The Science Behind Dietary Supplements: The Truth About Standardized Extracts

In a world rife with misinformation, the future of health and nutrition will be built on meaningful, tangible results. We believe the best innovation comes from an unrelenting commitment to science and quality research.

“The Science Behind Herbal Dietary Supplements: The Truth About Extraction Ratios and Standardized Extracts,” hosted by Jay Jursich, Lab Director at Nootropics Depot, is a must-see for you to understand the differences between standardized extracts.

Jay delves into the extraction process, reveals what happens when extracts are made, and breaks down the pros and cons of both.

When it comes to botanical supplement extracts, there is a distinct lack of knowledge among the average consumer regarding extraction ratios.This often results in many supplements having misleading label claims that confuse consumers. We’ll dive into what this all means for you.

What is extraction yield?

Extraction yield refers to the amount of plant material used in the extraction process, with higher extraction yields resulting in higher concentrations of isolated active compounds that may be naturally present in the material but in smaller amounts.

This is expressed as an X:Y ratio, where X is the amount of raw material used in the extraction process and Y is the final extract. Let’s be clear:

An X:1 extract is not X times more potent than a 1:1 extract, nor is it equivalent to X amount of raw material used to produce the extract.

A 10:1 extract does not mean it is ten times more concentrated than a 1:1 extract, nor does it mean that a 10:1 extract is ten times the dry plant material from which it was extracted.

These ratios are often misunderstood or intentionally misleading. Whenever you see an ingredient labeled “equivalent to” or “dry herb equivalent,” the supplier is giving you information that is only intended to mislead you because it is not actually relevant.

An example of this is the claim that 1000 mg of a 10:1 extract is the “dry herb equivalent” of 10 grams of raw material (1000 mg x 10). This is why we believe it is misleading to consumers.

In this example, the 10 represents the amount of raw material used to produce 1 serving of extract. In other words, if you have 1 kg of a 10:1 extract, 10 kg of raw material would need to be processed to produce 1 kg of extract.

However, this does not mean that the extract is:

• Ten times more potent or active than the original raw material
• Ten times the raw material, or “dry herb equivalent”

First, a 10:1 extract is not 10 times more potent than a 1:1 extract because we do not measure the potency of an extract by its extraction rate. The potency of an extract is measured by the percentage of active compounds or the degree of standardization.

The ratio of materials used in the extraction process cannot actually be proven in any way.

Similarly, if we use a more efficient extraction method, we may be able to use a 2:1 ratio of raw materials to make a very concentrated extract, while a less efficient method may require a 10:1 ratio to achieve the same standardization of active compounds.

While a higher extraction rate is used to achieve a higher potency of an extract, there is no direct correlation between the ratio used and the amount of active ingredients in the extract.

Let’s compare two extracts to further illustrate this point:

1000 mg 1:1 mushroom extract with 25% beta-glucan

1000 mg 10:1 mushroom extract with 25% beta-glucan

In this example, both extracts are standardized for an active compound called beta-glucan, and they both contain the same concentration of 25%. 1000 mg of either of these extracts will provide 250 mg of beta-glucan, and the extraction rate does not change this.

If the 10:1 extract is indeed 10 times more potent than the 1:1 extract (as many claim), that would suggest that only 10% of the 10:1 extract is needed to get the same amount of active compound as the 1:1 extract.

If this is the case, the 10:1 extract must contain 250% beta-glucan, or 10 times the amount of active compound as the 1:1 extract. This defies physics because it is well known that no extract can provide 2500 mg of active compound in 1000 mg. It is completely illogical!!!

Likewise, if a 10:1 extract had ten times the content of the dried herb, that would mean taking 10 grams of unextracted mushrooms would produce the same effects. This is also false because the purpose of an extract is to isolate and standardize the active compounds that would otherwise not be broken down and bioavailable in the dried herb.

Dried herbs are not standardized, they are just unextracted dried powdered raw materials. Many suppliers will mistakenly assume that the ratio means it is X times more concentrated, and many times they will actually reduce the dose based on the extraction ratio!

This fundamental lack of understanding of extraction ratios is a big reason why many ingredients end up being woefully under-represented. Whether malicious or misleading, the result in these cases is the same - the consumer is deceived.

Can ingredient manufacturers over-extract plant materials?

Yes! There are limits to extraction levels, depending on the type of raw material the manufacturer is using.

For example, with some mushroom extracts, the stability and usability of the finished extract is largely dependent on the extraction ratio.

For example, Lion’s Mane extracts are not stable in powder form when the extraction ratio exceeds 8:1. They end up as an unusable paste.

Lion’s Mane extracts produced at ratios higher than 8:1 (e.g., 10:1, 12:1, or 20:1) always require the addition of fillers to keep the material stable in powder form.

These fillers are almost always starches, which fill out the extract and artificially increase the percentage of polysaccharides, thereby reducing the concentration of the beneficial beta-glucan compounds.

Current extraction methods are able to obtain about 30% beta-glucan concentration from Lion’s Mane if a hot water 1:1 extraction process is used.

However, if the Lion’s Mane is double extracted, the secondary alcohol extraction loses the beta-glucan percentage due to solvent evaporation, and double extracted Lion’s Mane typically contains 15-20% beta-glucan.

Back to the point, since the 20:1 extract is not stable as a powder, polysaccharides in the form of rice or oats are added to the finished product to keep it in powder form.

This is why these high-ratio Lion’s Mane extracts will claim to contain 50% or more polysaccharides. What this actually means is that most of these polysaccharides are actually inactive alpha-glucans, which, unlike beta-glucans, do not provide any benefits.

When it comes to plant extracts, don’t be misled by high extraction rates. It is impossible to “reverse engineer” an extract to determine the amount of raw material used to produce the extract, which means that extraction rates cannot be verified like the percentage of active compounds can be.

Many suppliers will claim that they have the most potent extract, using only the extraction rate as the basis for their claim. But as you now know, these claims are completely misleading.

Focus on Standardization of Active Compounds, Not Extraction Yield

Instead of worrying about extraction yield, focus on standardization of active compounds. Standardization refers to the amount of active compound in a particular extract. This is always shown as a percentage or measured weight.

With this approach, you are more likely to get your money's worth when purchasing the best natural supplement extracts.

In short:

Don't be misled by statements like "dry herb equivalents" or "equivalent to x grams of raw material."

Extraction yield has no correlation to standardization of an extract.

A higher extraction yield does not mean a better product. The optimal extraction level varies for each plant material.

Extraction ratios cannot be proven or verified in a lab.

The percentage of active compound is always the most important factor to consider in an extract.