Korean-style supplements in the US: what to look for on the label

At a glance: Korean-style supplement → what to check on a US label

How are Korean and US supplement labels different?

• %DV is the percent of the US daily reference amount. Korean labels have a similar "% of nutrient reference value," but the reference amounts differ by country, so the same % can mean a different amount. Compare the mg or mcg numbers, not the %.
• Always check whether the Serving Size is 1 or 2 capsules. Korean products show the amount per day, and US products show the amount per serving, so numbers can look about twice as different as they really are.
• In the US, the FDA doesn't approve supplements for safety or effectiveness before they're sold. If you care about quality, look for third-party testing seals such as USP or NSF.

Korean red ginseng: look for ginsenosides

Korean red ginseng sold as a health functional food in Korea is measured by ginsenosides Rg1, Rb1 and Rg3 combined. Under Korea's standards, the daily amount is 3–80 mg for immune and fatigue claims, and 2.4–80 mg for memory, blood flow and antioxidant claims. That's why Korean labels say "ginsenosides Rg1, Rb1 and Rg3 combined: ○ mg."

Here's how to find it on a US label.

1. Name and Latin name — Look for "Korean Red Ginseng" or "Red Ginseng" along with Panax ginseng (root). American ginseng is a different species, so don't treat it as the same product as Korean red ginseng.
2. Ginsenoside listing — It may say "standardized to ○% ginsenosides" or "ginsenosides ○ mg." US products often use a different measure (such as total ginsenosides) instead of Rg1 + Rb1 + Rg3, so a one-to-one comparison with Korean numbers is hard. Still, a product that lists ginsenosides is easier to compare than one that doesn't.
3. Extract or powder, and mg per day — "Extract" and "root powder" can contain very different amounts of active compounds at the same weight.
4. Sugar and sweeteners — Stick packs and drinks sometimes contain a lot of sugar or fructose.

Milk thistle and liver supplements: do the silymarin math

Korean milk thistle products usually list the key ingredient directly, for example "silymarin 130 mg (per daily serving)." Most US products list the extract weight and a standardization %, so you have to do the math.

• The usual target is 200–400 mg of silymarin a day, split into 2–3 doses. If you're used to a Korean product, a US product may have more or less, so do the math.
• Look for absorption-enhanced forms, such as phytosome ("Siliphos") or micronized.
• Liver combo products mix several ingredients besides milk thistle. Long blends make it hard to know how much of each you're getting.

See Milk thistle and the Liver combo for details.

Probiotics: strain codes and how long the CFU count is guaranteed

Under Korea's standards, probiotic health functional foods must contain at least the labeled count, and the daily amount for the gut health claim is 100 million to 10 billion CFU. That's why Korean products often highlight a "guaranteed count."

Here's how to read a US label.

1. Wording next to CFU — "At time of manufacture" means the count may be lower by the expiration date. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements suggests looking for a count "through expiration."
2. Strain code — The name shouldn't stop at "Lactobacillus rhamnosus." A code like "GG" lets you check whether that strain has been studied.
3. Weight only — Some US labels list only the weight of the bacteria (mg) and no CFU. In that case, it's hard to compare counts.
4. Storage — Only products marked "Refrigerate" must be kept cold. Watch out for heat during summer deliveries.

Strains by concern and product comparisons are on the Probiotics page.

Lutein: 10–20 mg a day, and what AREDS2 means

In Korea, the daily amount for lutein (marigold flower extract) health functional foods is 10–20 mg of lutein. US labels usually say something like "Lutein (from marigold flower extract) 10 mg," so it's easy to compare.

• Lutein mg — Check that it falls in the 10–20 mg range.
• Zeaxanthin — The macular pigment that pairs with lutein. Many products include both.
• Products labeled "AREDS2" — This is the formula used in the National Eye Institute (NEI) study: lutein 10 mg and zeaxanthin 2 mg plus vitamin C 500 mg, vitamin E 400 IU, zinc 80 mg and copper 2 mg. It's meant for people with intermediate age-related macular degeneration, so for someone just looking after their eyes, the zinc dose is on the high side. Talk to your eye doctor before choosing it.
• Overlap — Many multivitamins also contain lutein, so add them together.

Omega-3: EPA + DHA, not the capsule weight

Korean omega-3 health functional foods are based on EPA and DHA combined, at 0.5–2 g a day. That's why Korean labels say "EPA and DHA combined: ○ mg."

US labels often show the total oil weight in big print on the front, like "Fish Oil 1,000 mg." On the Supplement Facts panel, look for these lines.

• If the Serving Size is 2 capsules, each capsule has half that amount.
• If the math is confusing, see the Omega-3 EPA and DHA data.

Product comparisons are on the Omega-3 page.

Multivitamins, vitamin D, magnesium and vitamin C

There are plenty of these four in the US. Once you know %DV and the units, it's easy to match what you're used to.

• For vitamin D, add up the amounts in your multivitamin, omega-3 and calcium products too, and keep the total at or below 4,000 IU (100 mcg) a day.
• For elemental magnesium math, see the Elemental magnesium data.
• If you've had kidney stones, don't go over 1,000 mg of vitamin C a day.

Compare products: Multivitamin · Vitamin D · Magnesium · Vitamin C

Can you buy Korean supplements in the US?

Yes, often you can. But the label you get depends on where you buy.

• Imported foods and supplements sold in the US must show required label information in English. A product with only a Korean label may not meet the rules for regular sale.
• If you take medication, a Korean-only label is hard to show to a US pharmacist or doctor. Write down the ingredient names and daily amounts in English (e.g. Korean red ginseng extract, ginsenosides ○ mg/day).
• Even from the same brand, the US version and the Korean version can be labeled differently. Check the numbers again.
• Always check the expiration date and how it was stored (especially probiotics).

Checklist: switching to a US product

1. Write down the key ingredient and daily amount from the Korean label (e.g. ginsenosides ○ mg, silymarin 130 mg, guaranteed count ○ billion).
2. Check the Serving Size on the US label.
3. Convert to the same unit before comparing (extract weight × %, EPA + DHA combined, mcg ↔ IU).
4. Remember that a Proprietary Blend is hard to compare because it doesn't list each ingredient's amount.
5. Add up overlapping ingredients with the other supplements you already take.
6. If you take medication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first.

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