About Supplement DB

Who we are

Why this site exists

There are a huge number of supplement products, and even the same ingredient can come in very different amounts and forms from one product to the next. This site aims to make it easy to check what is in a product, in which form and how much, before you buy. It does not guarantee the effect of any product and does not provide medical advice.

Data sources

• DSLD (Dietary Supplement Label Database): the supplement label database published by the US National Institutes of Health
• PubChem / FDA UNII: used to identify and classify ingredients
• Product labels (public information)

Where our wording differs from the original source, the original source takes precedence. Details of our sources and citation terms are on the Data Sources & Citation Policy page.

How we handle the data

We do not simply copy the public data. We organize it according to the rules below and publish those rules so that you can trace where each piece of information comes from.

Only on-market products appear in lists

Products recorded as off market in the source are excluded from lists, sitemaps and aggregates. Their individual pages remain so that existing links keep working.

Ingredients are identified by UNII before being grouped

The same substance is written differently from product to product, so we group ingredients by the FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII). Ingredients without a UNII are handled by name only, so different substances are never merged by mistake.

Supplement Facts and other ingredients are kept apart

We distinguish ingredients inside the Supplement Facts panel (main ingredients) from the “other ingredients” listed outside it. The source has no amounts for the latter, so no amount or %DV columns are shown for them.

Units are normalized before aggregating

Unit spellings vary in the source (Gram(s) and g, ug and mcg, and so on), so only amounts that mean the same quantity are combined. Equivalents such as mcg DFE and mg NE are different quantities and are not merged. Rows without a unit are left out of aggregates.

Aggregates describe label values, not recommendations

The amount distributions on ingredient pages are mechanical summaries of label values across listed products. Serving definitions vary by product, and the figures are not intake guidance.

English names follow the source, with familiar names for common nutrients

Ingredient names are shown as they appear in the DSLD. For common vitamins and minerals we use the names shoppers search for (for example, Vitamin C rather than Ascorbic Acid); the original name is still shown alongside.

Editorial policy

• We do not state that any product or ingredient has a definite effect, and we do not claim that anything diagnoses, treats, cures or prevents disease.
• We do not use rankings or superlatives such as “most popular”, “best-selling” or “No. 1”. Lists are only sorted by criteria we can state clearly, such as date added, name or amount.
• Articles separate what is known from what is not, and cite the sources they rely on.
• Advertising and affiliate relationships never change what we list or how we order it. A notice at the top of each page states that the site contains advertising.

Updates and corrections

The database is re-imported periodically as the public source data is updated.

When an error is reported, we check it against the original source (such as the relevant DSLD label) and correct it once confirmed. If the source itself appears to be wrong, we do not change it on our side; instead we note that the source takes precedence. If the cause is in our import process, we fix every page affected by the same cause.

Disclaimer

• The information on this site is provided for general reference and is not a substitute for diagnosis, treatment or advice from a physician or pharmacist.
• If you are being treated for a medical condition, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to a healthcare professional before taking supplements.
• We work to keep the information accurate, but it may differ from the latest product labels. Always check the label before you buy.
• This site may earn commissions through affiliate programs.

Contact

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