Study Types
Pilot Study
A small preliminary study to test feasibility before a full-scale trial.
A pilot study is a small-scale preliminary trial conducted to evaluate feasibility, refine methodology, and estimate effect sizes before committing resources to a full-scale clinical trial. In supplement research, pilot studies often test tolerability, optimal dosing, and preliminary efficacy with 10-30 participants. While pilot studies provide useful signals, they are typically underpowered to detect statistically significant effects and should not be used as definitive evidence of supplement efficacy.