Study Dose vs Product Dose
Check whether a supplement gives the amount that was actually used in the research.
This tool was built by Serge (MSc) using established science and government sources. My academic background covers plant biology, environmental biology, and biogeochemistry. My tools are for educational purposes and give practical guidance, not professional advice.
A study might show an effect at a certain dose, and a product might contain a fraction of that. This tool compares the two. Enter the dose used in the research and the amount in one serving of the product, and it shows what percentage of the study dose you get and how many servings would match it.
How this works
The tool compares the amount you take per day against the study dose:
Percentage of study dose = (product per serving × servings per day) ÷ study dose × 100
It also works out the servings needed to match the study, which is the study dose divided by the amount per serving. For example, if a study used 500 mg and a product has 100 mg per serving, one serving gives 20% of the study dose, and you would need five servings to match it.
Understanding your result
If a product delivers well under the study dose, the research on that dose does not automatically apply to the product. This is one of the most common gaps between what a supplement is sold on and what it actually contains. Use the servings-to-match figure to see whether reaching the study dose is even practical with that product, and check the study itself for how long the dose was taken, since duration matters as much as amount.
Important limitations
- Matching a study dose does not guarantee the same result. Study populations, forms, and durations differ from everyday use.
- Use the same form and units when comparing. An extract dose and a raw powder dose are not the same thing.
- More is not always better. Some ingredients have an upper limit, above which risk rises.
- This tool assumes the amounts you enter are accurate.
How this is calculated
This tool uses arithmetic only: a division to find the percentage of the study dose, and a division to find the servings needed to match it. There is no external data involved, so the result is exact for the numbers you enter. Always take the dose figures from the study's own methods section and the product's Supplement Facts panel.
Scientific basis
The amount per serving that this tool compares against a study dose is defined on the Supplement Facts panel under government labeling rules:
- Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide, Chapter IV (US FDA)
- 21 CFR 101.36, nutrition labeling of dietary supplements (eCFR)
This calculator is for general education only and is not medical or professional advice. Always check product labels and speak with a qualified professional before making decisions about supplements.