The front of a supplement pack has a job to do. It needs to catch your eye and give you an idea of what the product is about.
Turn it over before you decide.
The ingredient list, amounts and directions give you something more useful to compare. You don't need to recognise every name straight away. A few careful checks will tell you where to look next.
Check what the numbers refer to
When you see an amount on a pack, check whether it's per capsule or per recommended serving. They aren't always the same.
Here's a made-up example. One product lists 500 mg of an ingredient per two-capsule serving. Another lists 250 mg per capsule. The headline numbers look different, but two capsules of either would contain the same amount of that ingredient.
That doesn't make the products identical. It just puts the comparison on the same basis.
Read the directions alongside the amounts, and stick to the recommended serving on the pack.
Watch the units too. Milligrams and micrograms are different. There are 1,000 micrograms in one milligram, so check the unit beside the number before comparing.
Read the name beside the amount
An ingredient's name can be more specific than the word on the front of the pack.
Take magnesium. A label might name magnesium citrate or magnesium L-threonate. Those names identify different forms. If you're comparing products, note the form as well as the amount. Don't assume that a longer name means a better product.
With plant ingredients, check whether the label describes a powder or an extract. If it gives an extract ratio or a standardisation figure, those details need reading too. A ratio alone doesn't tell you whether a product will do what you want it to do.
And if something isn't clear, ask the brand. You shouldn't have to guess what you're buying.
For a closer look at ingredient amounts and what research can tell you, read our guide to effective dosages and ‘fairy-dusting’.
Give the rest of the label a moment
Read the full ingredients list, including the capsule shell and any other ingredients. Check the allergen information, storage instructions and warnings. These details matter even when the front of the pack looks familiar.
Think about what you're already taking as well. Two products with different names may contain some of the same ingredients.
If you take prescription medicines, have a medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your GP or pharmacist before taking a supplement.
You don't have to solve every unfamiliar ingredient in one sitting. Start with the serving, the names and the amounts. Then read the directions and ask about anything you can't find.
That's a more useful starting point than the biggest number on the front.
At The Supplement Stack, we want you to be able to look beyond the product name. You can browse our formulas and compare the ingredient information on each product page. If you need a detail explained, ask us.