Two supplements may list the same ingredients on the front of the packaging and yet have very different formulations.
The presence of pineapple, artichoke, dandelion, green tea, or gotu kola, by itself, does not actually allow one to understand how comparable two products truly are.
To do so, one must look deeper: quantity, form of the ingredient, type of extract, titration, daily dose, and, in some cases, enzymatic activity.
For this reason, the Delmire Observatory dedicates this analysis not to a single supplement, but to the way in which we can read a plant-based formulation more consciously.
The goal is not to establish which product is “more effective.” It is to understand what information we can actually glean from the label and what, instead, we should not automatically infer.
The name of the ingredient is only the starting point
Reading “artichoke” or “green tea” among the ingredients does not tell us everything yet.
A formulation may use:
- plant powder;
- juice;
- liquid extract;
- dry extract;
- titrated extract;
- ingredients standardized according to specific parameters;
- isolated or concentrated substances obtained from the raw material.
This is why two products that report the same plant may contain different preparations.
The first step in comparison is therefore to ask oneself not only “which ingredient does it contain?”, but also “in what form is it present?”.
What does “dry extract” mean?
In the technical sheets of plant-based supplements, the abbreviation d.e. often appears, used to indicate a dry extract.
An extract is obtained by processing the plant raw material to extract certain components and subsequently concentrating the preparation.
This means that 500 mg of a plant in powder form and 500 mg of its extract do not necessarily represent the same thing.
The quantity in milligrams must therefore be read together with the other information available on the extract.
What does “titrated at 5%” mean?
Next to the name of some extracts, we find indications such as:
- tit. 5% chlorogenic acid;
- tit. 80% silymarin;
- tit. 45% EGCG;
- tit. 3% triterpene derivatives.
Titration indicates that the extract is also described through the declared percentage of a specific component or marker.
A 200 mg extract titrated at 5% in a specific compound, for example, provides extra information compared to the simple wording “200 mg of extract”.
This makes the formulation more readable because it allows one to know not only the total quantity of the extract, but also the declared share of the component used as a reference.
A higher titration, however, does not automatically mean that the product is better.
One must always consider which substance is being titrated, in what quantity the extract is taken, the overall formulation, and the intended use by the manufacturer.
Milligrams and percentages should be read together
Imagine two extracts of the same ingredient.
The first contains a larger quantity of extract but a lower titration. The second uses fewer milligrams but presents a higher percentage of the declared component.
Limiting oneself to comparing the larger number can therefore be misleading.
To understand a formulation, it is more useful to read together:
- quantity of the extract;
- titration percentage;
- component on which the titration is performed;
- expected daily dose.
It is precisely the combination of these data that makes the comparison more informative.
The daily dose counts more than the quantity per capsule
Another frequent error is simply comparing the quantity contained in a single capsule or tablet.
Regulation on supplements requires that the quantities of substances with nutritional or physiological effects be referred to the recommended portion for daily consumption.
This is important because a product may provide for:
- one capsule per day;
- two capsules;
- multiple administrations throughout the day;
- a specific quantity of liquid product.
To compare two formulations, one must therefore check how much ingredient is taken with the daily dose indicated by the manufacturer, not just how much a single unit contains.
Capsules and liquid formulations: they are not compared only in milliliters and milligrams
In the same category, we can find supplements in capsules, tablets, and liquid formulations.
The format changes the way we read the label.
In a capsule or tablet, we normally find quantities referring to the number of units expected in the daily dose.
In a liquid product, we must instead check:
- recommended daily quantity;
- total volume of the packaging;
- quantity of ingredients per indicated portion;
- any need for dilution;
- methods of storage and use.
A liquid format is not automatically more or less concentrated than a capsule. They are different systems that require comparing data relative to the actual dose.
What does GDU/g mean in bromelain?
With some ingredients, we do not only find a quantity in milligrams.
Bromelain is a good example.
In formulations, it may be indicated through values such as 2500 GDU/g or 5000 GDU/g.
GDU stands for Gelatin Digesting Units and is a measurement used to express the proteolytic activity of the enzyme.
This data does not indicate how many milligrams of bromelain are present: it describes another characteristic of the ingredient.
For this reason, reading only “1000 mg of bromelain” or only “5000 GDU/g” does not necessarily offer a complete picture.
To compare bromelain-based formulations, it is useful to know both:
- the quantity of the ingredient;
- the declared enzymatic activity.
Milligrams and GDU/g therefore measure different aspects.
Does more ingredients mean a better formulation?
Not necessarily.
Some supplements use a single main ingredient. Others combine numerous plant extracts.
A formulation with ten ingredients is not automatically superior to one with three.
The number of ingredients should be evaluated together with:
- quantities actually present;
- form of the ingredients;
- declared titrations;
- daily dose;
- clarity of the information available.
A very long list may seem complete from a commercial point of view, but for those who really want to understand the product, readable and comparable data are more useful.
Main ingredient and overall formulation
Another interesting element emerges by observing products built around the same ingredient.
Bromelain, for example, can be proposed as the central ingredient of a formulation or included in a combination that includes numerous plant extracts.
Saying that two supplements “contain bromelain” therefore does not mean that they are equivalent.
One needs to understand what role the ingredient occupies within the formula and what other substances accompany it.
The role of patented ingredients or those identified with a trademark
In some formulations, we find ingredients identified with proprietary names or registered trademarks.
This can be useful for recognizing a specific raw material or preparation, but the trade name should not replace information about the composition.
Even in the presence of a proprietary ingredient, it is useful to verify:
- what it is composed of;
- what part of the plant is used;
- how much ingredient is present;
- if titrations or standardizations are indicated.
The trademark can therefore add traceability, but the formulation must remain understandable.
“Natural” does not tell us by itself how a supplement is formulated
The term natural is used very frequently in the sector.
But to really understand a product, precise information is more useful, such as:
- name of the plant;
- part used;
- type of extract;
- quantity;
- titration;
- daily dose;
- any warnings.
Two ingredients, both of plant origin, can be processed, concentrated, and standardized in different ways.
For this reason, Delmire prefers to use the term “natural” as descriptive information when appropriate, without considering it by itself a measure of quality or effectiveness.
What the label tells us and what it does not
A good label can allow us to know many concrete elements:
- which ingredients are present;
- in what quantities;
- what daily dose is recommended;
- which extracts are used;
- any titrations;
- characterizing ingredients and substances;
- directions for use;
- warnings.
But these data do not automatically allow one to establish how effective a supplement will be for a specific person.
Individual response, diet, lifestyle, any therapies, and personal conditions cannot be inferred from the label alone.
For this reason, reading a supplement better does not mean transforming the label into a diagnosis or a promise of results.
Claims and formulation are not the same thing
Another aspect to distinguish concerns the claims used to describe the products.
In the European Union, nutritional and health claims are governed by specific legislation.
Furthermore, the labeling, presentation, and advertising of a supplement cannot attribute properties of prevention, treatment, or cure of a disease to it.
For those who purchase, it is therefore useful to separate two levels:
- the formulation, i.e., what the product actually contains;
- the claims used to communicate its characteristics and effects.
A formulation can be analyzed through concrete data even without turning every ingredient into a promise.
An example from the Drainage & Purification category
In the Delmire selection dedicated to Drainage & Purification, we find formulations built in different ways.
Some are focused mainly on bromelain and declare both its quantity and enzymatic activity.
Others combine numerous botanical extracts and report specific titrations, for example in silymarin, chlorogenic acid, inulin, EGCG, sinensetin, or other markers.
Still others use a liquid format and associate multiple extracts within the daily dose.
This variety shows why we do not consider it sufficient to compare only the trade name or the ingredient highlighted on the front of the packaging.
How we read supplements on Delmire
When we evaluate a product in the Wellness macro-area, we try to progressively gather information that makes the formulation more understandable.
Among the elements we observe are:
- characterizing ingredients;
- declared quantities;
- daily dose;
- type of extract;
- titrations or standardizations, when present;
- enzymatic activity, when relevant;
- directions for use;
- warnings;
- quality and clarity of the information provided by the manufacturer.
It is the same principle at the basis of the Delmire selection: understanding a product better before limiting ourselves to describing it.
The method with which we work is also explained on the How we select page.
Frequently asked questions
What does “d.e.” mean on a supplement label?
It is an abbreviation commonly used to indicate a dry extract. The information should be read together with the quantity of the extract and any declared titrations.
What does it mean that an extract is titrated?
It means that the declared percentage of a specific component or marker within the extract is indicated. For example, an extract may be indicated as titrated at 5% in a specific substance.
Is an extract with a higher titration always better?
No. The percentage must be evaluated together with the quantity of the extract, the compound used as a reference, and the overall formulation.
To compare two supplements, do I have to look at the milligrams per capsule?
Not only. It is more useful to compare the quantities relative to the daily dose recommended by the manufacturer, because the number of capsules or tablets expected may be different.
What does 5000 GDU/g mean in bromelain?
GDU/g is a unit used to express the proteolytic activity of bromelain per gram of ingredient. It does not indicate the same thing as milligrams: quantity and enzymatic activity are two different pieces of information.
Does more ingredients mean the supplement is better?
No. The number of ingredients, by itself, does not allow one to establish the quality of a formulation. Quantity, form, titration, daily dose, and clarity of information are equally important elements.
Can a natural supplement be considered automatically safe?
No. The natural origin of an ingredient does not eliminate the need to respect doses, warnings, and directions for use. In the presence of particular conditions, medication use, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or specific doubts, it is appropriate to contact a healthcare professional.
Note on the method
This article is part of the Delmire Observatory, the series with which we analyze the categories present in our selection to make the information accompanying the products more understandable.
For this analysis, we observed labels and product sheets of plant-based supplements present in the category, comparing ingredients, quantities, extracts, titrations, enzymatic activity, and daily dose. We also consulted European legislation on supplements and claims and the indications of the Ministry of Health regarding supplements based on plant substances.
Last update: October 2026.
Sources consulted
- Ministry of Health – food supplements, botanicals, labeling, and advertising;
- Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements;
- Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims;
- Natugea – product sheets and information on the range's formulations;
- scientific literature regarding the measurement of bromelain enzymatic activity.
Reading a formulation better means going beyond the name of the ingredient and understanding what data we actually have available.