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SafetyScorer

Methodology

How we score supplements

The 5 factors, weights and scoring rubric behind every SafetyScorer score for supplements, on a 0–100 scale where 100 is safest.

Factors and weights

Each factor is scored from 0 to 100 against the rubric below. The overall score is the weighted average, rounded to a whole number.

  1. Safety at usual doses

    25% of score

    Harm at the doses people normally take, and the gap to the tolerable upper intake level. 90+: wide margin. Below 50: harm reported at common doses.

  2. Organ toxicity reports

    20% of score

    Liver, kidney or heart injury case reports (LiverTox, regulators). 90+: none credible. Below 50: repeated serious cases.

  3. Interactions

    20% of score

    Interactions with prescription drugs (for example warfarin, SSRIs, contraceptives). 90+: few. Below 50: many serious ones.

  4. Product quality

    20% of score

    Contamination, adulteration and label accuracy found in independent testing. 90+: consistently accurate, third-party testing widely available. Below 50: frequent contamination or mislabelling.

  5. Regulatory actions

    15% of score

    Bans, warnings and recalls by FDA, EFSA, Health Canada, TGA and others. 90+: none. Below 40: banned or restricted in major markets.

See all supplements scores