Ingredients we don't grade
We grade 24 ingredients against a research dose. These 29 have none we can check a label against, so product pages show their amount as “not graded” and leave them out of the verdict. We never make up a dose to fill the gap. The rules are in the methodology.
- Agmatine Sulfate
No human study has tested it for exercise; human studies are for nerve pain.
- AstraGin
Added to help the body absorb other ingredients; it has no dose of its own to judge.
- BioPerine (black pepper extract)
Added to help the body absorb other ingredients; it has no dose of its own to judge.
- Branched-Chain Amino Acids
The ISSN's 2018 review lists BCAAs with limited or mixed evidence for building muscle. In the study it describes, 5.6 g of BCAAs raised muscle protein synthesis by about 20%, less than whey protein giving the same BCAAs, and it advises all nine essential amino acids instead. BCAAs are three of the nine.
- Choline
Most people get enough choline from food, and a review of the exercise studies found supplements might only help endurance when very long, hard exercise lowers blood choline (Penry and Manore, 2008).
- Coffee Bean Extract
A caffeine source: the caffeine a label states for it counts in the caffeine total; listed without an amount, it's flagged as unlisted caffeine.
- DHA
DHA is judged together with EPA, as EPA + DHA, the amount studies dose.
- EPA
EPA is judged together with DHA, as EPA + DHA, the amount studies dose.
- Glycerol
Studies used about 1–1.2 g per kg of bodyweight (75–90 g at 75 kg) with a large drink, to hold extra water before endurance exercise. Pre-workouts add 0.5–3 g of a 65% glycerol powder for "pumps"; we know of no study of amounts that small.
- Green Tea Extract
A caffeine source: the caffeine a label states for it counts in the caffeine total; listed without an amount, it's flagged as unlisted caffeine.
- Guarana
A caffeine source: the caffeine a label states for it counts in the caffeine total; listed without an amount, it's flagged as unlisted caffeine.
- Huperzine A
Its one exercise trial found no effect. It is a prescription drug in China and not authorised as a food or supplement ingredient in the EU.
- Kola Nut
A caffeine source: the caffeine a label states for it counts in the caffeine total; listed without an amount, it's flagged as unlisted caffeine.
- L-Glutamine
The ISSN's 2018 review lists glutamine among supplements with little to no evidence of working, for building muscle and for performance.
- L-Histidine
No agreed dose of histidine on its own. We compare it with the WHO adult requirement pattern: a 10 g dose of essential amino acids in that pattern holds about 543 mg.
- L-Isoleucine
No agreed dose of isoleucine on its own. We compare it with the WHO adult requirement pattern: a 10 g dose of essential amino acids in that pattern holds about 1.09 g.
- L-Lysine
No agreed dose of lysine on its own. We compare it with the WHO adult requirement pattern: a 10 g dose of essential amino acids in that pattern holds about 1.63 g.
- L-Methionine
No agreed dose of methionine on its own. We compare it with the WHO adult requirement pattern: a 10 g dose of essential amino acids in that pattern holds about 815 mg of methionine plus cysteine.
- L-Phenylalanine
No agreed dose of phenylalanine on its own. We compare it with the WHO adult requirement pattern: a 10 g dose of essential amino acids in that pattern holds about 1.36 g of phenylalanine plus tyrosine.
- L-Threonine
No agreed dose of threonine on its own. We compare it with the WHO adult requirement pattern: a 10 g dose of essential amino acids in that pattern holds about 815 mg.
- L-Tryptophan
No agreed dose of tryptophan on its own. We compare it with the WHO adult requirement pattern: a 10 g dose of essential amino acids in that pattern holds about 217 mg.
- L-Tyrosine
A 2023 meta-analysis found no effect on endurance; its evidence is for focus under stress, at about 150 mg per kg of bodyweight.
- L-Valine
No agreed dose of valine on its own. We compare it with the WHO adult requirement pattern: a 10 g dose of essential amino acids in that pattern holds about 1.41 g.
- Methylliberine
No exercise trial has tested it on its own; 100 mg improved how energetic people said they felt, but not their scores on cognitive tests (La Monica et al., 2023).
- N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
A form of L-tyrosine, which isn't graded either (see the L-tyrosine guide).
- Sodium
On its own the sodium in a serving says little, because what counts is the drink it makes. Electrolyte products are judged on the sodium per litre once mixed as the label directs (0.5–0.7 g per litre, AIS).
- Theacrine
On its own it did not improve a 4 km cycling time trial, canoe sprints or field tests in three trials, and 6 mg per kg raised resting blood pressure (2022–2025).
- Theobromine
There is no peer-reviewed exercise trial, and 100–400 mg did not change mood or alertness in human studies.
- Yerba Mate
A caffeine source: the caffeine a label states for it counts in the caffeine total; listed without an amount, it's flagged as unlisted caffeine.