Testing Methodology

Every “12-week test” referenced in our reviews follows the same structured protocol. This page documents it once, so each review can focus on results.

Cohort Recruitment

Test groups are recruited from our reader community and screened for the target demographic of each product (for prostate formulas: men 45+ with self-reported urinary symptoms; for glucose formulas: adults tracking their own fasting numbers; and so on). Participants are unpaid volunteers who receive the product at our cost. Cohort sizes range from 36 to 48 participants depending on category.

The 12-Week Protocol

• Baseline week: participants log symptoms, measurements or meter readings for 7 days before starting.
• Weeks 1–12: daily use per label directions, with weekly structured self-report forms (symptom scales, sleep quality, energy, category-specific measures).
• Objective measures where possible: glucose cohorts use their own meters/CGMs; skin cohorts submit standardised photos; oral-health cohorts log brushing-bleed events.
• Dropout tracking: anyone leaving the test is recorded with reason — adverse events are reported in the review regardless of severity.

What Our Numbers Mean

Figures like “72% reported fewer night-time bathroom trips” are structured self-report outcomes from these cohorts. They are not placebo-controlled clinical trials and we never present them as such. Where published RCT evidence exists for an ingredient, we cite it separately from our own observations.

Limitations

Self-report testing carries placebo and expectation effects. We mitigate with baseline weeks, structured scales and dropout transparency — but our testing complements published research, it does not replace it. Both layers appear in every review so readers can weigh them independently. See also our Editorial Policy.