Over 20% of supplements list proprietary blends on the label according to the dietary supplement label database (DSLD).[1] But what is a proprietary blend? And, what do consumers need to know about proprietary blends when choosing supplements?
On one hand, proprietary blend supporters and lawmakers argue they protect small businesses and trade secrets. Is this true? Or is it just another way for supplement brands to make more money? We’ll get into all the details of proprietary blends in supplements in this article.
Keep reading as we explore:
- What is a proprietary blend?
- Proprietary blend meaning
- Proprietary blend examples
- Why companies use proprietary blends
- Are proprietary blends bad?
- Why you should choose supplements from transparent companies instead
Are proprietary blends bad? The short answer is yes. Let’s dive into why.
What is a Proprietary Blend?
Proprietary blends in supplements are exclusive, secret formulas. The Dietary Supplement Health Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) allows supplement manufacturers to use proprietary blends in their formulas. The supplement label must disclose the ingredients in the blend and the total blend weight in each serving but does not have to disclose individual ingredient amounts.[1]
Proprietary blends are found in supplements across categories, notably in workout supplements. We’ll explore more proprietary blend examples below.
The Proprietary Blend Meaning
In other words, proprietary blends mean that the manufacturer doesn’t need to disclose all of the information about the formula. Not disclosing the amounts of each ingredient in the supplement benefits the supplement company, but is not good for the consumer, researchers, or public health officials concerned with the intake amounts of supplemental herbs and other ingredients.
How Proprietary Blends Are Presented
Often, proprietary blends have fancy, trademarked names. They are presented to consumers through skillful marketing strategies instead of full transparency, with ingredients and dosage amounts backed by science and clinical research.
Common Proprietary Blend Examples
You’ll find proprietary blends containing herbs, foods, amino acids, proteins, and other ingredients.
Proprietary blend examples include:
- Green drinks
- Blended proteins
- BCAAs
Greens Drinks
Powdered green drinks are composed of dehydrated green vegetables, herbs, and grasses that you can mix with water. They are often sold as a convenient way to increase green vegetables in the diet and the nutrients that greens contain, such as calcium, vitamin K, and beta-carotene.[2]
In the case of green drinks, the proprietary blend meaning often translates to dozens of ingredients (like wheat grass, barley grass, spinach, broccoli, etc.). However, it’s unclear how much of each ingredient the blend contains.
Companies may also add green powders to fortified foods (like kids’ granola bars) and other supplements such as protein powders. This addition may be a way for manufacturers to claim that the food or other supplement contains vegetables, even if in a very small amount.[2]
Blended Proteins
Protein powder companies may use a proprietary blend of protein in their supplements. You’ll see this more frequently in plant-based protein powders, which may contain pea, rice, chia, and almond protein, for example, but the amount of each protein is not disclosed. Single-ingredient powders, such as whey protein isolate, do not contain proprietary blends unless the product adds additional ingredients, such as greens.
BCAAs (Branched-Chain Amino Acids)
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are amino acid building blocks of protein that humans must obtain from the diet. They comprise around 35% of the amino acids in mammals, and include valine, leucine, and isoleucine.[3]
While BCAAS are found naturally in foods like meat and whey protein, they are also a popular workout supplement, either on their own or in formulas with additional amino acids. However, when found in a proprietary blend, it’s unclear how much of each amino acid you’re getting.
Why You See So Many Proprietary Blends in Supplements
Proprietary blends help supplement manufacturers sell products and make money, providing cost savings and marketing opportunities from the lack of transparency.
Cost Savings for Supplement Companies (ineffective doses)
When considering whether proprietary blends are bad, from the brand’s perspective they are good for cost savings. Creating proprietary blends allows a company to optimize for cost over efficacy. For example, companies may include smaller amounts of expensive ingredients and larger quantities of inexpensive ingredients in their blends. The downside for consumers is that they are likely getting an ineffective dose of the active ingredients they seek.
The Appeal of “Exclusive Formulas”
Proprietary blends in supplements also offer the allure and appeal of exclusive formulas. Because companies don’t have to disclose how much of each ingredient they use, they can claim their formula is one of a kind and unavailable elsewhere, which is an effective marketing angle for promoting a higher value. When it’s exclusive, they can charge more.
Protecting Formulas or Hiding Shortcomings?
The original reason for DSHEA and why it passed Congress in 1994 was to protect the intellectual property of companies, especially small herbal companies, where larger companies could easily copy their formulas.[1]
While the intentions behind proprietary formulas may have been noble, many supplement companies have jumped on the proprietary blend bandwagon not to protect their herbal remedies but to sell low-quality, ineffective products at increased prices.
Why Are Proprietary Blends Bad, Though?
The lack of transparency for consumers, the potential for ineffective formulas, and higher prices are all reasons consumers need to be skeptical of proprietary blends and seek out supplement brands who pride themselves on quality, purity, and transparency.
Lack of Transparency for Consumers
Proprietary blends hide the truth about how much of each ingredient is in the formula. With unknown amounts of active ingredients, you can’t tell your doctor how much of something you are taking. Further, the company can change the proportions in the formula without telling you. So, a supplement that may have once worked for you can decline in quality and effectiveness over time.
Additionally, there is little research on proprietary blends, and they can be hard to back by science and clinical trials. While there may be studies funded by the supplement company, independent researchers can’t verify the blend’s effectiveness if they don't know the exact dose of each ingredient.[1]
Potential for Under-Dosed Ingredients
Proprietary blends may contain lower amounts of active ingredients than research suggests. A red flag to consumers should be a long list of ingredients with a low weight. For example, if you have 20 ingredients that supply a small dose (in milligram amounts), you’re likely only getting a tiny amount of each ingredient, offering little to no therapeutic potential.
Safety Concerns with Unspecified Amounts
As in the case of most supplements, supplement manufacturers don’t have to get preapproval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for proprietary blends.[1] They don’t have to prove the supplement is effective or even safe before selling it.
The lack of regulation and oversight with supplements and the use of proprietary blends can lead to problems with supplement quality, purity, and safety for the consumer.
Misleading Marketing and Labeling Practices
Companies that use proprietary blends are notorious for marketing exclusive benefits from their proprietary formulas without having the information, research, or data to back up their claims. A red flag is when you can’t find the ingredient list on a supplement website or the label is unclear. Any lack of transparency about what’s actually in a supplement should be a red flag!
While the FDA and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have rules about what supplements can and cannot claim, they aren’t always enforced appropriately. With so many supplements on the market, consumers must be savvy about who they trust.
Choose Supplements from Brands That Prioritize Transparency
By now, we’ve covered why you should be skeptical of priority blends. Next, let’s discuss what to look for instead.
Benefits of Transparent Labeling
Transparent labeling clearly and directly displays what is in a product and how much of each ingredient it contains. Supplement labels and websites are easy to navigate and find the information you need. Transparent supplement labeling benefits consumers because you get the quality and effectiveness you pay for, without any tricks, gimmicks, or fancy marketing tactics that drive up the price.
What to Look for in a Brand
In addition to transparent labeling, look for science-backed brands that create formulations based on peer-reviewed research. Supplying the research and evidence for a supplement is another form of transparency. You’ll also find these supplements contain quality ingredients in effective doses.
Shop With Peace of Mind at Outwork Nutrition
Outwork Nutrition workout supplements provide peace of mind, as we stand for transparency and offer high-quality, science-backed formulas. We never use proprietary blends, fancy marketing, or strategies designed to trick you or rip you off; only effective formulas we use ourselves.
Whether you are looking for a pre-workout supplement, a caffeine free pre-workout, or a recovery supplement, we’ve got you covered.
Wrapping Up Our Guide to Proprietary Blends in Supplements
Proprietary blends are allowed under DSHA and used by over 20% of the supplements on the market. Who benefits from proprietary blends? The supplement companies that sell them mainly benefit from the lack of transparency the law allows. By under-dosing ingredients, supplement brands can make higher profits on the ineffective amounts of active ingredients they sell to you.
Be a savvy supplement consumer by spotting proprietary blends and choosing transparent supplements from Outwork Nutrition instead.
References
1. Saldanha, Leila G et al. “Perspectives on the Use of Proprietary Blends in Dietary Supplements.” The Journal of nutrition vol. 153,5 (2023): 1305-1308. doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.03.035
2. Sarkar, Tanmay et al. “Underutilized green leafy vegetables: frontier in fortified food development and nutrition.” Critical reviews in food science and nutrition vol. 63,33 (2023): 11679-11733. doi:10.1080/10408398.2022.2095555
3. Neinast, Michael et al. “Branched Chain Amino Acids.” Annual review of physiology vol. 81 (2019): 139-164. doi:10.1146/annurev-physiol-020518-114455
