Reading Supplement Labels

Reading supplement labels: the Supplement Facts panel, other ingredients, claims and the FDA disclaimer, the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database, and what a label cannot tell you.

Content last updated October 22, 2026. This page has not been medically reviewed.

Find the Supplement Facts panel

The manufacturer must list all the supplement's ingredients in the Supplement Facts chart or in the list of other ingredients below it. [1]

Claims on the label

A supplement label cannot claim to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent a disease. [2]
Structure/function claims (such as "calcium builds strong bones") must carry the FDA disclaimer that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA. [2]
"Standardized", "verified" and "certified" do not necessarily guarantee quality. [2]

What a label cannot tell you

Whether the contents match the label. [2]
Whether it is safe with your medicines or conditions. See Interactions.
Whether the study you read used this exact product.

Third-party seals

Testing by independent groups such as USP or ConsumerLab is one way to judge quality. [1] See Product quality.

Compare labels

NIH's Dietary Supplement Label Database lists the label information of many US products. [2]

Amounts and duplicate ingredients · Evaluating safety claims

References

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Know the Science: Tips on Reading Supplement Labels. Read 2026-10-22.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Read 2026-10-22.

Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.