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Support Blend Proprietary Blend

Also known as: Support Blend Proprietary Blend, Proprietary blend, Proprietary formula, Blend complex, Proprietary Blend

Overview

A proprietary blend in dietary supplements refers to a mixture of two or more ingredients combined into a single formulation, where the exact amounts of each ingredient are not disclosed on the label; only the total weight of the blend is provided. Supplement manufacturers use proprietary blends to protect perceived 'secret formulas,' reduce production costs, and market products with multiple ingredients without revealing precise dosing. These blends often include botanicals, vitamins, minerals, or other bioactives. Due to the lack of transparency in ingredient quantities, the efficacy and safety of proprietary blends cannot be reliably assessed. Research focuses on individual ingredients rather than the blends themselves, making it difficult to validate proprietary blends as a beneficial formulation approach. The concept is well-established in the supplement industry, but it lacks scientific validation.

Benefits

The benefits of a proprietary blend depend entirely on the specific ingredients included and their respective doses, which are undisclosed. Therefore, the efficacy of a proprietary blend cannot be reliably assessed. While individual ingredients within the blend may have documented benefits, the lack of transparency prevents determining whether clinically effective doses are present. No direct clinical evidence supports the efficacy or safety of proprietary blends as a category. Population-specific benefits cannot be determined due to the lack of ingredient dose disclosure. Effect sizes and clinical significance cannot be quantified without ingredient-specific data.

How it works

The mechanism of action for a proprietary blend is entirely dependent on the individual ingredients it contains. Because the specific quantities of each ingredient are not disclosed, it is impossible to determine how the blend interacts with the body's systems or its molecular targets. Absorption and bioavailability also vary by ingredient, and this information is not provided for proprietary blends. Therefore, proprietary blends themselves have no defined mechanism of action, and their effects are solely determined by the combined actions of their undisclosed components.

Side effects

The safety of proprietary blends cannot be fully assessed due to the undisclosed amounts of each ingredient. This lack of transparency raises concerns about potential underdosing, overdosing, or interactions between ingredients. Common, uncommon, and rare side effects are unknown and depend entirely on the specific ingredients included. Drug interactions and contraindications cannot be evaluated without full ingredient disclosure. Assessing risks for vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women, children, and the elderly, is difficult due to the lack of transparency. Overall, the undisclosed nature of proprietary blends makes it impossible to provide a comprehensive safety profile.

Dosage

It is impossible to determine the appropriate dosage for a proprietary blend without knowing the quantities of each ingredient. The minimum effective dose, optimal dosage ranges, and maximum safe dose cannot be established. Timing considerations, form-specific recommendations, absorption factors, and required cofactors are also not provided for proprietary blends. Due to the lack of transparency, consumers cannot make informed decisions about dosing or potential risks. Therefore, no specific dosage guidelines can be provided for proprietary blends.

FAQs

Why do companies use proprietary blends?

Companies use proprietary blends to protect their formulas, reduce costs, and market products with multiple ingredients without disclosing exact amounts, giving them a perceived competitive advantage.

Are proprietary blends safe?

Safety is uncertain due to the lack of transparency. Consumers cannot verify doses or potential interactions, making it difficult to assess the overall safety of the blend.

Can I know how much of each ingredient I am getting?

No, proprietary blends only disclose the total blend weight, not the individual ingredient amounts. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of the product.

Do proprietary blends deliver effective doses?

Often not; companies may include subclinical doses of expensive ingredients mixed with fillers to reduce costs, potentially undermining the clinical efficacy of the product.

Should I avoid supplements with proprietary blends?

Many experts recommend avoiding them due to transparency and efficacy concerns. Opting for supplements with fully disclosed ingredients and clinically validated doses is generally preferred.

Research Sources

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37004873/ – A 2023 paper in *The Journal of Nutrition* discusses the rationale for proprietary blends and the challenges they pose for research and consumer transparency. The paper highlights that while proprietary blends are legally allowed, the nondisclosure of ingredient amounts complicates safety and efficacy assessments, and regulatory oversight remains reactive rather than proactive.
https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/new-paper-discusses-the-rationale-for-proprietary-blends-in-supplements-and-the-potential-pitfalls-of-how-they-are-regulated – This article discusses a paper that examines the rationale for using proprietary blends in supplements and the potential regulatory pitfalls. It emphasizes the challenges in assessing the safety and efficacy of these blends due to the lack of transparency in ingredient amounts, which complicates regulatory oversight.
https://thegeniusbrand.com/blogs/news/7-reasons-you-need-to-avoid-proprietary-blends-in-supplements – This blog post outlines several reasons to avoid proprietary blends in supplements, including the potential for underdosed ingredients and the lack of transparency. It suggests that consumers may be misled by these blends, as they cannot verify the amounts of each ingredient and their potential interactions.
https://www.chpa.org/news/2023/04/chpas-duffy-mackay-co-authors-paper-journal-nutrition-proprietary-blends-supplements – This news article highlights a paper co-authored by Duffy MacKay that discusses proprietary blends in supplements. The article focuses on the challenges these blends pose for research and consumer transparency, emphasizing the need for better regulatory oversight due to the nondisclosure of ingredient amounts.
https://swolverine.com/blogs/blog/what-is-a-proprietary-blend-5-reasons-to-avoid-proprietary-blends-at-all-costs – This blog post details five reasons to avoid proprietary blends, including the potential for ineffective doses of costly ingredients mixed with fillers. It emphasizes that clinically effective doses are well-established in the literature, but proprietary blends obscure whether these doses are met, thus potentially misleading consumers.