The Grade Ledger

Every claim this publication has graded, with the raw criteria behind each mark - and the specific thing that would move it.

Public database · Rubric v2.3

Every claim this publication has graded, with the raw criteria behind each mark — and, for every claim not yet at the top of the scale, the specific thing that would move it. This is the working file the breakdowns are built from. Every row has its own address: hover a claim and copy the # to link straight to it.

54Claims graded

26Breakdowns

9One criterion away

6Shelves

Watchlist — one criterion from moving

Nine graded claims fail exactly one rubric test for the next grade up. These are where a single new trial changes a published mark, and where re-grade alerts come from first.

Ashwagandha — reduces anxiety symptom scoresModerate → Strong · needs a 2nd population

Caffeine — improves attention and vigilanceModerate → Strong · needs 400 participants

Cardarine — improves blood lipid profileEmerging → Moderate · needs 1 independent group

L-theanine (alone) — improves cognitive performanceEmerging → Moderate · needs 52 participants

Lion's Mane — improves cognition in healthy adultsEmerging → Moderate · needs 67 participants

Caffeine — benefit depends on CYP1A2 genotypeEmerging → Moderate · needs 80 participants

Lion's Mane — improves cognition in mild cognitive impairmentEmerging → Moderate · needs 139 participants

Retatrutide — produces clinically significant weight lossEmerging → Moderate · needs 1 independent group

Metformin — blunts adaptations to exercise trainingEmerging → Moderate · needs 53 participants

Shelf

Grade

37 of 37

Compound / claim	Shelf	Strength	Verdict	RCTs	n≥100	Groups	Participants	Meta	Pops	What would move it
Creatine monohydrateIncreases lean mass and strength alongside resistance training#	supplements	Strong	Supported	37	0	15	1,500	Y	2	Top of scale
Vitamin CPrevents the common cold in the general population#	supplements	Strong	Not supported	29	5	20	11,306	Y	3	Top of scale
Vitamin CPrevents colds during short bouts of extreme physical exertion#	supplements	Moderate	Supported	5	0	4	598	Y	1	To Strong: scale route (2 trials n≥100, or 10+ pooled), 402 more participants, a 2nd population
BPC-157Accelerates tendon and soft-tissue healing in humans#	peptides	Preliminary	Untested	0	0	0	0	N	0	To Emerging: one completed human RCT with published results
NMNRaises blood NAD+ levels in humans#	longevity	Moderate	Supported	8	0	5	342	Y	1	To Strong: scale route, 658 more participants, a 2nd population
NMNImproves glucose control, lipids, or physical performance#	longevity	Moderate	Not supported	12	0	6	450	Y	1	To Strong: 550 more participants, a 2nd population
NMNExtends lifespan or healthspan in humans#	longevity	Preliminary	Untested	0	0	0	0	N	0	To Emerging: one completed human RCT with published results
ResveratrolImproves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes#	longevity	Moderate	Mixed	15	0	8	921	Y	1	Capped: a Mixed verdict cannot exceed Moderate. Resolving the conflict comes first.
ResveratrolExtends lifespan or reduces mortality in humans#	longevity	Preliminary	Untested	0	0	0	0	N	0	To Emerging: one completed human RCT with published results
Lion's ManeImproves cognitive function in healthy adults#	nootropics	Emerging	Not supported	5	0	4	133	N	1	To Moderate: 67 more participants — everything else already qualifies
Lion's ManeImproves cognition in mild cognitive impairment#	nootropics	Emerging	Mixed	2	0	2	61	N	1	To Moderate: 139 more participants — everything else already qualifies
TB-500Accelerates muscle, tendon or ligament healing in humans#	peptides	Preliminary	Untested	0	0	0	0	N	0	To Emerging: one completed human RCT with published results
MK-677Raises growth hormone and IGF-1#	peptides	Emerging	Supported	2	1	1	188	N	1	To Moderate: 1 independent group, 12 more participants
MK-677Increases fat-free mass#	peptides	Emerging	Supported	2	1	1	188	N	1	To Moderate: 1 independent group, 12 more participants
MK-677Improves muscle strength or physical function#	peptides	Emerging	Not supported	2	1	1	188	N	1	To Moderate: 1 independent group, 12 more participants
CaffeineImproves aerobic endurance performance#	supplements	Strong	Supported	300	20	40	5,000	Y	2	Top of scale
CaffeineImproves muscular strength and endurance#	supplements	Strong	Supported	150	10	25	3,000	Y	2	Top of scale
CaffeineImproves attention and vigilance#	supplements	Moderate	Supported	10	2	5	600	Y	2	To Strong: 400 more participants — the only unmet test
CaffeineBenefit depends on CYP1A2 genotype#	supplements	Emerging	Mixed	3	0	3	120	N	1	To Moderate: 80 more participants. Mixed then caps it at Moderate.
AshwagandhaReduces serum cortisol#	supplements	Moderate	Supported	9	2	6	558	Y	1	To Strong: 442 more participants, a 2nd population
AshwagandhaReduces perceived stress#	supplements	Moderate	Mixed	12	3	7	1,002	Y	1	Capped: a Mixed verdict cannot exceed Moderate. Resolving the conflict comes first.
AshwagandhaReduces anxiety symptom scores#	supplements	Moderate	Supported	12	3	7	1,002	Y	1	To Strong: replication in a 2nd population — the only unmet test
MagnesiumImproves sleep quality#	supplements	Moderate	Mixed	4	1	4	306	Y	2	Capped: a Mixed verdict cannot exceed Moderate. Resolving the conflict comes first.
Omega-3 (prescription 4 g/d)Lowers triglycerides#	supplements	Strong	Supported	17	5	8	21,000	Y	3	Top of scale
Omega-3 (prescription 4 g/d)Reduces major adverse cardiovascular events#	supplements	Moderate	Mixed	2	2	2	21,257	Y	3	Capped: a Mixed verdict cannot exceed Moderate. Two large trials disagree, and the mineral-oil comparator question is unresolved.
Cardarine (GW501516)Improves endurance performance in humans#	sarms	Preliminary	Untested	0	0	0	0	N	0	To Emerging: one completed human RCT. Development was halted over cancer findings in rodents, so this is unlikely to move.
Cardarine (GW501516)Improves blood lipid profile#	sarms	Emerging	Supported	4	1	1	305	N	1	To Moderate: 1 independent group — the only unmet test. All four trials trace to one sponsor.
RAD-140 (testolone)Builds muscle in healthy humans#	sarms	Preliminary	Untested	0	0	0	0	N	0	To Emerging: one completed human RCT in healthy people with published results
LGD-4033 (ligandrol)Increases lean body mass in healthy men#	sarms	Emerging	Supported	1	0	1	76	N	1	To Moderate: 1 more RCT, 1 independent group, 124 more participants
LGD-4033 (ligandrol)Suppresses testosterone dose-dependently#	sarms	Emerging	Supported	1	0	1	76	N	1	To Moderate: 1 more RCT, 1 independent group, 124 more participants
L-theanine + caffeineImproves attentional task performance#	nootropics	Moderate	Supported	16	2	6	500	Y	1	To Strong: 500 more participants, a 2nd population
L-theanine (alone)Improves cognitive performance#	nootropics	Emerging	Mixed	5	0	3	148	N	1	To Moderate: 52 more participants. Mixed then caps it at Moderate.
L-theanine + caffeineImproves mood / offsets caffeine jitters#	nootropics	Moderate	Mixed	16	2	6	500	Y	1	Capped: a Mixed verdict cannot exceed Moderate. Resolving the conflict comes first.
Testosterone (replacement / TRT)Increases major adverse cardiovascular events#	hormones	Strong	Not supported	30	2	3	11,502	Y	2	Top of scale
Testosterone (replacement / TRT)Improves sexual function in men with diagnosed low testosterone#	hormones	Emerging	Supported	1	1	1	790	N	1	To Moderate: 1 more RCT, 1 independent group. Participants already qualify.
Testosterone (replacement / TRT)Improves energy and vitality#	hormones	Emerging	Not supported	1	1	1	790	N	1	To Moderate: 1 more RCT, 1 independent group. Participants already qualify.
Testosterone (supraphysiologic)Increases muscle size and strength in men with normal testosterone#	hormones	Emerging	Supported	1	0	1	43	N	1	To Moderate: 1 more RCT, 1 independent group, 157 more participants
RetatrutideProduces clinically significant weight loss#	peptides	Emerging	Supported	3	3	1	1,156	Y	2	To Moderate: 1 independent group — every published trial has one sponsor
SemaglutideProduces clinically significant weight loss#	peptides	Strong	Supported	4	3	2	20,364	Y	3	Top of scale
TirzepatideProduces clinically significant weight loss#	peptides	Strong	Supported	3	2	2	3,314	Y	2	Top of scale
Growth hormoneReduces fat mass and increases lean mass in healthy older adults#	hormones	Moderate	Supported	18	0	3+	508	Y	1	To Strong: 492 more participants, and replication in a 2nd population
Growth hormoneImproves muscle strength or physical function#	hormones	Moderate	Not supported	18	0	3+	508	Y	1	To Strong: 492 more participants, and replication in a 2nd population
Growth hormoneSlows aging or extends healthy lifespan#	hormones	Preliminary	Untested	0	0	0	0	N	0	To Emerging: one completed human RCT measuring an aging endpoint
DHEAReduces fat mass in older adults#	hormones	Strong	Supported	25	1+	3+	1,353	Y	2	Top of scale
DHEAImproves sexual function, wellbeing or quality of life#	hormones	Strong	Not supported	25	1+	3+	1,353	Y	2	Top of scale
DHEASlows aging or extends healthy lifespan#	hormones	Preliminary	Untested	0	0	0	0	N	0	To Emerging: one completed human RCT measuring an aging endpoint
Ginkgo bilobaPrevents dementia or Alzheimer’s disease#	nootropics	Strong	Not supported	2	2	2	5,889	Y	2	Top of scale
Ginkgo bilobaImproves symptoms in people who already have dementia#	nootropics	Moderate	Mixed	9	1+	3+	2,561	Y	2	Capped: a Mixed verdict cannot exceed Moderate. Resolving the conflict comes first.
ModafinilReduces excessive sleepiness in approved sleep disorders#	nootropics	Strong	Supported	9	2+	3+	997	Y	2	Top of scale
ModafinilImproves cognition in rested, healthy adults#	nootropics	Moderate	Mixed	24	0	3+	700+	Y	1	Capped: a Mixed verdict cannot exceed Moderate. Resolving the conflict comes first.
RapamycinImproves healthspan measures in healthy older adults#	longevity	Emerging	Mixed	1	1	1	114	N	1	To Moderate: 1 independent group and 86 more participants
RapamycinExtends human lifespan#	longevity	Preliminary	Untested	0	0	0	0	N	0	To Emerging: one completed human RCT with a lifespan or mortality endpoint
MetforminExtends lifespan or slows ageing in people without diabetes#	longevity	Preliminary	Untested	0	0	0	0	N	0	To Emerging: one completed human RCT. TAME has never launched.
MetforminBlunts adaptations to exercise training#	longevity	Emerging	Supported	2	0	2	147	N	1	To Moderate: 53 more participants — the only unmet test

No claims match that combination.

How to read the gap column

Each figure is the shortfall against a specific clause of the rubric, not an estimate. "442 more participants" means the pooled human evidence currently totals 558 and the Strong threshold is 1,000. "A 2nd population" means every qualifying trial so far ran in one demographic, and the rubric requires replication across two before it will award four dots.

Where a row reads Capped, no amount of new data raises the mark on its own — a Mixed verdict holds the grade at Moderate until the conflict between trials resolves. That rule and the four-step conflict procedure are set out in the editorial standards.