Comment · Mon, October 20, 2025 · Natrium Health & Nootropics Depot
Any good site or app that shows which supplements are actually backed by science?
Original post in this thread
MaroonDingo · 88 points
Been going down the supplement rabbit hole lately and it’s a mess figuring out what’s real. Every label claims to boost focus, mood, or energy. Most of it just feels like marketing. Are there any sites or apps that break down the research and show which ones actually have solid human studies behind them? I’m not looking for random blogs or influencer lists. Just something evidence based that keeps it reall
What they were answering
voyager256 · 1 points
Yeah Examine is great, but I skimmed through the ND links you provided , but everything seems vague and I’d say even sketchy. E.g. It doesn’t seem like any of the scientific board members studied and graduated medical studies I.e. is actually a MD. For others - what research institutions they work/worked in ?
And e.g. the Tongkat Ali research summary graph is useless at best or perhaps even misleading IMO. That’s not how evidence based medicine works. I’m aware that for most of the supplements there’s virtually zero quality clinical studies , but showing that 80% of studies showed increase? What was studies inclusion criteria or mean effect size?
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Natrium Health & Nootropics Depot
You're saying doctor Lindsay Faucette, who is double board certified in family medicine and integrative medicine, didn't "study and graduate medical studies?" Is that what you are saying? Are you also saying that someone with a PhD in nutrition, and who helps patients fix their diet and exercise for his job, can't interpret research studies on supplements? And that someone with a PhD in plant biology, with a focus in analytical chemistry, doesn't have the mental capacity to understand scientific research? Then Kerry is a botanist and herbalist that, while perhaps hasn't studied "medical studies" like an MD or DO, has traveled the world researching how plants and mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine in various cultures. What are your qualifications for questioning these professionals and their capacity for understanding and interpreting scientific research?
And e.g. the Tongkat Ali research summary graph is useless at best or perhaps even misleading IMO. That’s not how evidence based medicine or science works.
The graph that highlights whether the available research studies show yes, possibly, or no to the question being asked? How does science and evidence-based medicine actually work? Can you explain that in detail for me? Our systems were set up under the guidance of physicians actually treating patients, and were based on the structure of Consensus. Their platform is overseen by researchers like Dr. Nicholas Christakis (PhD, MD), Dr. Layne Norton (PhD), Stephen Wolfram (PhD, and founder of Wolfram Alpha), Jevin West (PhD), and Konrad Kording (PhD). Acting like analyzing available research in this manner is unscientific seems ridiculous, unless you can more adequately explain your position in detail.
I’m aware that for most of the supplements there’s virtually zero quality clinical studies , but showing that 80% of studies showed increase? What was study inclusion criteria? Were all of them randomised and at least single blind? What was or an average or mean effect size?
That's in the snapsot, as I explained. Each highlighted study shows whether is was a randomized controlled trial and other quality markers. If you are just looking at the testosterone claim, two of the highlighted studies are randomized controlled trials, one being highly cited and in a very rigorous journal. One other is a non-randomized controlled trial in a rigorous journal. The other is a systematic review and meta analysis. We link all the highlighted studies as well, so you can read them yourself.
I don’t know if that was included in the 7%?
Yes, that study clearly shows it did not increase testosterone levels significantly in healthy exercise-trained males. This would put it in the no category. It did show increases, but they did not reach statistical significance in their model. Are you trying to assert that the totally of the available scientific evidence does NOT support that Tongkat can increase testosterone levels? How are you coming to that determination?
Significant improvements were found in the TA group for Tension (−11%), Anger (−12%), and Confusion (−15%). Stress hormone profile (salivary cortisol and testosterone) was significantly improved by TA supplementation, with reduced cortisol exposure (−16%) and increased testosterone status. Salivary testosterone levels were significantly higher (+37% compared to placebo, PL) following tongkat ali (TA) supplementation (200 mg/day for 4 weeks). * = p < 0.05 by ANOVA.
The effect of Eurycoma longifolia on total testosterone in men withADAM needs to be explained since the group that only used supplementation with this root showed a 43 % increase in testosterone and reached levels within the normal range for total testosterone (>346 ng/dL). In previous studies using Eurycoma longifolia supplementation atdoses similar to those used in this study for 3 or 6 months yielded significant increases in total testosterone for middle-aged men (38. 6% and 46.8 %, respectively) [14,24]. Therefore, Eurycoma longifolia seems to be an excellent natural alternative with no side effects for men with ADAM. Some mechanisms of ction involved in increasing total testosterone through supplementation with Eurycoma longifolia are shown in Fig. 2. Even when supplementation is associated to concurrent training (G4), improvement in total testosterone was 48 %, showing that these two interventions alone are beneficial and extremely positive when combined.
Results of the subgroup analysis are presented in Figure 4 and Table 2. There were increased testosterone levels in both groups of men with (testosterone < 300 ng/dL) and without hypogonadism (testosterone > 300 ng/dL) after E. longifolia supplementation, although the increase was significant in the hypogonadism group. Heterogeneity was noticed among the studies in both groups (Table 2)
Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali; TA) is natural alternative to TRT and has been shown to restore serum testosterone levels, thus significantly improving sexual health. This includes significant positive effects on bone health and physical condition of patients. In addition, a significant anti-hyperglycaemic effect and cytotoxicity against PCas cells has been shown. Thus far, at therapeutic concentrations, no significant side effects of the treatment were obvious. Therefore, TA might be a safe alternative to TRT.
Treatment resulted in significant increases in total and free testosterone concentrations and muscular force in men and women. The increase in free testosterone in women is thought to be due to the significant decline in sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations. The study affirms the ergogenic benefit of TA through enhanced muscle strength.
Those are just the human studies as well. When you pair it with both animal studies and in vitro studies on leydig cells, it's clear that Tongkat can increase testosterone levels. That doesn't mean all studies show the same effects, nor that every person taking Tongkat will see increased testosterone levels. However, that is why our overview show that 80% of studies are saying yes, 13% possibly, and 7% no. It's an overview of the available scientific research meant to help people get an idea of the state of the science, and dig further if they want to. We also clearly state this in the overview:
Overall, Tongkat Ali appears to have a positive effect on increasing testosterone levels, particularly in longer-term studies and specific populations such as aging males or those under stress. However, short-term effects in healthy, exercise-trained individuals may be less pronounced. Further research could help clarify the conditions under which Tongkat Ali is most effective.
How is this not scientific?