Label literacy
Proprietary Blend on a Supplement Label: What It Hides and How to Do the Math
A proprietary blend on a supplement label lists several ingredients under one total weight, in order from most to least, without single amounts. US rules allow it. Sugar Defender shows a 200 mg blend of 22 ingredients per mL, so an even split is about 9 mg each.
Written by the Sugar Defender label deskUpdated · 4 min read
The rule01
What is a proprietary blend on a supplement label?
A proprietary blend is a group of ingredients listed with one combined weight. Federal rule 21 CFR 101.36 lets a maker list them in descending order of weight without separate amounts (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)).
That order is the only clue you get about who holds the most.
- Total weight: 200 mg per mL.
- Count: 22 ingredients.
- Order: most to least by weight.
The math02
How do you estimate amounts inside a proprietary blend?
Divide the total by the number of ingredients for an even split, then use the order for a ceiling. The ingredient in place k holds at most the total divided by k.
For Sugar Defender, 200 mg divided by 22 gives about 9 mg per mL.
| Place | Ingredient | At most |
|---|---|---|
| 4th | African mango | 50 mg |
| 8th | Gymnema | 25 mg |
| 12th | Panax ginseng | About 17 mg |
These are ceilings, not amounts. The real figures are not printed.
The catch03
Are proprietary blends a problem for buyers?
They make comparison hard. Gymnema trials used 200-400 mg of extract (Drugs.com, Gymnema monograph), and even the highest possible amount in the drops, 25 mg per mL, is below that.
They are not illegal and not proof of a bad product. They just ask you to trust what you cannot check.
- You cannot match a dose to a study.
- You cannot tell if a name is a pinch or a scoop.
- You can still read the order and the total.
Our Supplement Facts page walks through all 23 lines. Keep taking prescribed medicine and ask your pharmacist about interactions.
Order on the sales page
Thinking about trying Sugar Defender?
Check your medicines first. The two larger packs cost less per bottle and ship free in the US; the 60-day money-back window starts on the day you buy.
Prices on the order page, October 18, 2026 (Sugar Defender sales page). A 2-bottle pack is also sold, at $158 plus shipping. See all three on the pricing page.
FAQ04
What do people ask about proprietary blend on a supplement label?
People most often ask: Why do supplement makers use proprietary blends? The short answer, and 2 more, open below.
Each answer starts with the direct reply, then the reason, with a source where one exists.
Why do supplement makers use proprietary blends?
Makers say it protects a formula. Critics say it hides low doses. Either way, the rule allows a total weight without single amounts (21 CFR 101.36 (eCFR)).
Does a proprietary blend mean the product is unsafe?
No. It means the amounts are hidden. Safety depends on each ingredient and your medicines, so read the cautions on the label.
Can I ask a company for the blend amounts?
You can ask. For Sugar Defender, orders and product questions go to +1 (302) 200-3480 or [email protected], and replies are not guaranteed.
Who wrote this05
Who wrote and reviewed this Sugar Defender guide?
The Sugar Defender label desk wrote it from the label, the sales page and linked public sources.
A medical reviewer's name goes in the box below once a review is on file.
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. authorized Sugar Defender merchant, not by the manufacturer or the label distributor. We are paid when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
What should you read next about Sugar Defender?
Read supplement facts, ingredients, how it works next: they pick up where this one stops.
Each one starts from the same label and links its sources.
U.S. authorized Sugar Defender merchant
Ready to try Sugar Defender?
Check your medicines first, then choose a pack. Three or six bottles ship free in the US and cost less per bottle, and the 60-day money-back window starts on the day you buy.
- Secure checkout on the sales page
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Ships from the U.S.; free on 3 or 6
