Science

The research library.

Every ingredient we sell, sorted by what the published research actually supports — including the ones where the honest answer is "not much yet". Each entry links to its own record and to the source behind it.

50 of 559 ingredient records, each with a stated evidence level and a source.

A storefront page can list 50 ingredient records at a time, so this library shows the first 50. The complete set of 559 is in the Ingredient Index, and every record there carries the same evidence level and source as it would here.

An evidence level describes the state of published research on an ingredient. It does not describe what a product will do for you.

These are not grades, and the list below is not ranked from best to worst. "Established physiological role" and "supported for specific measured outcomes" answer different questions — one is about what a nutrient does in the body, the other about what a trial measured. Treating them as a league table would imply that a higher row predicts a better result, which is precisely what the research does not say.

Six kinds of answer

What "evidence" can mean.

Counts are live and reflect the records listed on this page.

0 Established physiological role The body needs it, and what it does is settled science — the case for a vitamin or mineral you are short of. This says nothing about whether you are short of it. 2 Supported for specific measured outcomes Human trials measured a defined outcome, at a defined dose, in a defined group, and found an effect. The narrowest and most useful kind of claim on this page. 5 Mixed human evidence Trials exist and disagree. Some found an effect, others did not, and the differences often come down to dose, form, duration, or who was studied. 39 Limited human evidence A small number of human studies, often small, short, or preliminary. Enough to be interesting; not enough to be relied on. 0 Insufficient direct human evidence The case rests mainly on mechanism, animal work, or research on something adjacent rather than on people taking this ingredient. 2 Formula-specific evidence not established Evidence exists for the ingredients, but not for this combination at these amounts. Combining studied things does not inherit their studies.

The library

Every record, by what it rests on.

Counts below are of the records on this page. Sources open in a new tab and point at the literature or a public reference body, not at our own pages.

Supported for specific measured outcomes

2

Human trials measured a defined outcome, at a defined dose, in a defined group, and found an effect. The narrowest and most useful kind of claim on this page.

Read the outcome literally. A result in one population at one dose is not a general promise, and the dose in a trial is not automatically the dose in a product.

  • AshwagandhaResearch on Ashwagandha is strongest for specific measured outcomes related to perceived stress, anxiety-re...Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗
  • Beet RootResearch on Beet Root is strongest for specific measured outcomes related to blood-flow, blood-pressure, an...Source ↗

Mixed human evidence

5

Trials exist and disagree. Some found an effect, others did not, and the differences often come down to dose, form, duration, or who was studied.

Mixed is not the same as disproven, and it is not the same as promising. It means the honest summary is "it depends", and we would rather say that than pick the flattering half.

  • Acetyl-L-CarnitineStudies of Acetyl-L-Carnitine examine cellular energy and cognitive measures, but results and practical rel...Source ↗
  • Alpha Lipoic AcidStudies of Alpha Lipoic Acid examine glucose metabolism, nerve-related measures, and antioxidant status, bu...Source ↗
  • AmlaStudies of Amla examine lipid, glucose, and antioxidant measures, but results and practical relevance vary ...Source ↗
  • Apple Cider VinegarStudies of Apple Cider Vinegar examine post-meal glucose, lipid, and appetite-related measures, but results...Source ↗
  • AstaxanthinStudies of Astaxanthin examine skin photoprotection, oxidative-status, and exercise-recovery measures, but ...Source ↗

Limited human evidence

39

A small number of human studies, often small, short, or preliminary. Enough to be interesting; not enough to be relied on.

  • 5-HTP5-HTP is studied for sleep timing and mood-related outcomes, although direct human evidence remains limited...Source ↗
  • AcaiAcai is studied for oxidative-status, lipid, and glucose-related measures; evidence and product identity de...Source ↗
  • AcerolaAcerola is studied for antioxidant measures and nutrient delivery, although direct human evidence remains l...Source ↗
  • Activated CharcoalActivated Charcoal is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketin...Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗
  • African MangoAfrican Mango is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing cla...Source ↗
  • Agaricus blazeiAgaricus blazei is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing c...Source ↗
  • Agmatine SulfateAgmatine Sulfate is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing ...Source ↗
  • AguajeAguaje is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • AHCCAHCC is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • AjugaAjuga is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗
  • AlfalfaAlfalfa is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • Algae OilAlgae Oil is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • AllicinAllicin is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • Aloe VeraAloe Vera is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • Alpha-GPCAlpha-GPC is studied for cognitive performance and power-output measures, although direct human evidence re...Source ↗
  • Alpha-Linolenic AcidAlpha-Linolenic Acid is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by market...Source ↗
  • AmylaseAmylase is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • AndrographisAndrographis is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • ApigeninApigenin is studied for sleep, stress-response, and cellular-signaling measures, although direct human evid...Source ↗
  • ArabinogalactanArabinogalactan is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing c...Source ↗
  • ArnicaArnica is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗
  • AroniaAronia is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • Sweet WormwoodSweet Wormwood is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing cl...Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗
  • Artichoke LeafArtichoke Leaf is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing cl...Source ↗
  • AshokaAshoka is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • AstragalusAstragalus is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • Adenosine TriphosphateAdenosine Triphosphate is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by mark...Source ↗
  • Oat StrawOat Straw is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • Avocado IngredientAvocado Ingredient is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketin...Source ↗
  • Avocado OilAvocado Oil is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • Bacopa monnieriBacopa monnieri is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing c...Source ↗
  • BaelBael is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • Bamboo ExtractBamboo Extract is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing cl...Source ↗
  • Banaba LeafBanaba Leaf is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • BarberryBarberry is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗
  • Barley GrassBarley Grass is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • BCAABCAA is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • Bee PollenBee Pollen is documented here by identity, form, human-evidence context, and safety—not by marketing claims.Source ↗
  • Beef LiverBeef Liver is studied for whole-food nutrient density and nutrient adequacy, although direct human evidence...Source ↗

Formula-specific evidence not established

2

Evidence exists for the ingredients, but not for this combination at these amounts. Combining studied things does not inherit their studies.

Level not yet set

2

These records exist but their evidence level has not been set or does not match a published level. They are listed rather than hidden — an unlabelled record is a gap we would rather you could see.

Boundaries

What a citation does not claim.

A citation is about the ingredient, not our product.

Where we cite a study, we are citing research on an ingredient at a stated dose and form. It is not a claim that a WQ product was the subject of that study, or that its dose or form matches.

A level is not a rating.

These describe how much is known, not how well something works. An ingredient with an established physiological role is not therefore a better purchase than one with mixed evidence — they are answers to different questions.

The list includes what is thin.

The weaker levels are populated on purpose. A library that only showed the well-supported end would be marketing with footnotes, and the entries we cannot support strongly are exactly the ones you would want to see labelled.

Related

How this gets used.

The Ingredient IndexThe full record behind each entry: dose, timing, interactions, cautions.↗ How the engine worksWhy an ingredient with no record is never recommended at all.↗ What we didn't prioritizeHow a thin evidence level keeps something out of your routine.↗

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Educational information only — not medical advice.