Proprietary Blends: Are You Getting Scammed?

A proprietary blend is a mixture of ingredients where the total weight of the blend is listed, but the individual amounts of each ingredient are not. Supplement companies argue this protects their 'secret formula'. But it also conveniently allows them to use tiny, ineffective amounts of key ingredients while bulking up the blend with cheaper fillers. Think of it like a recipe where you know the total weight of the ingredients, but not how much of each you're using.

The biggest issue with proprietary blends is the potential for underdosing. For example, a blend might list both Ashwagandha and L-Theanine. You might think you're getting a solid dose of both, but the label only tells you the total weight of the blend. In reality, the product might contain a clinically effective dose of one (e.g., Ashwagandha) and a minuscule, ineffective dose of the other. Companies can legally put a tiny amount of an expensive ingredient in the blend to impress you without giving you any real benefit. For example, a blend might contain only 1mg of Astaxanthin, which is far below the clinically effective dose.

Companies claim proprietary blends protect their formulas from competitors. But the more likely reason is cost savings. By using small amounts of expensive ingredients and bulking up with cheaper ones, they can increase their profit margins. It's important to remember that not all proprietary blends are inherently bad. Some might be genuinely trying to protect a unique formulation. However, the lack of transparency makes it difficult to know for sure.

Here's what to look for:
- Very long ingredient lists in a small blend weight: More ingredients mean less of each ingredient.
- Essential ingredients listed last: Ingredients are often listed in descending order by weight. If a key ingredient is at the bottom, it's probably present in a small amount.
- Lack of third-party testing: Reputable companies often have their products tested by independent labs to verify ingredient amounts and purity. This provides an extra layer of assurance.
- Suspiciously low price: If a supplement contains many expensive ingredients but is priced significantly lower than competitors, it's a red flag.

Not necessarily. Some blends combine ingredients that work synergistically. For example, combining Alpha Lipoic Acid with Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) has some research behind it. But even in these cases, transparency is key. Look for blends where the company discloses why they've chosen those particular ingredients and ideally provides some information about the ratios.

Opt for supplements with fully transparent labels. These list the exact dosage of each ingredient. This allows you to compare the amounts to clinically studied doses. You can also choose single-ingredient supplements and create your own custom stacks. This gives you complete control over what you're putting into your body.