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How to Read a Supplement Facts Label, Using the Nervecept Panel
How to read a supplement facts label: start with the serving size, then the amount of each ingredient, then the Daily Value column and the allergen line. On the Nervecept panel, one capsule is a serving, and eight ingredients are listed with exact amounts. Read the label before you read the ad.
Written by the Nervecept label deskUpdated · 4 min read
What does the top of a supplement facts label tell you?
The top of the panel gives the serving size and the servings per container. Every amount below it is for one serving.
On Nervecept, the serving size is 1 capsule and there are 30 servings per bottle. One capsule a day makes one bottle a 30-day supply.
FDA does not approve supplement labels before sale, so the company is responsible for what it prints (FDA 101: Dietary Supplements). That makes careful reading your job.
How do you read the ingredient amounts?
Read each amount in milligrams (mg) and compare it with the total. A line that looks big on the front may be small in the capsule. Quercetin, methionine, MSM and bromelain are 8 mg each, about 1% of the capsule apiece.
Nervecept lists eight ingredients and no proprietary blend, so each amount is exact. The listed actives add up to 699 mg. Glucosamine sulfate is 500 mg of that, or 71.5%.
| Ingredient | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Glucosamine sulfate | 500 mg | 71.5% |
| Indian frankincense (Boswellia serrata) | 67 mg | 9.6% |
| Chondroitin sulfate | 50 mg | 7.2% |
| Turmeric (root) | 50 mg | 7.2% |
| Quercetin, methionine, MSM, bromelain | 8 mg each | 1.1% each |
The sales-page FAQ mentions biotin and a proprietary blend. The label shows eight lines with exact amounts, no biotin and no blend, so we follow the label.
The next step is to compare each amount with studied doses. The glucosamine trials used 1,500 mg a day, so 500 mg is one third of that (Clegg et al., NEJM 2006 (GAIT)).
What does Daily Value not established mean?
It means no official daily target exists for that ingredient. Nervecept's panel says this for all eight lines, so there is no percent to compare.
That is normal for herbs and joint compounds. It does not mean the amount is safe or useful. It means you must judge the dose from studies.
Check the math yourself. Add the eight amounts: 500 + 67 + 50 + 50 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 equals 699 mg. If a total does not match its lines, ask the seller why.
Also read the plant part in brackets. Turmeric on this label is the root, and quercetin comes from the bud of Sophora japonica. The name and part tell you what is in the capsule.
What else should you read on the label?
Read the other ingredients, the allergen line, the directions and the cautions. These lines carry the safety facts.
- Other ingredients: hypromellose (vegetable capsule) and rice flour.
- Allergen: CONTAINS: Shellfish (Crayfish). FDA counts crustacean shellfish as a major allergen (FDA, Food Allergies).
- Directions: one capsule daily with 8 oz of water, 20 to 30 minutes before a meal.
- Caution: ask a physician first if you are pregnant, nursing, under 18 or have a medical condition.
Show the whole panel to your doctor or pharmacist, and keep taking prescribed medicine. Labels may not match contents, so buy only through the official order links (NCCIH, Using Supplements Wisely).
FAQ01
Nervecept questions people ask
What is a serving on a supplement label?
A serving is the amount the label tells you to take at one time. For Nervecept it is 1 capsule, and every printed amount applies to that one capsule.
What is a proprietary blend on a supplement label?
It is a group of ingredients listed with one total instead of separate amounts. Nervecept's label shows eight separate amounts and no blend.
Does a supplement facts label prove the capsule works?
No. It shows what is in the capsule and how much. It does not show that the amounts help, so compare each one with studies.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a Nervecept licensed U.S. outlet, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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