Supplement glossary.

Active ingredient

An active ingredient is the substance in a supplement responsible for the labelled effect. In a standardised extract, the active ingredient is the named phytochemical (withanolides, berberine, silymarin) declared at a specific potency percentage. Everything else in the formulation is excipient, binder, or carrier.

See alsoStandardisation

Adaptogen

An adaptogen is a class of botanical actives studied for their effects on the body's stress-response systems. The category includes ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), tulsi (holy basil), brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), and shilajit. The classification rests on traditional Ayurvedic use, supported by 21st-century clinical research on cortisol modulation and stress resilience.

See alsoWithanolides

AYUSH

AYUSH is the Indian Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy. AYUSH-GMP is the certification framework for Ayurvedic Proprietary Medicine manufacturing in India. EX1's ashwagandha, berberine, and milk thistle SKUs are classified as Ayurvedic Proprietary Medicine and ship from AYUSH-GMP certified facilities.

Berberine

Berberine is an alkaloid found in plants including Berberis aristata, a botanical with a long history in the Ayurvedic tradition. EX1 uses a standardised Berberis aristata extract, not an isolated fraction, in its metabolism blend, where chromium carries the authorised claim for normal macronutrient metabolism and the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels.

See alsoStandardisation

Bioavailability

Bioavailability is the proportion of an ingested compound that reaches systemic circulation in active form. For magnesium oxide, bioavailability sits near 4 percent; for magnesium bisglycinate (chelated), it sits several multiples higher. The same milligram on the label can deliver very different absorbed doses depending on the chemical form.

See alsoBisglycinate chelate

Bisglycinate chelate

A bisglycinate chelate is a mineral bound to two glycine amino-acid molecules to support absorption through amino-acid transport pathways. Magnesium bisglycinate, iron bisglycinate, and zinc bisglycinate are the most common forms in supplements. The chelate form sits gentler on the gastrointestinal tract and absorbs more efficiently than the corresponding oxide or sulfate salt.

See alsoBioavailability·Chelate

Certificate of Analysis (COA)

A Certificate of Analysis is a per-batch laboratory report verifying a supplement's actives, contaminants, and microbiology against label claims. EX1 ships a COA on request via care@ex1nutrition.com for every batch. The report typically covers active-compound percentage, heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury), and microbiological limits.

See alsoPer-batch testing

Chelate

A chelate is a mineral atom bound to organic molecules in a stable ring structure, often for improved absorption. Bisglycinate is the most common chelate form in supplements (glycine ligands around a mineral atom). Citrate, malate, and picolinate are other chelated forms used at varying efficiencies depending on the mineral.

See alsoBisglycinate chelate

Curcumin

Curcumin is the principal active compound in turmeric (Curcuma longa), studied for its antioxidant activity. Curcumin alone has limited bioavailability. Piperine (from black pepper) at 5 mg has documented co-administration support for absorption. Phytosome and emulsion forms also exist.

See alsoBioavailability·Phytosome

Cyanocobalamin

Cyanocobalamin is the FSSAI Schedule I permitted form of Vitamin B12 in Indian nutraceuticals. A stable, well-absorbed Vitamin B12 source that is activated by the body's own B12 metabolism. Indian vegetarian diets are commonly low in B12; EX1's B12-containing SKUs declare Cyanocobalamin by name and microgram on every label.

See alsoFSSAI

Daily Value (DV)

Daily Value is the regulatory reference intake for a nutrient on a food or supplement label, derived from the Indian RDA or international equivalents. A label that declares 100 percent DV for a nutrient means one serving meets the population reference intake. Correction protocols for a documented deficiency typically run above the DV.

See alsoRDA

DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid)

DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid concentrated in brain, neural, and retinal tissue. The brain is roughly 60 percent fat by dry weight, and DHA is the dominant structural omega-3 in neuronal membranes. Marine fish oil and algal oil are the two dietary-supplement sources.

See alsoEPA

Elemental dose

The elemental dose is the actual milligrams of a mineral atom delivered by a serving, as distinct from the compound weight. A label that lists "2200 mg magnesium bisglycinate" delivers 440 mg of elemental magnesium (because the glycine ligands and chelate structure carry the rest of the compound weight). The elemental number is what physiology responds to.

See alsoBisglycinate chelate

EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid)

EPA, or eicosapentaenoic acid, is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid studied for cardiovascular function support and as a precursor to inflammation-resolving signalling lipids. Combined with DHA, the American Heart Association cites 2 to 4 g/day for clinically meaningful triglyceride support. Marine fish oil is the dominant source; algal oil is the vegan-friendly equivalent (DHA-dominant).

See alsoDHA

Folate

Folate is the B-vitamin essential for cell division and red blood cell formation. Folic Acid (Pteroylmonoglutamic Acid) is the FSSAI Schedule I permitted form for Indian nutraceuticals; the human body converts it to the active folate form for use in the methylation cycle. EX1's B9-containing SKUs declare Folic Acid by name and milligram on the label.

Form factor

Form factor is the physical delivery format of a supplement: tablet, capsule, softgel, powder, or sachet. Form choice affects dose tolerance, swallowability, and absorption. Powdered creatine in a tub allows precise serving control; softgels are the standard for oxygen-sensitive omega-3; sachets work well for water-soluble electrolyte blends.

FSSAI

FSSAI is the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the regulator for nutraceutical, health supplement, and food product labelling in India. EX1's Health Supplement (Nutraceutical) SKUs are FSSAI-licensed; the Ayurvedic Proprietary Medicine SKUs operate under AYUSH licensing. Schedule III of the FSSAI Health Supplements Regulations sets absolute daily caps for several actives.

See alsoAYUSH·Nutraceutical

MK-7

MK-7 is the all-trans menaquinone-7 form of Vitamin K2, a long-acting form sourced from natto (fermented soybean) or biosynthesis. MK-7 has a serum half-life of roughly 72 hours, compared to MK-4's hours-long half-life. The longer duration is why most modern K2 trials use MK-7 at 45 to 180 mcg/day.

Myo-inositol

Myo-inositol is a sugar alcohol that acts as a second messenger in cellular signalling pathways, including insulin signalling and ovarian function. The PCOS-related trial literature anchors on the 40:1 myo to D-chiro-inositol ratio. The same molecule supports both metabolic and reproductive endpoints in women.

Nutraceutical

A nutraceutical is the FSSAI-defined regulatory category for products that deliver a nutritional or physiological effect beyond basic nutrition. EX1's vitamin, mineral, and most extract SKUs are FSSAI-licensed under the Health Supplement (Nutraceutical) category. Ayurvedic Proprietary Medicines (ashwagandha, berberine, milk thistle) sit under separate AYUSH licensing.

See alsoFSSAI

Per-batch testing

Per-batch testing means every manufacturing batch is independently assayed for active content, heavy metals, and microbial contamination. At minimum, a per-batch test covers active-compound percentage by HPLC, heavy metals by ICP-MS, and microbiological load by standard plate counts. EX1 ships a Certificate of Analysis per batch on request.

See alsoCertificate of Analysis

Phytosome

A phytosome is a plant-extract delivery system in which the active phytochemical is bound to a phospholipid (typically phosphatidylcholine) for improved absorption. Curcumin phytosome and silymarin phytosome are well-studied examples. The phospholipid carrier helps the fat-soluble active cross the intestinal membrane.

See alsoCurcumin·Silymarin

Proprietary blend

A proprietary blend is a label declaration that lists multiple ingredients under a single combined weight, hiding individual doses. The format makes it impossible to verify whether each ingredient sits at a clinical dose. EX1's standard is no proprietary blends: every ingredient and its individual dose is declared on every label.

RDA

RDA, or Recommended Dietary Allowance, is the daily intake of a nutrient sufficient to meet the requirements of nearly all healthy individuals in a population. In India, the RDA is set by ICMR-NIN; the Indian male magnesium RDA is 440 mg/day, female 370 mg/day. The RDA is a maintenance number, not a correction number.

See alsoDaily Value (DV)

Silybin

Silybin is the most active flavonolignan within the silymarin complex, often declared as a separate value on milk thistle labels. A 500 mg milk thistle extract standardised to 80 percent silymarin delivers approximately 200 mg silybin. The silybin number is the clinically anchored fraction.

See alsoSilymarin

Silymarin

Silymarin is the standardised flavonolignan extract complex from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) seeds, studied for hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity. The clinical preparation is standardised to 80 percent silymarin, with silybin as the most active fraction. Trials anchor to 200 to 400 mg/day across hepatic and antioxidant endpoints.

See alsoSilybin·Standardisation

Standardisation

Standardisation is the process of guaranteeing the percentage of active compound in every batch of an extract. Ashwagandha standardised to 5 percent withanolides, a standardised Berberis aristata extract, and silymarin standardised to 80 percent: each is the chemistry the label rests on.

See alsoWithanolides·Berberine

Withanolides

Withanolides are the bioactive compounds in ashwagandha root responsible for adaptogenic effects. The Chandrasekhar 2012 and Salve 2019 ashwagandha stress-resilience trials used a root extract standardised to 5 percent withanolides at 600 mg/day. The 5 percent threshold is the clinical anchor.

See alsoAdaptogen·Standardisation