Dietary supplement research, formulation and manufacturing
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Ingredient review

Five questions we ask about every ingredient

An ingredient earns a place in a formula only when the answers line up.

Population
Was it studied in people, and do those people resemble the customers who will take the product?
Dose
What amount produced the reported effect, and how often was it taken?
Form
Which chemical form was used? Magnesium citrate, glycinate and oxide, for example, differ in how well they are absorbed.
Duration
How long did participants take it before the reported results appeared?
Safety
Where does the dose sit relative to the Tolerable Upper Intake Level, and what interactions with common medications are known?

Evidence hierarchy

How we weigh evidence

Study designs carry different weight. We rank what we find before it shapes a formula.

Study typeHow we use it
  1. Level 1

    Systematic reviews and meta-analyses

    The strongest basis for an ingredient and dose decision.

  2. Level 2

    Randomized controlled trials

    Supports a decision, especially when results replicate across independent trials.

  3. Level 3

    Observational studies

    Shows associations across large populations. Useful for framing questions.

  4. Level 4

    Animal and in-vitro studies

    Explains possible mechanisms. Never the sole basis for including an ingredient.

Deliverables

What a research brief includes

Partners receive the research behind their formula in writing, with citations they can share with their own teams.

Ingredient monographs

A summary of the human evidence for each ingredient, with citations to the primary studies.

Dose and form rationale

The recommended amount and chemical form for each ingredient, tied to the studies that support them.

Safety screen

Upper intake limits, known drug interactions and the populations who should avoid the product.

Claim language review

Proposed structure/function statements, checked against FDA rules for dietary supplement labeling.

Regulatory

Regulatory groundwork

Dietary supplements sold in the U.S. are regulated under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). Before a formula moves forward, we confirm the points below.

Ingredient status
Each ingredient qualifies as a dietary ingredient under federal law.
NDI review
We check whether any ingredient requires a New Dietary Ingredient notification to the FDA.
Claims
Label and marketing statements stay within structure/function limits and carry the required FDA disclaimer.
Label elements
The Supplement Facts panel, ingredient list and allergen statements follow federal labeling rules.

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Have a formula in mind?

Tell us what you want to make. We will review the concept and outline the research, development and production path.

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