Short answer: a fully transparent label states an exact amount for every ingredient; a proprietary blend groups several ingredients under one total weight without breaking out individual amounts — both are common practices, and neither alone determines quality.
Why proprietary blends exist
Brands often cite formula protection (preventing competitors from copying exact ratios) as the reason for proprietary blends — a legal, common industry practice, not inherently deceptive.
What a proprietary blend doesn't tell you
Without individual amounts, you can't compare a specific ingredient's dose to amounts used in research, or assess proportional value across products — a genuine limitation worth knowing.
An honest example: partial transparency
Some formulas take a middle path — disclosing the core, most-established ingredient (like Chromium) individually, while grouping supporting botanicals and amino acids into a blend. This isn't full transparency, but it's more informative than a fully undisclosed formula.
See what's disclosed individually
Glucotide lists Chromium's amount separately from its broader blend.
Check Glucotide PricingLearn more
See our full ingredients breakdown for exactly what's disclosed and what's blended.