To cite a medically reviewed article, credit the author and format per your style; add the reviewer only when that style allows it.
Why This Matters For Clear Scholarship
Readers trust pieces that show who wrote them and who checked the science. Many health sites add a visible line such as “Medically reviewed by …”. When you cite that page, you still need a clean entry that fits your required style. The guide below shows how to gather the right facts, format them without fluff, and handle that “reviewed by” line without guesswork.
Core Details You Need Before You Format
Collect these items from the page. If one is missing, capture what you can see and move on. Your entry should match the version you used.
| Element | Where It Appears | Use In Styles |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Byline near the title | Always first in APA, MLA, Chicago; AMA uses it in the reference list |
| Reviewer | “Medically reviewed by …” line | Usually not listed in APA or Chicago; MLA can list after the title; AMA does not require it |
| Article Title | Page heading | Sentence case in APA and AMA; title case in MLA and Chicago |
| Site Name | Header or footer | Shown in APA unless it matches the author; shown in MLA and Chicago |
| Date Published | Byline or under the title | Needed in every style; use update date if that’s the only date |
| Date Reviewed | Near the reviewer line | APA says not to include a “last reviewed” date in the reference; MLA may include it with the reviewer |
| Updated Date | “Updated on …” near the top | APA and Chicago welcome clear update dates; AMA also records updates |
| URL | Address bar | Include the direct link |
| Accessed Date | Your research notes | Standard in AMA; optional in Chicago; use when required by your instruction |
| Organization As Author | When no person is named | Use the group as author across styles |
APA’s official guidance on webpages explains how to build the source and when to omit the site name if it matches the author. It also clarifies that a “last reviewed” date should not appear in the reference list entry. See APA’s webpage reference guide.
Citing A Medically Reviewed Article In APA Style
APA 7 treats a medically reviewed page like any other web page. Credit the content author, use the most precise publication or update date on the page, add the page title in sentence case, add the site name, then the URL. Do not list the reviewer in the reference. If the reviewer’s role matters to your argument, you can mention it in your prose.
APA Reference Pattern
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL
Example
Khan, R. (2025, April 1). Vitamin D benefits. Healthline. https://www.example.com/vitamin-d-benefits
APA In-Text
(Khan, 2025) or Khan (2025).
APA gives a clear note about review dates on web pages: do not place a “last reviewed” date in the reference entry, because review does not mean the content changed. See the same APA page linked above for that note.
MLA 9 Style For Medically Reviewed Pages
MLA uses a flexible, element-based system. If the page shows a named reviewer, you may add that credit after the title using the words “Reviewed by”. MLA’s own style blog gives this exact advice for online articles with reviewer lines. See MLA guidance on reviewers.
MLA Works Cited Pattern
Author Last, First. “Title of Page.” Reviewed by Reviewer Name, Site Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Example
Khan, Rana. “Vitamin D Benefits.” Reviewed by Sana Ahmed, MD, Healthline, 1 Apr. 2025, https://www.example.com/vitamin-d-benefits.
MLA In-Text
(Khan) for a standard citation; add a locator if the page uses sections.
Chicago Style: Notes And Author-Date
Chicago offers two systems. Both treat the page as a standard website source. Credit the author, include the page title in quotation marks, give the site name, add a publication or update date when present, and then the URL. A reviewer line isn’t part of the entry.
Notes And Bibliography
Note: 1. Rana Khan, “Vitamin D Benefits,” Healthline, updated April 1, 2025, https://www.example.com/vitamin-d-benefits.
Bibliography: Khan, Rana. “Vitamin D Benefits.” Healthline. Updated April 1, 2025. https://www.example.com/vitamin-d-benefits.
Author-Date
In-text: (Khan 2025). Reference list: Khan, Rana. 2025. “Vitamin D Benefits.” Healthline. Updated April 1, 2025. https://www.example.com/vitamin-d-benefits.
AMA 11 Style For Health Assignments
AMA uses superscript numbers in your text and a numbered list of references. For a web page, include the author, page title in sentence case, site name, the most specific date you can find, the update date if shown, the access date, and the URL. AMA does not set a slot for a separate reviewer credit. If the page lists only a reviewer and no writer, treat that person as the author.
AMA Reference Pattern
Author Last First Initial. Title of page. Site Name. Published Month Day, Year. Updated Month Day, Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL
Example
Khan R. Vitamin D benefits. Healthline. Published May 10, 2024. Updated April 1, 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.example.com/vitamin-d-benefits
AMA In-Text
Use superscripts in order of appearance: The evidence supports daily intake.^1
Edge Cases You’ll See On Health Sites
No Named Author
Use the organization as the author. Example: Healthline. Then follow the style’s rules for dates and titles.
Multiple Reviewers
List both names in MLA after the title, separated by “and”. Other styles still omit reviewer names from the entry.
Only A “Reviewed On” Date
APA and Chicago prefer a clear publication or update date. If none appears, APA uses “(n.d.)” in place of the date; Chicago can omit the date and rely on the access date in your note. AMA keeps the access date and any visible update date.
Printout Or PDF Version
When the page provides a PDF that matches the content, cite the version you used and keep the same author and date line.
Quick Style Examples At A Glance
| Style | In-Text Or Note | Reference Entry Example |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7 | (Khan, 2025) | Khan, R. (2025, April 1). Vitamin D benefits. Healthline. https://www.example.com/vitamin-d-benefits |
| MLA 9 | (Khan) | Khan, Rana. “Vitamin D Benefits.” Reviewed by Sana Ahmed, MD, Healthline, 1 Apr. 2025, https://www.example.com/vitamin-d-benefits. |
| Chicago | 1. Note; (Khan 2025) | Khan, Rana. “Vitamin D Benefits.” Healthline. Updated April 1, 2025. https://www.example.com/vitamin-d-benefits. |
| AMA 11 | Superscript 1 | Khan R. Vitamin D benefits. Healthline. Published May 10, 2024. Updated April 1, 2025. Accessed Sep 18, 2025. https://www.example.com/vitamin-d-benefits |
Mistakes That Sink Citations
Copying The “Medically Reviewed” Line As The Title
Keep the real page title. The reviewer credit is not the title.
Inventing A Date
If you can’t locate a date, don’t guess. In APA, write “(n.d.)”. In other styles, lean on the access date only when the style requests it.
Dropping The Update Date
When a page shows a clear update, include it. Health pages change often.
Using A Home Page Instead Of The Exact URL
Link the exact page you read so readers can verify your claim.
Fast Workflow You Can Reuse
- Open the page and capture the author, reviewer, dates, site name, and URL.
- Check which style you need. Pick the matching pattern above.
- Write the in-text or note first. Then build the reference entry.
- Add the access date if your style requires it.
- Proof the capitalisation and punctuation for that style.
Final Checks Before You Submit
Scan for a clear author, a visible date, and a stable link. Keep reviewer names inside the entry only when the style permits it. When in doubt, follow the rules from the official guide for your style and keep your entry consistent across your document.
Spot The Right Author And Date
Most health pages list a writer and a separate medical reviewer. Your reference credits the writer. The reviewer remains part of the page’s context, not the entry. When no writer appears, use the group as author and move the title to the author slot only if your style asks for it.
Dates can be tricky. Use a clear publication date when present. If the page shows an update date, use that date in the position that style expects. A “reviewed on” label signals a quality check. APA omits that reviewed date from the entry; AMA and Chicago focus on publication or update plus a reliable access date; MLA can keep the reviewer with a date.
If a page carries a byline that reads “by Editorial Team,” treat the site as a group author. If several people share a byline, use the style’s rule for multiple authors. APA uses an ampersand inside the reference list, while MLA spells out “and.” AMA lists up to six names, then adds “et al.” Chicago has its own limits for long author lists.
Case And Punctuation That Styles Expect
APA and AMA use sentence case for page titles. Only the first word and proper nouns take capital letters. MLA and Chicago use title case in the entry, so most major words start with capitals.
Watch your punctuation. APA uses periods between elements and ends most entries with a live URL. MLA places commas around reviewer credits and uses month abbreviations. Chicago places commas after the site name and before the URL. AMA strings short sentences with periods and prefers full month names.
How To Mention The Reviewer In Your Writing
You can still credit the medical review in your prose. APA style example: “The Healthline page by R. Khan, reviewed by S. Ahmed, MD, was updated in 2025.” MLA example: “Khan’s article, reviewed by Sana Ahmed, MD, presents new dosing data.” Chicago example: write the same sentence in your narrative and keep the reference entry standard. This respects credit while keeping each style tidy and consistent everywhere.