Trust tool
Ingredient evidence scorecard
Pick a supplement to see its headline claims scored against the EFSA and GB authorised health-claim register and NHS guidance: authorised, situational, or no authorised claim. It tells you whether a marketing claim is one regulators have actually accepted, which exposes under-dosed and over-claimed products. It scores the claim, not whether you should take it. Information only, not medical advice; speak to your GP or pharmacist.
All ingredients at a glance
Vitamin D
Strong regulatory footing: multiple EFSA-authorised claims and an active NHS recommendation for autumn and winter.
- Authorised: Contributes to normal bone and muscle function and immune function. EFSA-authorised claims exist for vitamin D and bones, muscle function and immune function.
- Situational: NHS recommends a 10 mcg daily supplement in autumn and winter. A public-health recommendation, not a treatment claim.
Source: GB nutrition and health claims register; NHS Vitamin D.
Omega-3 (EPA and DHA)
Authorised heart, brain and eye claims exist at defined daily intakes; the NHS frames intake around eating oily fish.
- Authorised: EPA and DHA contribute to normal heart function. EFSA-authorised at a daily intake of 250 mg combined EPA and DHA.
- Authorised: DHA contributes to maintenance of normal brain function and vision. EFSA-authorised at a daily intake of 250 mg DHA.
Folic acid
Well-evidenced and NHS-recommended for women trying to conceive and in early pregnancy.
- Authorised: Supplemental folic acid increases maternal folate status, which contributes to normal neural tube development. EFSA-authorised maternal-folate claim; the NHS recommends 400 mcg daily before conception to 12 weeks.
Magnesium
Authorised claims exist for several normal functions; most people meet needs from food.
- Authorised: Contributes to normal muscle function and reduction of tiredness and fatigue. EFSA-authorised claims; the NHS notes most people get enough from a balanced diet.
Source: EFSA authorised claims; NHS Others.
Iron
Authorised claims exist; the NHS advises testing before supplementing rather than routine use.
- Authorised: Contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and reduction of tiredness. EFSA-authorised claims; the NHS advises a ferritin test before supplementing.
Source: EFSA authorised claims; NHS Iron.
Collagen
No authorised health claim. Marketing for skin, joints or hair goes beyond what UK rules permit.
- No authorised claim: Improves skin, joints or hair. There are zero EFSA-authorised health claims for collagen.
Ashwagandha
A herbal supplement with no EFSA-authorised health claim; trial evidence on stress is mixed and short-term.
- No authorised claim: Reduces stress or anxiety. No EFSA-authorised claim. Some trials report effects, but no claim has passed the EFSA evidence bar.
Creatine
An authorised performance claim exists in the context of resistance training.
- Authorised: Increases physical performance during short-term, high-intensity exercise, with resistance training. EFSA-authorised at a daily intake of 3 g creatine, used in adults doing resistance training.
Source: EFSA authorised claims.
How we score claims
Authorised means an EFSA or GB-authorised health claim exists for that effect, usually at a defined daily intake. No authorised claim means no claim has passed the EFSA evidence bar, so marketing that effect goes beyond UK advertising rules. Situational reflects an NHS public-health recommendation in defined circumstances rather than a treatment claim. We score the status of the claim, never whether you personally should take the supplement. Verdicts as of 2026-06-13.
Information only, not medical advice. This tool is educational and is not a substitute for a registered clinician. It does not diagnose anything and does not recommend that you take any supplement. Always read product labels and speak to your GP or pharmacist before starting, stopping or combining supplements. The authorised-claims register is about whether a benefit can be claimed, not a full safety assessment; safety, interactions and the right dose for you are questions for your GP or pharmacist.
Read more
See why hidden doses matter with the proprietary blend decoder, decide whether to buy at all with do you actually need this supplement, and check the price with the cost per effective dose calculators. More on the tools hub.
Frequently asked questions
What does the scorecard actually measure?
It measures the regulatory and evidence status of a supplement’s headline claims, not whether you should take it. Authorised means an EFSA or GB-authorised health claim exists for that effect. No authorised claim means no claim has passed the EFSA evidence bar, so marketing that effect goes beyond UK rules. Situational means the NHS recommends the nutrient only in defined circumstances, such as a public-health recommendation rather than a treatment claim.
If a claim is not authorised, does that mean it does not work?
Not necessarily; it means no claim has met the EFSA standard of evidence. Some ingredients have promising but not conclusive trial data, and the bar is deliberately high. The practical takeaway is to treat unauthorised marketing claims with caution and not pay a premium for an effect that regulators have not accepted.
How does this help with proprietary blends and under-dosing?
An authorised claim usually applies only at a specific daily intake, for example 250 mg of EPA and DHA, or 3 g of creatine. If a product hides per-ingredient doses behind a proprietary blend, you cannot tell whether it reaches the dose the claim depends on. The scorecard tells you the claim status; the proprietary blend decoder explains why a blend can mask under-dosing.
Is the register the final word on safety?
No. The authorised-claims register is about whether a health benefit can be claimed, not a full safety assessment. Safety, interactions and the right dose for you are separate questions for your GP or pharmacist, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication.
Editor, Her Vitals
Oliver leads Her Vitals's editorial coverage of women's life-stage health and supplements. He curates and reviews existing branded products across trying to conceive, pregnancy, postnatal, perimenopause, menopause and the senior years, weighing what the evidence supports against guidance from bodies such as EFSA, the NHS and NICE, and is clear that the content is information rather than medical advice.
Last reviewed: 13 June 2026