Health claims,
checked

The health and nutrition claims we hear most, weighed against the best available research: systematic reviews and randomised trials first, headlines last.

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  Free sample deep dive

  Do collagen supplements improve your skin? What the evidence says

  Unproven. Pooled trials look positive for skin hydration and elasticity, but a 2025 meta-analysis found the benefit disappears in independent, high-quality trials. The positive results come mainly from studies funded by the collagen industry.

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  Does vitamin D cure depression? What the evidence says

  No. Vitamin D does not cure depression, and a very large trial found it does not prevent it either. There is some evidence it may modestly ease symptoms in people who are already depressed, especially if they are low in vitamin D, but it is not a replacement for proper treatment.

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  Are seed oils toxic? What the evidence says

  No. The best available evidence does not show that seed oils such as sunflower, rapeseed or soybean oil are toxic. Higher intakes of linoleic acid, their main fat, are linked with a lower risk of heart disease, not a higher one.

• Amber

  Does magnesium reduce anxiety? What the evidence says

  Possibly, for some people, but the evidence is weak. A systematic review found hints of a benefit in people prone to anxiety, including mild anxiety and premenstrual symptoms, but the studies were generally small and of poor quality.

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  Should women take creatine for strength? What the evidence says

  It depends on your age and goals. Alongside strength training, creatine has good evidence for improving strength in older women over several months. In women under 50, trials so far show no significant extra strength gain beyond training alone. Brain-boosting claims are not yet supported.