You may have seen the words "proprietary blend" on a supplement label and wondered what they mean. It is a common way to label a product. Here is how it works, using a real example from our own shelf.
What a proprietary blend is
A proprietary blend lists several ingredients together under one name, with one combined amount. You see the total for the group, but not how much of each ingredient is inside. U.S. labeling rules generally have the ingredients inside a blend listed from the most to the least by weight.
A blend is not wrong or hidden by definition. It is simply a different format, with a different trade-off for the reader.
A real example: the Nitric Shock matrix
One scoop (10 g) of Nitric Shock Pre-Workout Powder (Fruit Punch), $45, lists several ingredients with their own amounts: 1,500 mg of dicreatine malate, 1,500 mg of L-arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, 750 mg of beta-alanine and 175 mg of caffeine.
It also lists an Energy / Endurance / Focus Matrix of 550 mg. That matrix contains L-taurine, betaine anhydrous, waxy maize, L-citrulline malate, glycocyamine, glucuronolactone and L-tyrosine. The label gives the 550 mg total only. The individual amounts are not disclosed, and we do not estimate them.
The label's claim for the formula is that it supports performance, mental focus and energy.*
What you can and cannot tell from a blend
From the matrix you can tell the names of all seven ingredients, the total amount, and that none of them is hiding behind a vague name. You cannot tell how much L-citrulline malate, for instance, is in a scoop.
That is why it helps to know what is listed separately. Caffeine is one of those: the label shows 175 mg per scoop and up to 350 mg when two scoops are used. The label tells first-time users to begin with one scoop to assess tolerance, and not to exceed two scoops daily.
Blends show up outside of pre-workouts as well. Probiotic 40 Billion with Prebiotics names its four strains and lists an 800 mg probiotic blend labeled at 40 billion CFU, but the label does not give the amount of each strain.
Why we list every ingredient
On our product pages, we copy every ingredient name from the label, including each name inside a blend, and we say plainly when an individual amount is not disclosed. We would rather you know exactly what the label does and does not tell you.
Some of our products show every amount. The Ashwagandha label lists 650 mg of organic ashwagandha root and 5 mg of organic black pepper fruit per capsule, and the product page notes there is no undisclosed proprietary blend. MoriVive lists 800 mg of Moringa oleifera leaf per two-capsule serving, plus the capsule.
Talk to your doctor before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, under 18 or have a medical condition. That goes double for products with caffeine.
Quick questions
Is a proprietary blend a bad sign?
No. It is a format. What matters is whether every ingredient is named and whether the amounts you need to know, such as caffeine, are listed on their own.
What should I check on a blend label?
Look for the total amount, whether every ingredient name appears, and whether the ingredients you care about have their own amounts.
Where can I find something simpler?
Try the 60-second quiz, or see our bundles, where each product has its own label to read.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.