What is pixie dusting in supplements?

Pixie dusting is a deceptive practice in the supplement industry where companies include minimal amounts of effective ingredients in their products. This is done to benefit from the marketing appeal of these ingredients without providing an effective dose.

For example, a supplement might list a beneficial ingredient like beta-alanine or citrulline, known for enhancing athletic performance. While marketing highlights these ingredients, the product often contains only a fraction of the amount necessary to be effective, hidden behind terms like "proprietary blends" on the label. This way, companies lower costs while misleading consumers who believe they are getting a product that will work based on the ingredient lists 1 2.

The practice exploits consumer ignorance by making the product appear more beneficial than it actually is, often resulting in ineffective dosages that do not deliver the promised benefits 1 3.