The Science Behind Supplements
At Supplement Certified, our mission is to bring scientific integrity and transparency to the world of food and dietary supplements.
Recently, our co-founder, Prof. John Nolan, joined science broadcaster Jonathan McCrea on Futureproof(Newstalk) to discuss one of the most pressing questions in health and nutrition today – How can consumers know which supplements actually work?
Why Evidence Matters
During the interview, Prof. Nolan emphasized a crucial truth — not all supplements are created equal. While supplements can play an important role in supporting health, many products currently on the market lack proper scientific validation. Without this evidence, consumers may end up paying for supplements that fail to deliver what their labels promise. Backed by over 20 years of scientific research, his firm champions the idea that food supplements deserve the same rigorous testing as medicines.
A Major Challenge: Limited Regulation
As discussed on Futureproof, one of the biggest challenges in the supplement industry is the lack of mandatory label claim and efficacy testing before products reach the market. This gap means that even well-intentioned consumers — and often healthcare professionals — struggle to distinguish scientifically supported products from those built mainly on marketing claims.
How Supplement Certified Is Changing That
This is where Supplement Certified comes in.
Born out of rigorous research at South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford, our independent quality certification program is designed to verify supplement quality through science.
By setting a new global standard for supplement quality, we’re helping brands demonstrate their credibility and giving consumers the confidence they deserve in every certified product.
Leading with Science, Not Marketing
Our goal is simple: to ensure that science guides the supplement industry, not hype.
Through collaboration, transparency, and evidence-based testing, we’re raising the bar for product quality and consumer trust worldwide.
To explore the Supplement Certified quality assurance programme, please contact info@supplementcertified.ie.
You can listen to the conversation on Spotify: Extra: How to verify supplement quality – Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea | Podcast on Spotify
The episode is also available on Prof. John Nolan’s website via the Education Hub – Vision and Nutrition Science Resources
