Understanding "Scientifically Proven" vs. "Clinically Proven"
- Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk, PhD, MBA
- 3 min read
What are the differences between scientifically proven and clinically proven claims? Why it’s important it is for consumers to understand the differences in these claims.
With the new year, consumers are seeing more paid social media influencer testimonials, targeted online advertising, and print and broadcast ads for dietary supplements and products promoting health, wellness, and weight management.
We can assume that savvy, health-conscious and skeptical consumers tend to buy dietary supplements with scientifically or clinically proven health claims, with the assumption that they have proven benefits. However, it’s important for consumers to understand the meaning behind these claims.
“Scientifically proven” is a broader term that encompasses a range of scientific research methodologies, while “clinically proven” is more focused on evidence derived from clinical trials. Both can convey a high level of reliability and validity in supporting a particular claim. Still, the context in which they are used provides more specific information about the type of research or evidence backing the claim. Both play an important role in the development of safe and efficacious health products. However, they are not interchangeable in the validation process of nutraceutical ingredients, dietary supplements, or pharmaceuticals.
Scientifically Proven
Scientific evidence or results supporting a claim is a result of rigorous scientific research and experimentation. These studies are mostly conducted in controlled laboratory settings, where variables are carefully controlled to isolate specific factors, and test specific outcomes. It’s often based on empirical evidence and follows the scientific method, which involves hypothesis formation, data collection, analysis, and peer review.
Some companies invest in R&D to test and validate their ingredient and/or product claims, either using their in-house R&D resources or by outsourcing to contract research organizations. However, it’s common for dietary supplement companies, manufacturers, and ingredient suppliers to use research information about their ingredients and products from published literature sources such as Pubmed to support their claims without explicitly conducting research on their own ingredients and products.
Currently, when a company claims to be ‘scientifically proven,’ it is difficult to discern whether a company conducted research on its ingredients and products or is relying on literature sources such as Pubmed to make that claim.
Clinically Proven
Clinically proven specifically relates to evidence derived from clinical trials or studies conducted with human participants, typically in a medical or healthcare setting. Clinical trials are known as the “gold standard” and are designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of products, treatments, interventions, or therapies.
Therefore, “clinically proven” suggests that the findings from these trials support the effectiveness of a particular treatment or intervention in treating a specific condition or wellness outcome. Similar to ‘scientifically proven,’ dietary supplement companies, manufacturers, and ingredient supplier companies may rely on the literature of published clinical trials to claim ‘clinically proven’ rather than explicitly conducting clinical trials using their own ingredients and products.
Making Informed Supplement Choices
When shopping for supplements—whether vitamins, botanicals, or functional beverages—it’s not always clear whether a product has undergone its own rigorous testing or is merely referencing research on similar ingredients. Understanding the difference helps you make more informed decisions for yourself, your family, or specific wellness needs such as immune health or mental health support.
Verify Product Claims with WhatToTrust™
To help consumers navigate product claims with confidence, WhatToTrust™, offers clear, science-based ratings for supplements, vitamins, botanicals, and other functional health products. On our site, you can explore products and view their WhatToTrust™ score—based on the scientific research and testing behind their development. Higher scores indicate products that go beyond required FDA lab testing, including those supported by preclinical or clinical studies.
By offering transparency in wellness product information, WhatToTrust™ empowers you to make informed choices about the supplements, vitamins, and botanicals you use, or those you buy for your children and family, or when looking for product to address targeted issues like men’s health or women’s health issues like menopause and prenatal and postnatal stages.
In this article
Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk, PhD, MB
Dr. Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk is a renowned life scientist with expertise in academia, industry, and entrepreneurship. A Harvard Medical School faculty member since 2005, she has led research on diabetes and cardiovascular diseases while mentoring students and postdocs.
As a sought-after speaker, Dr. Pradhan-Nabzdyk shares her insights at events like Supply Side West and Women in Nutraceuticals (WIN), and has presented Canomiks’ work at top conferences. She is featured in publications such as Nutraceuticals World and Nutrition Industry Executive. Dr. Pradhan-Nabzdyk actively supports the nutraceuticals industry, serving as Co-Chair of the WIN Science Committee, and as a board member for Launch Minnesota and the Jeremiah Program.
She holds a PhD in Pharmacology from Tulane University, an MBA from MIT Sloan, and a BSc from the University of Mumbai. Her leadership continues to influence Canomiks and the wellness industry.
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