Please note: This article originally appeared in the NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements™ for the Americas, sixth edition.
There are, in fact, two things, science and opinion; The former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance.
This chapter explains the Health Support Profile, a set of mathematical models based on the 16 Health Support criteria described below. The Health Support Profile provides an overall ranking for each product included in this guide in accordance with the nutrient intake recommendations as described in the Blended Standard. Together, the NutriSearch Blended Standard and the 16 Health Support criteria form the basis of our analysis. For a detailed explanation of the Blended Standard, please refer to Chapter 8 of the guide.
To evaluate a product, its rating for each Health Support criterion is calculated mathematically. This rating is determined by the nutrients and their potencies present in the product in relation to the requirements for each criterion. The 16 individual ratings for each product are pooled to provide a raw product score for that product. These scores represent a product’s rating relative to all products evaluated within a particular market. Final product ratings are displayed as star ratings, shown in one-half–star increments from zero to five stars.
To receive a full point for any single Health Support criterion, the product must meet or exceed the benchmark established for that criterion. Each criterion uses a sliding scale, from 0% to 100%, where partial points are awarded for the partial fulfilment of the criterion. The last two criteria, Potential Toxicities and Common Antioxidant Profile, penalize the product if the formulation exceeds defined limits of daily intake for those nutrients described in each criterion.
For each criterion, we address the fundamental question posed; in turn, each question presents the logical argument that forms the basis of our mathematical model (algorithm) for that criterion.
NutriSearch Corporation is a Canadian company specializing in nutrition and health research, focussed primarily on multiple vitamin and mineral supplementation.
Our main product is the NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements™, which examines current research on the health benefits of supplementation for prevention of degenerative disease. The guide also includes comparisons of broad-spectrum supplements available in various markets around the world, is available in various regions. The guide for the Americas includes product comparisons from Canada, Colombia, México, and the United States. We also publish a guide for Australia and New Zealand.
NutriSearch is also available as a consultant to nutritional supplement manufacturers wanting to improve their supplements.