update policy
Scores are updated when: new clinical evidence changes the consensus effective dose or form hierarchy; a product reformulates; certification status changes; or pricing materially affects value per clinical serving. All updates are logged in the public changelog with a dated reason.