Save the exact claim and its source. Then work through these questions without assuming the headline is the study's conclusion.
1. Can you find the original source?
Look for the actual paper or official resource. A testimonial or sales page does not replace research.
2. What was studied?
Record the compound, study type, species or participant group, and setting. Don't silently substitute a different product or population.
3. How strong is the comparison?
Check participant numbers, comparison groups, study duration, and what outcome was measured.
4. What are the limits?
Note uncertainty, adverse effects, missing information, and whether the claim extends beyond the results.
5. Who benefits?
Check authorship, funding, sponsorships and affiliate relationships. Disclosure helps you assess possible bias; it does not settle whether a claim is correct.
6. Is the information current?
Check publication and revision dates, and compare the statement with other reliable sources.
Closing exercise
Write a cautious summary: In [study type/population], researchers observed [result], with [important limitation]. If you cannot fill in those blanks, keep the uncertainty visible. Ask a qualified clinician about personal treatment decisions.
Questions 1, 5 and 6 draw on National Library of Medicine, "Evaluating Health Information". Questions 2, 3, 4 and the closing exercise draw on National Library of Medicine, "Understanding Medical Research". This is a reading checklist, not a validated scoring system.