Metagenics · Botanical supplement
Essential Defense
18 ingredients on file in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Off-market, label data preserved for reference.
- 18
- Ingredients
- 6
- Nutrient categories
- Top 19%
- By ingredient count
Essential Defense is a botanical supplement by Metagenics in tablet or pill form, listing 18 ingredients in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD), maintained by the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health. Currently listed as off-market (no longer available for purchase, but label data is preserved). Daily Value percentages shown below are based on FDA reference daily intake amounts for adults.
Product Details
- Type
- 🌿 Botanical
- Form
- Tablet or Pill
- Database Entry Date
- 2013-10-25
- Ingredients
- 18
Supplement Facts (18 Ingredients)
| Ingredient | Group | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 5:1 Proprietary Extract | Proprietary Blend | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Forsythia | Forsythia | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Japanese Honeysuckle | Japanese Honeysuckle | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Platycodon | Platycodon | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Burdock | Burdock | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Chinese Mint | Japanese Mint | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Chinese Licorice | Chinese Licorice | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Fermented Soybean | Soy | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Schizonepeta | Schizonepeta | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Lophatherum | Lophatherum | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Dyer's Woad | Isatis | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Ginger | Ginger | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Microcrystalline Cellulose | Cellulose | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Croscarmellose Sodium | Croscarmellose Sodium | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Cellulose | Cellulose | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Stearic Acid | Stearic Acid | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Silica | Silicon | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
| Coating | Coating | Not disclosed on label | No DV |
How does Essential Defense compare?
Ingredients listed on each label, against the botanical category average of 5.9. Data from the NIH DSLD.
Essential Defense lists 7 ingredients fewer than 10 in 1 Mushroom Essentials Raspberry Flavor. That is 12 above the botanical average.
What the Label Data Shows
With 18 ingredients on the label, Essential Defense is one of the more extensive botanical supplement formulas from Metagenics in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD), sold in tablet or pill form. These ingredients span 6 nutrient categories, botanical, other, blend, fiber, and 2 more, reflecting a multi-component formula rather than a single-nutrient product.
Across a broader 18-ingredient formula, 18 of 18 carry no FDA reference-intake value, typical for a formula this size: larger blends tend to pull in botanicals, amino acids, and specialty compounds without an assigned Daily Value. Breadth like this isn't a red flag by itself.
A product's market status is worth checking before relying on this label. This product is currently listed as off-market in the DSLD, with its label first entered into the database on 2013-10-25. Off-market products are no longer being produced or distributed under this label, but the DSLD preserves their historical label data for researchers, consumers checking older bottles, and for tracking how formulations have evolved.
About the DSLD database
The DSLD is a label database, not an FDA approval list, under the 1994 DSHEA framework, dietary supplements do not require pre-market approval, and label information reflects what manufacturers self-declare rather than independent laboratory verification. This page presents factual label data for reference only and is not medical advice; consult a licensed healthcare provider before making decisions about any supplement.
Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) Supplement label data for Essential Defense: ingredients, % Daily Value, market status, brand · 2026 DSLD captures manufacturer-self-declared label information; the NIH does not verify accuracy or evaluate safety/efficacy. Dietary supplements are regulated under DSHEA 1994, no pre-market FDA approval is required.
Ingredient Breakdown by Category
Daily Value Coverage
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients are in Essential Defense? ▼
Who manufactures Essential Defense? ▼
Is Essential Defense still available for purchase? ▼
What is the serving size of Essential Defense? ▼
What type of supplement is Essential Defense? ▼
Data Sources & Methodology
Data as of 2025. Source: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD).
Supplement label data sourced from the Source: NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD), maintained by the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health. The DSLD contains label information from dietary supplement products marketed in the United States.
Daily Value (DV) percentages are based on Source: FDA 21 CFR 101.9 Reference Daily Intake (RDI) values for adults. Products marked "Off Market" may no longer be available for purchase but their label data remains in the database for reference.
Disclaimer, Not Medical Advice
Label data from the Source: NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD). This information is for educational and reference purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or combining any dietary supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, take prescription medication, or have a medical condition.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainVitamins is rendered directly from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD), no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on the NIH DSLD, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.