PlainVitamins

GHR Essentials

by Swanson Condition Specific Formulas · capsule · 120 capsules

  • Off the market since April 2018 (NIH)
  • UPC 0 87614 07047 6
  • DSLD label 175841
  • Serving 2 capsules
  • 60 servings

GHR Essentials by Swanson Condition Specific Formulas lists 9 ingredients, 9 with an amount per serving of 2 capsules, such as 100 mg of vitamin C, 16.6 mg of vitamin B6, 620 mg of L-arginine and 350 mg of L-ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate. Its current label entered the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database on April 25, 2018.

What is in GHR Essentials?

Each row as the label prints it, per serving of 2 capsules. The capsule beside an amount places it among every product in the NIH database that lists the same ingredient: the bar is the middle half of their amounts, the line in it the median, the whiskers the 10th and 90th percentiles; the green tick is the FDA Daily Value and the red dashed tick the adult upper limit (IOM).

GHR Essentials: Supplement Facts rows against the market (DSLD label 175841, January 2026 release)
IngredientAmount% DVAmong products listing it
Vitamin Cas Ascorbic AcidVitamin C (Alt. Name: Ascorbic Acid) Note: USP100 mg111%Vitamin C in GHR Essentials against 18,583 products100 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 60 mg to 270 mg, the median 100 mg.DV 90 mgUL 2,000 mg100 mg

50% of 18,583 products listing vitamin C give more (median 100 mg). Per day at the most servings: 200 mg.

Vitamin B6as Pyridoxine HydrochlorideVitamin B-6 (Form: as Pyridoxine HCl) Note: USP16.6 mg976%Vitamin B6 in GHR Essentials against 15,277 products16.6 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 2 mg to 20 mg, the median 6 mg.DV 1.7 mgUL 100 mg16.6 mg

Higher than 70% of 15,277 products listing vitamin B6 (median 6 mg). Per day at the most servings: 33.2 mg.

L-ArginineL-Arginine base620 mgArginine in GHR Essentials against 1,455 products620 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 167 mg to 1,000 mg, the median 500 mg.620 mg

Higher than 56% of 1,455 products listing arginine (median 500 mg). Per day at the most servings: 1,240 mg.

L-Ornithine Alpha-Ketoglutarate350 mgOrnithine ketoglutarate in GHR Essentials against 97 products350 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 75 mg to 1,000 mg, the median 150 mg.350 mg

Higher than 56% of 97 products listing ornithine ketoglutarate (median 150 mg). Per day at the most servings: 700 mg.

L-Ornithine Hydrochloride230 mgOrnithine in GHR Essentials against 258 products230 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 100 mg to 900 mg, the median 400 mg.230 mg

64% of 258 products listing ornithine give more (median 400 mg). Per day at the most servings: 460 mg.

Glycine230 mgGlycine in GHR Essentials against 1,078 products230 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 100 mg to 846 mg, the median 300 mg.230 mg

54% of 1,078 products listing glycine give more (median 300 mg). Per day at the most servings: 460 mg.

L-Lysine Hydrochloride120 mgLysine in GHR Essentials against 1,250 products120 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 148.25 mg to 996.25 mg, the median 500 mg.120 mg

76% of 1,250 products listing lysine give more (median 500 mg). Per day at the most servings: 240 mg.

Mucuna pruriens extractMucuna pruriens extract Genus: Mucuna Species: pruriens Note: standardized25 mgCowhage in GHR Essentials against 417 products25 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 60 mg to 400 mg, the median 125 mg.25 mg

95% of 417 products listing cowhage give more (median 125 mg). Per day at the most servings: 50 mg.

AlphaSize Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Cholineas Soy LecithinAlphaSize Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline (Form: from Soy Lecithin) (Alt. Name: Alpha-GPC)10 mgAlpha-GPC in GHR Essentials against 656 products10 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 150 mg to 300 mg, the median 200 mg.10 mg

97% of 656 products listing alpha-GPC give more (median 200 mg). Per day at the most servings: 20 mg.

Source: NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database, label 175841 (entered April 25, 2018), version 9.4.0. See the label on DSLD. Amounts are what the maker printed; DSLD does not test products. Daily Values: the FDA's Daily Value page.

Is that a lot?

The rows in the top or bottom tenth of the products that list the same ingredient, and any above the adult upper limit at the most servings a day the directions give:

  • 95% of the 417 products that print an amount of cowhage list more than its 25 mg of mucuna pruriens extract (filed by NIH under cowhage) (median 125 mg).
  • 97% of the 656 products that print an amount of alpha-GPC list more than its 10 mg of AlphaSize alpha-glyceryl phosphoryl choline (filed by NIH under alpha-GPC) (median 200 mg).

The NIH database records 1 to 2 servings a day from the label's directions; its % Daily Values are for adults and children 4 or more years of age. The directions as printed are further down this page.

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the most of a nutrient per day, from food, water and supplements together, that is likely to pose no risk for almost all adults (Institute of Medicine, 2011). It does not apply under medical supervision. This page compares labels; it is not medical advice.

Sources: amounts from the DSLD label; Daily Values from 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv); adult upper limits from the Institute of Medicine's DRI summary tables (2011). How positions are computed.

Which products have the closest formulas?

1 product lists the very same ingredients; the nearest amounts come first.

Source: ingredient lists of every product's current label in DSLD (version 9.4.0); similarity weights each shared ingredient by how rare it is.

What does the label say about taking it?

Quoted from the label as DSLD transcribed it: the maker's words, including any claim about what the product does, which the FDA has not evaluated and PlainVitamins does not endorse.

Directions
Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take before bedtime or before exercise on an empty stomach, as indicated below. Start with one-third of your target recommended amount and gradually increase to the capsule count listed. Under 120 lbs-take 2 capsules per day 121-180 lbs-take 4 capsules per day 181 lbs and over-take 6 capsules per day
Warnings
Do not use if seal is broken.
Keep out of reach of children.
Warning: This product is not intended for use by pregnant or lactating women, children, diabetics or persons with herpes or forms of psychosis. Do not use if you are taking an MAO inhibitor. Consult your physician before use if you are being treated for hypertension, cardiac or pulmonary disease, or if you are taking products which contain L-dopa.
Warning: This product is not intended for use by pregnant or lactating women, children, diabetics or persons with herpes or forms of psychosis.
Consult your physician before use if you are being treated for hypertension, cardiac or pulmonary disease, or if you are taking products which contain L-dopa.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place.

Source: label statements in DSLD label 175841.

What else is on the label?

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate, Magnesium Stearate, Silica, Dextrin, Magnesium Silicate.

Seals and symbols as the label prints them (the maker's; a certifier's own list confirms a seal): Guaranteed purity & potency.

How many labels does GHR Essentials have?

One label is on file, entered on April 25, 2018.

  1. Label 175841 (current) Entered April 25, 2018 · off the market April 16, 2018 · 120 capsules · UPC 0 87614 07047 6

DSLD also links this label to: GHR Formula (image difference, same product).

Source: DSLD label entry and market events, version 9.4.0 (labels entered through September 25, 2025).

Who makes it?

The label names Swanson Health Products (distributor), Fargo, ND. All Swanson Condition Specific Formulas products.

Where next?