Supplements live or die on ingredient transparency. Two pre-workouts can use the same hero ingredient at very different doses; two multivitamins can claim the same active list and have completely different absorption forms. A Shopify supplement ingredient comparison table is what closes the gap between marketing claims and what’s actually in the bottle. The parent reference for the cluster is our Shopify comparison tables for supplement stores.
This page covers how to model ingredient and dose data as Shopify metafields, then surface the comparison cleanly through SimplyCompare.
Recommended schema for supplement ingredient tables
Pick a small set of fields that match how your customers compare. Resist the urge to model every micronutrient as its own metafield — most shoppers care about the headline ingredients, the doses, and the form. Here’s a working starter schema for two of the most-compared supplement categories.
Protein powders
| Display name | Metafield key | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein source | custom.protein_source |
Single line text | Whey isolate |
| Protein per serving (g) | custom.protein_per_serving_g |
Decimal | 26.0 |
| BCAA per serving (mg) | custom.bcaa_per_serving_mg |
Integer | 5800 |
| Sweetener | custom.sweetener |
Single line text | Stevia + monk fruit |
| Added enzymes | custom.enzymes |
Single line text | Lactase, protease |
| Dietary flags | custom.dietary_flags |
Multi-line text | Gluten-free, soy-free |
| Tested by | custom.tested_by |
Single line text | Informed Sport |
Multivitamins and pre-workouts
| Display name | Metafield key | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero ingredient | custom.hero_ingredient |
Single line text | Citrulline malate |
| Hero dose (mg) | custom.hero_dose_mg |
Integer | 6000 |
| Caffeine (mg) | custom.caffeine_mg |
Integer | 200 |
| Vitamin form | custom.vitamin_form |
Single line text | Methylated B-complex |
| Coverage | custom.coverage |
Multi-line text | A, C, D3, K2, B-complex, magnesium |
| Capsule type | custom.capsule_type |
Single line text | Vegan capsule |
| Tested by | custom.tested_by |
Single line text | NSF Certified for Sport |
Building the ingredient comparison in SimplyCompare
Once your metafields are populated, open SimplyCompare and click New table. Add the supplement products you want to compare — three to five products per table works for ingredient comparisons. Drag the metafields into the row editor; lead with the hero ingredient and dose, then form, then certifications.
Use display labels to make rows scannable: “Protein source” instead of custom.protein_source, “Caffeine (mg)” instead of custom.caffeine_mg. Customers shouldn’t see your back-end keys.
A sample ingredient comparison preview
| Spec | Whey Isolate Pro | Plant Performance | Casein Slow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein source | Whey isolate | Pea + brown rice | Micellar casein |
| Protein per serving (g) | 26.0 | 22.0 | 24.0 |
| BCAA per serving (mg) | 5,800 | 4,200 | 4,800 |
| Sweetener | Stevia + monk fruit | Stevia | Sucralose |
| Dietary flags | Gluten-free | Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free | Gluten-free |
| Tested by | Informed Sport | — | NSF |
Pro tips for ingredient transparency
Make the hero ingredient and dose the first row. Citrulline at 6g vs citrulline at 1g is a totally different product. Surface it.
Use specific values, not “proprietary blend”. Shoppers reading ingredient comparison tables are exactly the audience that distrusts proprietary blends. Disclose where you can.
Always include certifications when you have them. A “Tested by” row builds trust faster than any marketing copy.
Frequently asked questions
How do I show ingredient doses in milligrams in my Shopify comparison table?
Create an integer metafield (e.g. custom.hero_dose_mg) and populate it per product. Use the display label “Hero dose (mg)” in the row editor. SimplyCompare shows the integer value with your unit appended.
Can I include both vegan and non-vegan supplements in the same table?
Yes. Use a custom.dietary_flags multi-line text metafield to surface dietary attributes per product. Shoppers see at a glance which products meet their requirements.
How do I handle products with proprietary blends?
If you have to use the proprietary-blend label legally, store it as written in custom.hero_ingredient and add a note. Where possible, disclose the active ingredients and doses — this is the data shoppers searching for ingredient comparison tables actually want to see.
Will my ingredient comparison stay accurate when formulations change?
Update the metafield value on the Shopify product when the formulation changes. Every comparison table that displays that product reflects the new value automatically.
Can I add an “absorption form” row for things like methylfolate vs folic acid?
Yes. Use custom.vitamin_form or a more specific field like custom.folate_form if it’s central to your positioning. Add it as a comparison row.
Ingredient transparency, automated
SimplyCompare reads your supplement metafields, so updates to formulations, doses, or certifications flow through to every comparison table on your store automatically. Your shoppers see the truth; you maintain it in one place.