How It Works
SupStack started as a passion project to make sense of the supplement world. Here's how it organizes the research to help you decide what's worth trying.
What SupStack Does
Surfaces the Research
Finds and summarizes the actual studies behind each supplement, so you don't have to dig through journals yourself.
Makes It Accessible
Presents key information — dosing, effects, safety — in a clear format so you can quickly understand what matters.
Helps You Decide
Compare options side-by-side and match supplements to your goals so you can figure out what's worth trying.
Which Supplements Get Included
Not every supplement makes the cut. Here's how I decide what to include in SupStack:
Included
- ✓Research exists — At least some human research to evaluate
- ✓People actually use it — Popular supplements that people are actively considering
- ✓Clear use case — At least one well-defined benefit claim to evaluate
- ✓Available OTC — Supplements you can buy without a prescription
Not Included (Yet)
- —Supplements with only animal or in-vitro studies
- —Prescription medications or controlled substances
- —Products with proprietary blends where doses are hidden
- —Multi-ingredient formulas (individual ingredients listed separately)
Have a supplement you'd like to see added? Suggest it in the library and it'll be considered for future updates.
Evidence Ratings
Each supplement gets a simple score from 1-10 based on how strong the research is. Here's what the numbers mean:
Very Strong Evidence
Multiple high-quality meta-analyses and RCTs with consistent, significant results. Effect sizes are meaningful and replicated across populations.
Strong Evidence
Several RCTs and at least one meta-analysis showing positive effects. Some inconsistency in results but overall evidence is supportive.
Moderate Evidence
Limited RCTs with mixed results or primarily observational studies. Promising but more research needed.
Preliminary Evidence
Mostly animal studies, mechanistic research, or very limited human trials. Theoretical benefits not yet confirmed.
What Goes Into the Score
The evidence score combines several factors to give you a quick sense of how solid the research is:
Study Quality
40%Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews carry the most weight. Animal studies and anecdotal reports are noted but don't drive the score.
Effect Size
25%A statistically significant result doesn't always mean much in practice. The effect size tells you if the benefit is actually noticeable.
Replication
20%One study is interesting. Multiple studies showing the same thing? That's more convincing.
Risk of Bias
15%Who funded the study? Was it double-blind with a placebo? These details affect how much you can trust the results.
Data & Validation
Every claim on SupStack is backed by real data. Here's the scale of what's behind the site:
218
Supplements
7,930+
Verified PubMed Studies
460+
Verified Interactions
218
Pathway Maps
1,760+
Medical Claims Verified
How the Research Gets Validated
Pulling studies off PubMed is just the start. Every supplement goes through a 7-step validation pipeline before anything goes live:
1. Literature Collection & PubMed Enrichment
Studies are pulled from PubMed using supplement names, aliases, and scientific names. DOI-to-PMID conversion runs with an 81–88% hit rate for direct verification. Each study is matched to relevant supplements, ranked by quality, and tagged with DOI and PMID links so you can read the originals.
2. PMID Verification & Citation Audit
Every cited study is verified against PubMed records. Through bulk verification, 277 incorrect PMIDs were identified and corrected. We maintain a zero orphan studies policy — all 7,738+ studies have verifiable citations. Additionally, 474 out of 494 generic interaction references were replaced with real PMIDs.
3. Study Claim Cross-Validation
Automated comparison of actual PubMed abstract findings against supplement claims. Over 250 studies spot-checked with 0 mismatches found. Safety keywords are scanned for concerns, dosage mentions extracted and compared, and positive vs. negative findings tallied against evidence scores.
4. Medical Content Validation
An automated audit checks every supplement across 11 categories. Dosages are checked against NIH and EFSA clinical ranges and upper limits. Safety ratings are cross-referenced with reported side effects. Drug interactions are validated against known contraindications — 381 drug interactions, 80+ supplement-supplement interactions, and CYP450 enzyme pathway maps.
5. Evidence Score Recalibration
Scores are recalibrated to match actual study data, not inflated estimates. Synergy references are backfilled — 260 asymmetric synergy references across 76 supplements. Study deduplication ensures the same study is tagged with all relevant supplements.
6. Interaction Database
A comprehensive drug-supplement interaction database covers 381 drug interactions and 80+ supplement-supplement interactions. CYP450 enzyme pathway mapping identifies metabolic interactions. Population-specific safety rules cover pregnancy, elderly, pediatric, and renal/hepatic impairment.
7. Continuous Monitoring
Automated daily PubMed scans check for new studies on all 218 supplements. Weekly research monitor reviews significant new findings. Scores and safety ratings are auto-adjusted when new evidence changes the picture.
Biological Pathway Visualizations
Understanding why a supplement might work is just as important as knowing that it might work. Every supplement in SupStack includes an interactive biological pathway visualization showing how it works in your body.
218 pathway maps have been generated and validated, covering absorption, metabolism, mechanism of action, and physiological effects. Each pathway shows the journey from ingestion through to the biological effects that produce the health outcomes you care about.
Pathways are validated against published pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic literature to ensure accuracy. These visualizations help you understand the science behind each supplement — not just the study results, but the biological mechanisms that explain them.
Pathway visualizations are accessible on each supplement detail page.
Safety Information
Knowing if something works is only half the picture. Each supplement also gets a safety rating:
Well-established safety profile with minimal side effects at recommended doses. Safe for most adults.
Generally safe but with notable drug interactions or contraindications for specific populations.
Significant potential for side effects or interactions. Medical supervision recommended.
Finding What Fits Your Goals
Pick what you're trying to improve, and SupStack shows you which supplements have research supporting that goal. The match score weights your priorities:
Each supplement has a score for how well it addresses each goal, based on the research. Your priorities determine the final match percentage.
Personal Experiments (N-of-1)
Research tells you what works on average — but you're not average. SupStack lets you run structured personal experiments to find out if a supplement actually works for you.
How It Works
Pick a supplement you haven't started yet, select a goal (e.g. better sleep), and SupStack generates a protocol with recommended dose, timing, and duration based on the research.
Baseline → Check-ins → Verdict
You start with a baseline survey before taking anything. Then you follow the protocol and do periodic check-ins. At the end, SupStack compares your responses to your baseline and gives you a personal verdict: helped, no clear effect, or made things worse.
Why It Matters
Most people try a supplement and “feel like” it helps — or doesn't. A structured experiment with a real baseline removes guesswork. It's not a clinical trial, but it's far better than vibes.
Important: Experiments are designed for supplements you haven't started yet. If you're already taking something, the baseline won't reflect your true starting point, and the results won't be meaningful.
Help Make It Better
The scoring system and goal matching are works in progress. If you have ideas for how to improve them — better ways to weight the research, additional factors to consider, or goals that should be added — I'd genuinely love to hear them.
This project gets better with feedback. Reach out at feedback@supstack.com.
Glossary
Supplement research comes with its own vocabulary. Throughout the site, hover over underlined terms for quick definitions. Here are some common ones:
Bioavailability
How much of a supplement actually gets absorbed and used by your body.
Half-life
How long a substance stays active in your system before being eliminated.
Adaptogen
Natural compounds that help your body adapt to stress and maintain balance.
Nootropic
Substances that enhance cognitive function like memory, focus, or creativity.
A Few Important Notes
- •This is for learning and exploring — not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before starting anything new.
- •Everyone responds differently. What works in studies might not work the same way for you.
- •SupStack is a work in progress. New research comes out all the time, and ratings will update as the site improves.
- •Supplement quality varies a lot. These ratings assume you're getting a decent product at the right dose.