Common questions about how Informed Dose works, how we rate things, and how we make money.
About the site
What is Informed Dose?
An independent site that summarizes the published research behind dietary supplements and reviews the products built on them. Every review cites its sources so you can check the claims yourself rather than taking our word for it.
Who writes the reviews?
Informed Dose is an independent publication based in North Carolina. Reviews are researched from primary sources — peer-reviewed studies, meta-analyses, and regulatory guidance — rather than from manufacturer marketing material.
Are you doctors?
No. We are researchers and writers, not clinicians, and nothing here is medical advice. We read the studies and report what they say. Decisions about what to take belong between you and your doctor or pharmacist — particularly if you take prescription medication, have a diagnosed condition, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
How we evaluate products
What does the evidence rating mean?
The rating reflects how well the published research supports the claims made for a product’s key ingredients — at the doses actually used in the product. A strong rating means multiple well-designed human trials point the same way. A weak rating means the evidence is thin, comes only from animal or test-tube work, or exists only at doses far higher than the product contains.
It is a rating of the evidence, not a prediction about you. Good evidence for an ingredient does not guarantee it will do anything for any particular person.
Do you test the products yourselves?
Generally no, and we say so on every review. We assess formulations and the research behind their ingredients. We do not run lab assays, and we do not publish personal-experience claims we have not had. Where we have tested something, the review states it explicitly.
Why do you review products with weak evidence?
Because people are already searching for them. A product with an aggressive sales page and thin research is exactly the one someone needs an honest second opinion on. Leaving it uncovered means the only thing they find is the sales page.
A review says something I know to be wrong. What now?
Tell us at hello@informeddose.com, ideally with a source. We correct errors and we do not quietly delete them — corrections are noted on the page.
Money
How does Informed Dose make money?
Affiliate commissions. If you buy through a link here, the merchant pays us a percentage. Your price is identical either way. The full explanation, including who pays us and how it does and does not affect our ratings, is in our Affiliate Disclosure.
Does a company pay to get a good rating?
No. No manufacturer pays us for coverage, and none sees a review before publication. Several products that pay us well carry weak evidence ratings on this site.
Do I pay more by using your link?
No. The commission comes out of the merchant’s margin.
Buying and orders
Do you sell supplements?
No. We do not sell, ship, or stock anything. Purchases happen on the merchant’s own site, under their terms.
I ordered something and there is a problem. Can you help?
We have no access to merchant order systems, so we cannot look up, change, or refund an order. Contact the merchant or the network that processed the payment — for most products on this site that is Digistore24 or ClickBank, and both handle refund requests directly. Their contact details are on your order confirmation email.
Are these products safe?
Dietary supplements are not approved by the FDA before they go on sale, and manufacturers are responsible for their own claims and quality control. Supplements can interact with medications and affect existing conditions. Check with a pharmacist or doctor before starting anything new — pharmacists in particular are free to consult and are good at catching interactions.
Privacy and contact
What data do you collect about me?
Analytics on which pages get read, and whatever you send us if you email. We do not sell personal information. Details are in our Privacy Policy.
How do I get in touch?
hello@informeddose.com. Corrections, questions, and requests for topics to cover are all welcome.