Why Transparency Matters: The Case Against Proprietary Blends

Overview

The supplement industry faces a trust crisis. Proprietary blends obscure ingredient amounts, making it impossible for consumers to make informed decisions about their health. Full transparency in formulation represents both scientific integrity and respect for consumer autonomy.

A Crisis of Trust

Sarah spent months researching cognitive support supplements for her aging father. A successful attorney experiencing early memory challenges, he wanted natural options before considering pharmaceutical interventions. She read reviews, compared formulas, and consulted with his physician. Every bottle claimed remarkable benefits, but few revealed exactly what was inside.

"I felt like I was buying blind," Sarah recalls. "The label would say 'Proprietary Brain Blend: 750mg' but wouldn't tell me how much of each ingredient. How could I know if it contained effective doses? How could my dad's doctor advise us without knowing what he'd actually be taking?"

Sarah's frustration reflects a widespread problem in the supplement industry. As health journalist Kale Brock observes, "Unfortunately, we have many individuals involved in the health movement who create a picture of holistic health as being niche and unobtainable for common people."¹ This opacity extends beyond marketing to the formulations themselves.

The Proprietary Blend Problem

A proprietary blend allows manufacturers to list multiple ingredients under a single total weight without disclosing individual amounts. While marketed as protecting "trade secrets," this practice creates several serious problems for consumers.

Underdosing Without Detection

Research establishes effective dosage ranges for most cognitive support ingredients. For example, studies showing Bacopa monnieri's benefits typically use 300-450mg daily.² Alpha GPC research demonstrates benefits at 300-600mg per day.³ Huperzine-A shows effects at just 100-200 micrograms.⁴

A proprietary blend listing these three ingredients plus five others at "800mg total" could contain effective doses of one ingredient while severely underdosing others. Consumers pay premium prices for formulas that may deliver only a fraction of research-supported amounts.

Allergen and Sensitivity Concerns

Many people have sensitivities to specific ingredients. Someone allergic to soy needs to know if lecithin (often soy-derived) appears in meaningful amounts. Those sensitive to caffeine want to know exact quantities. Proprietary blends make it impossible to assess whether a formula is safe for individual use.

Jean Carper, in her research on brain health, emphasizes the importance of understanding exactly what we consume: "You may be surprised to know that many researchers now see Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia as diseases of 'lifestyle' as well as genetics."⁵ Making informed lifestyle choices requires transparent information.

Physician Consultation Barriers

When patients bring supplements to medical appointments, physicians need complete ingredient information to assess potential drug interactions or contraindications. A proprietary blend creates blind spots in medical decision-making, potentially compromising patient safety.

Dr. Laurel Coleman, who sits on the Alzheimer's Association board, notes that interventions work best when "you're dialed in" to your specific needs.⁶ This precision requires knowing exactly what you're consuming.

Quality Control Impossibility

Without disclosed amounts, third-party testing becomes meaningless. How can independent labs verify that a formula contains what it claims if the manufacturer won't reveal those claims? This lack of accountability creates opportunities for cutting corners without detection.

The Scientific Case for Transparency

Research relies on replicability. When studies demonstrate a compound's benefits at specific doses, those findings only translate to real-world application when consumers can access those same doses. Proprietary blends break this critical link between research and practice.

Consider the extensive research on Alpha GPC and Alzheimer's disease. Studies showing cognitive improvements used specific, measured doses.⁷ Consumers cannot benefit from this research if they don't know whether their supplement contains comparable amounts.

Brock emphasizes this principle in his health guidance: "I wanted to make this book applicable and friendly to the everyday person."⁸ The same philosophy should apply to supplement formulation—making information accessible rather than obscured.

The Bio-Individuality Factor

Every person responds differently to nutritional interventions based on genetics, existing health conditions, diet, stress levels, and countless other factors. Brock calls this concept "bio-individuality"—the recognition that optimal nutrition varies between individuals.⁹

Transparent labeling allows people to adjust intake based on their unique responses. Someone finding 400mg of Alpha GPC too stimulating might reduce to 200mg. Another person might need 600mg for noticeable effects. Proprietary blends eliminate this personalization, forcing everyone into the same black box.

The Trust Equation

The supplement industry operates with relatively light regulation compared to pharmaceuticals. This places enormous responsibility on manufacturers to self-regulate and prioritize consumer welfare over competitive advantage.

Companies claiming their formulations require proprietary protection might ask themselves: what matters more—protecting trade secrets or serving customers optimally? If a formula genuinely works, transparency strengthens rather than weakens competitive position by allowing consumers to verify claims.

As Brock writes, "The most powerful thing about this protocol is its simplicity."¹⁰ The same principle applies to supplement labeling—simplicity and clarity build trust while complexity breeds suspicion.

What True Transparency Looks Like

Fully transparent labeling includes:

Individual Ingredient Amounts: Every ingredient listed with its specific quantity, not hidden in blends.

Form Specification: Noting whether ingredients appear in specific forms (e.g., "Alpha GPC 50%" rather than just "Alpha GPC").

No Filler Disclosure: Clearly identifying inactive ingredients and why they're included.

Source Documentation: Specifying ingredient sources when relevant (e.g., plant-based vs. synthetic).

Third-Party Testing: Providing batch-specific test results from independent laboratories.

Research References: Directing consumers to studies supporting chosen ingredients and doses.

This level of transparency allows consumers, physicians, and researchers to evaluate formulas meaningfully. It demonstrates that manufacturers stand behind their formulations with confidence.

The Consumer Empowerment Movement

An educated consumer base increasingly demands transparency. Social media amplifies consumer voices, making it easier to expose questionable practices and celebrate companies doing right by their customers.

This shift reflects broader cultural changes around health and wellness. As Brock observes, "Gone are the days when health and wellbeing was reserved only for those considered 'alternative.' The fantastic news is that asking questions and taking responsibility for one's health is common practice now."¹¹

This responsibility includes demanding transparency from supplement manufacturers. When consumers vote with their dollars for transparent companies, the entire industry improves.

Beyond Compliance to Excellence

Some manufacturers meet minimum legal requirements while doing the bare minimum ethically. Others exceed requirements, viewing transparency as integral to their mission rather than a regulatory burden.

Excellence means publishing full formulations, explaining ingredient choices, providing dosing rationales, and making research readily accessible. It means treating consumers as partners in health rather than revenue sources.

Carper's research on preventing cognitive decline emphasizes personal agency: "The health of your brain, like that of your heart, is a far more personal choice than you probably realize."¹² Transparent labeling empowers these personal choices.

Key Points

• Proprietary blends prevent consumers from knowing if products contain effective ingredient doses
• Transparency is essential for managing allergies, sensitivities, and drug interactions
• Physicians cannot provide informed guidance without complete ingredient information
• Research-based dosing requires knowing exact amounts of each ingredient
• Bio-individuality means optimal doses vary between individuals
• Consumer demand for transparency is reshaping industry standards
• True transparency includes amounts, forms, sources, and third-party testing
• Educated consumers can make better decisions with complete information