â ïļ Why Supplement Quality Matters
The supplement industry is poorly regulated. Studies show 25% of supplements contain unlisted ingredients, heavy metal contamination, or don't match label claims. Many use cheap fillers, synthetic additives, and inadequate dosages. Our analyzer helps you identify quality supplements and avoid dangerous products.
What We Analyze in Your Supplements
What Does Hyaluronic Acid Do? Supplement Analysis
Understand what hyaluronic acid does when taken as a supplement. Our ingredient checker explains hyaluronic acid benefits for joint health, skin hydration, and anti-aging. Learn what does hyaluronic acid do in your body and optimal dosages.
Niacin Benefits & Supplement Checker
Discover niacin benefits for cardiovascular health, energy metabolism, and cholesterol management. Our supplement checker analyzes niacin dosages, identifies flush-free forms, and explains benefits of niacin supplementation based on research.
Ingredient Purity
Verify active ingredients match label claims. Detect synthetic vs. natural sources, identify bioavailable forms, and check for pharmaceutical-grade quality.
Filler & Additive Detection
Identify unnecessary fillers like magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, artificial colors, and flow agents that add no nutritional value.
Drug Interaction Warnings
Get alerts about supplements that interact with common medications like blood thinners, antidepressants, birth control, and blood pressure drugs.
Dosage Verification
Check if dosages are therapeutic, sub-therapeutic, or potentially dangerous. Compare to recommended daily values and clinical research doses.
Allergen Scanning
Detect hidden allergens from manufacturing: soy, dairy, gluten, shellfish, and cross-contamination risks in supplement facilities.
Third-Party Testing
Verify claims about third-party testing (USP, NSF, ConsumerLab) and identify supplements tested for heavy metals and contaminants.
Form & Bioavailability
Assess ingredient forms - methylated B-vitamins vs. synthetic, chelated minerals vs. oxide forms. Higher bioavailability = better absorption.
Herbal Standardization
Check if herbal extracts are standardized to active compounds or just ground plant material with inconsistent potency.
ðĐ Supplement Red Flags We Detect
Proprietary Blends
"Proprietary blend" hides exact amounts of each ingredient, often using minimal doses of expensive ingredients and bulking with cheap fillers.
Mega-Doses
Dangerously high doses (e.g., 50,000% DV) that exceed safe upper limits, potentially causing toxicity, especially with fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K.
Cheap Synthetic Forms
Low-quality ingredients like cyanocobalamin (vs. methylcobalamin), magnesium oxide (vs. glycinate), synthetic vitamin E (dl-alpha vs. d-alpha).
Unlisted Stimulants
Pre-workouts and fat burners sometimes contain undisclosed stimulants, including substances banned by FDA or athletic organizations.
Heavy Metal Contamination
Some supplements (especially from certain regions) contain lead, arsenic, mercury, or cadmium exceeding safe limits. More common in herbal products.
Expired or Degraded Ingredients
Probiotics with no CFU count, fish oil past oxidation point, or ingredients past potency shelf-life that no longer provide benefits.
Supplements We Analyze
Frequently Asked Questions | SafeShelf
What does hyaluronic acid do as a supplement?
Hyaluronic acid supports joint lubrication, skin hydration, and tissue repair when taken as a supplement. Our supplement interaction checker explains what hyaluronic acid does in your body, optimal dosages (80-200mg daily), and hyaluronic acid benefits for skin and joints. Learn what does hyaluronic acid do beyond topical use.
What are the benefits of niacin supplementation?
Niacin benefits include improved cholesterol levels, enhanced energy metabolism, cardiovascular support, and brain health. Our supplement checker analyzes niacin forms (nicotinic acid vs. niacinamide), explains benefits of niacin at different dosages, and identifies potential flushing effects.
How does your supplement interaction checker work?
Our supplement interaction checker analyzes ingredient combinations for potential drug interactions, overdose risks, and contraindications. Check supplements against common medications, verify what hyaluronic acid does when combined with other ingredients, and get niacin benefits without risks.
How can I tell if my supplement is high quality?
Look for third-party testing (USP, NSF, ConsumerLab), bioavailable ingredient forms (methylated B vitamins, chelated minerals), no proprietary blends (shows exact amounts), minimal fillers, and therapeutic dosages based on research. Our analyzer checks all these factors automatically.
What are proprietary blends and why are they bad?
Proprietary blends list multiple ingredients under one total weight without disclosing individual amounts. Companies use this to hide that they're using tiny, ineffective doses of expensive ingredients while bulking products with cheap fillers. You can't verify if you're getting therapeutic amounts.
Do supplements interact with my medications?
Yes, many do. St. John's Wort affects birth control and antidepressants. Fish oil, garlic, and vitamin E thin blood. Calcium blocks antibiotics. Vitamin K interferes with warfarin. Our analyzer flags known interactions so you can consult your doctor.
Why do some vitamins have 1000%+ of the daily value?
Manufacturers use mega-doses for marketing appeal ("more must be better"). For water-soluble vitamins (B, C), excess is urinated out - you're literally flushing money. For fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), mega-doses can accumulate and cause toxicity. Our analyzer flags dangerous mega-doses.
Are all protein powders safe?
No. Studies found heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury) in popular protein powders, especially plant-based ones. Some contain undisclosed stimulants or steroids. Check for third-party testing (NSF Certified for Sport, Informed-Choice) and scan ingredient labels.
What's the difference between synthetic and natural vitamins?
Natural vitamins come from food sources with cofactors that aid absorption. Synthetic vitamins are chemically manufactured and may be less bioavailable. Example: synthetic B12 (cyanocobalamin) vs. natural (methylcobalamin). Natural forms typically absorb better but cost more. Our analyzer identifies which form you have.
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