How to Read a Supplement Label: A Practical Supplement Facts Guide
Quick answer: Start with serving size, then check each ingredient's amount and % Daily Value, look for proprietary blends that hide amounts, read "other ingredients" and warnings, and confirm lot number and expiry. Compare the bottle with the seller's page, because online pages often omit doses.
The label's anatomy
Dietary supplements carry a Supplement Facts panel; see the FDA dietary supplements page and NIH ODS: Dietary Supplements, What You Need to Know.
Step-by-step
- Serving size and servings per container.
- Amount per serving for each ingredient.
- % Daily Value where one exists.
- Proprietary blends: total weight only, individual amounts hidden.
- Other ingredients: capsule shell, fillers, allergens.
- Directions and warnings.
- Lot number and expiry date.
Compare with the sales page
Marketing pages sometimes skip doses. For HoneyPezil the order page lists six ingredients without amounts; compare them with your bottle; see the label breakdown.
Red flags
- "Proprietary blend" with no individual amounts.
- Claims of curing diseases.
- Missing lot number.
- Mismatch between the label and the seller's ingredient list.
Check your total intake
Add niacin, arginine and other duplicate nutrients across all supplements; see niacin limits.
Before you start
Show the label to your pharmacist; see the checklist.
Frequently asked questions
No; see quality seals.
Contact the seller and do not use the product until clarified.
Sources
General information, not medical advice. Offer details were checked on November 11, 2026; confirm on the order page and read the label on your bottle. See our disclaimer and how we research.