ConsumerLab.comReviews 628

I read the peer-reviewed scientific literature whenever I need information on a variety of topics (Google Scholar is a great resource), but it is a time-consuming practice. ConsumerLab does such a superb job summarizing research findings on the topics they cover that I don't feel the need to read the original journal articles myself, which frees up time to focus my own efforts elsewhere. I've subscribed to ConsumerLab for years and am consistently impressed with the quality, reliability, and breadth of the information they provide. Highly recommended.

If you sign up for a free trial they will put the funds for a full membership on an authorization hold in your account wether you are using a credit or debit card. The website says the funds will be on hold for 5 days (the length of the trial) even if you cancel before those 5 days are up.

Here it is day 6 for me, I cancelled the trial on day 2 or 3, and the funds haven't been released by today day 6 so I called in. I was told at first it would take 7 days for my bank or card company to release the funds.

I told them no, I specifically used my PayPal debit card for this transaction because they release funds in hours not days. This has been tested by me on multiple occasions, so yes I know it to be true.

They asked when my trial ended, and I told them when I cancelled it. I was told 5 days after I signed up was when it ended even if I cancelled the "free trial" before then. I was then told that if you cancel your trial they would put a note in your account so you won't be charged at the end of the 5 days. If you need their services go for it I guess. I needed information on one thing and their top picks were discontinued, so I ended my membership as it didn't help me. So thanks for nothing but a headache I guess.

**My funds for the trial have now been released. So I guess it's just important that you know the information I've left above. The trial last a full 5 days even if you cancel bwfore those 5 days are up and they hold your funds ($42) for a full 5 days even if you cancel. In my case it was longer**

BAIT AND HOOK. BEWARE. When you go to their webpage for product comparison you have to agree to receive there newsletter which is sent out twice a week, they then send you to another page where you have to sign up for a PAID membership before they will send the information out. To me this is deceptive and they should inform you up front that you MUST have the paid membership to receive any information. I would have never agreed to receive the newsletters if I had known before hand that I would have to sign up for a paid subscription.

I'm a scientist and tend to maintain a healthy skepticism of supplements--especially those that make overly strong claims. But there are a few that my doctors have directed me to take. In addition, I have a couple of health issues that conventional medicine hasn't yet been completely successful in treating. ConsumerLab provides an excellent summary of the research available for a number of common supplements. They also point out potential interactions and cautions for people with certain conditions. I appreciate the comparisons of common brands so that I can make sure to get what I'm paying for and also choose the most economical product.

To be honest, I had planned to look up as many supplements and I could during the free 5-day trial and then cancel, but I'm finding it too useful!

I know this review may look confusing. Explanation: I found their reviews confusing, as in, "One study found this; another found that, and so on and so forth. Also, consumerlab rated lycopene as a legitimate supplement, when in fact, the man who discovered it states that lycopene must be received by eating tomatoes---that if taken as a supplement, it destroyed in the stomach. The GREAT thing about the company is that when I called them for a refund, even AFTER the 30 day refund window had passed, they refunded me IN FULL, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. That is OUTSTANDING.

ConsumerLab.com does have a yearly subscription fee. I can't remember how much, but believe me, if you buy supplements, vitamins, protein, weight loss, and other natural/alternative/health products, ConsumerLab will save you money! We all know the claims made by companies, sounding almost miraculous, and often "too good to be true". Consumer Lab offers an unbiased, research-oriented study of different groups of supplements. A very recent report from Consumer Lab was on Apple Cider Vinegar. CL listed all the benefits of apple cider vinegar. Uses and indications for each set of products they review are given. They then showed a graph of different Apple Cider Vinegars they tested in their "Quality Certification Program", as quality testing is a main part of CL's information to consumers. On their graphs are products that are "Approved" or "Not Approved" after quality testing was done. CL explains why some products are not approved, and they supply the parameters of approved products. In addition (and the reason this site saves you money), CL lists the costs of the different companies and shows the "Best Buy". Consumer Lab is totally unbiased, and all their information is based on the research they have done. They look at such things as contaminants, such as lead levels, quality of products, cost, efficacy (such as does this product absorb into our systems). As a consumer of supplements, et. Al., CL is a valuable resource.

With the continuous scientific advancement of todays world we are confronted almost daily with vast amounts of new data. Evaluating significance and reliability together with implications for existing models or often the need to construct new frameworks is a full time job for the conscientious professional. For a concerned consumer Consumer Lab provides a unique and invaluable inventory of relevant analysis and interpretation. I cant imagine how an informed decision with respect to individual needs can be made without consulting Consumer Lab.

I had been considering subscribing for about a year but couldn't make up my mind whether or not to spend the money. I finally did subscribe a few months ago. I believe it is a sound investment.

I often read about how this or that supplement will perform some sort of miracle for you. ConsumerLab is an impartial source to get the truth about supplements so you can avoid wasting money. If you decide a supplement might be helpful, ConsumerLab will let you know which brands contain the ingredients they're supposed to.

In addition, they are good about responding to questions. For example, I had a question about whether collagen supplements contained tyramine. I wrote to ConsumerLab to ask about that, and Jared replied the next day with a clear answer.

I highly recommend subscribing.
Dave

Consumers expect free content, and yes, there IS plenty of good information on the web free of charge. But, in the world of nutritional supplements one must sort thru a mountain of misleading infomercials, anecdotal or superficial evidence, and bad science in order to find useful and credible information. Even if you have the necessary background in science or medicine to do so, who has the time?
ConsumerLab makes an enormous amount of good information readily available and should be required reading for anyone interested in taking supplements of any kind.

Eric C., M. D.