Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 3 of 5 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System

Capsule Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance is a dietary supplement by NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System with 5 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestion and bloating, muscle soreness and exercise recovery, inflammation and swelling.Based on those ingredients, 208 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Safflower. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance by NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 5 active ingredients.
  • “Proprietary Enzyme Blend” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (130 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

This product contains 5 active ingredients: three digestive enzymes — amylase, protease, and lipase — along with cellulase and a proprietary enzyme blend, plus safflower. The enzymes are meant to break down food and support digestion, while safflower is a plant oil.

The capsule also contains plant fiber and water as inactive ingredients.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: support healthy metabolism of fatty acids.
  • We looked for evidence on: Metabolic syndrome, Obesity, Coronary heart disease (CHD), Myocardial infarction, Unstable angina, Stroke — and 4 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Safflower is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Unstable angina (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Safflower is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Coronary heart disease (CHD), Diabetes, Familial hypercholesterolemia, Hypertension, and more.

The evidence for these ingredients is limited. Protease, lipase, and cellulase have not been rated for effectiveness in our data — meaning we don't hold established evidence for what they work best for in supplement form.

Safflower has been studied for unstable angina, coronary heart disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and diabetic kidney disease, but the evidence is insufficient to rate it for any of these uses. In short, the data we hold does not establish what this formula is meant to do.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) Lipase Safflower

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 3 of the 3 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 3 of 3.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 3 of 3.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Protease is generally well tolerated for most adults but may cause digestive upset or allergic reactions; people exposed to proteolytic enzymes occupationally have rarely developed allergic rhinitis or asthma. Lipase is generally well tolerated in supplement form, though people with serious digestive conditions should use it only under medical guidance.

Safflower oil in food is generally well tolerated, but concentrated extracts and high-dose supplements have less safety data, and rare case reports link very high safflower oil use to liver failure — though the exact dose or duration responsible is unclear.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) Lipase Safflower

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 3 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Safflower.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 208 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, double-check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take warfarin or other blood thinners (anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs) — safflower may increase bleeding risk at Moderate severity. Also check if you take diabetes medications, since safflower may alter their effects at Moderate severity.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

If you take blood thinners like warfarin or other anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs, or if you take diabetes medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting this product. Safflower in particular may affect how well these drugs work or increase bleeding risk.

For anyone else, the digestive enzymes are generally well tolerated, but effectiveness is not well established in our data.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 3 of 5 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated May 22, 2020.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance, straight from the product label.

Brand NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System
Barcode (UPC) 707636031728
Net contents 90 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 22, 2020
DSLD ID 221234
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance by NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
2 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Servings per container
45
UPC/BARCODE
707636031728
IngredientAmount% DV
Amylase0 NP--
Protease0 NP--
Lipase0 NP--
Cellulase0 NP--
Proprietary Enzyme Blend130 mg--
Safflower300 mg--

Other ingredients: Plant Fiber, Water

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formulation

Formulated exclusively for healthcare professionals NESS Fatty Acid Balance is uniquely formulated to help support healthy metabolism of fatty acids in the body.

Non-GMO

Vegetarian

GMP compliant

Contains No: Aspartame, sugar, salt, gluten, artificial colors or flavors, dairy products, wheat, soy, yeast or corn proteins.

Precautions

Caution: If you are pregnant, nursing, have a serious medical condition, or take any medications, consult your physician before use.

Use only if tamper evident seal is unbroken.

Keep out of reach of children.

Storage

Store tightly closed in a cool, dry place.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statement have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, cure or prevent any disease.

FDA Statement of Identity

Enzyme Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Recommended Use: Take two (2) capsules twice daily with meals, or as directed by your healthcare professional.

See for yourself

Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance by NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance by NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System

These are the 5 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Vegetarian Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container45 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Proprietary Enzyme Blend

130 mg per serving

Safflower

Interacts with
208 drugs
300 mg per serving

Safflower is a thistle-like plant used mainly for its seed oil (a common cooking oil) and its colorful flowers. Safflower oil is a reasonable source o...

Safflower monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Plant Fiber, Water. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance by NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
208Drugs
208 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Safflower 208

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Safflower3 drug types · 208 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

High doses of safflower oil might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Small clinical studies show that taking safflower oil, approximately 55 grams daily for 2-3 weeks, decreases platelet aggregation. However, taking lower doses of safflower oil, such as 5 grams daily for 4 weeks, does not seem to affect platelet function. In one case report, a 74-year-old male stabilized on warfarin developed urinary tract bleeding and an elevated INR after taking a safflower extract 20 grams daily for 14 days.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, safflower oil might alter the effects of antidiabetes drugs.
Some clinical research shows that taking safflower oil 10 grams daily for 3 weeks can increase fasting blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, clinical research in patients with metabolic syndrome with or without impaired glucose tolerance shows that taking safflower oil 8 grams daily for 12 weeks reduces fasting glucose levels by around 8 mg/dL. Some clinical research also shows that taking safflower oil 8 grams daily for 16 weeks does not affect fasting glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Warfarin

Theoretically, safflower oil might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with warfarin.
In one case report, a 74-year-old male stabilized on warfarin developed urinary tract bleeding and an elevated INR after taking a safflower extract 20 grams daily for 14 days.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance, from the product label.

NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System

See all NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System products
Name
Enzymes Inc.
City
Kansas City
State
MO
ZipCode
64153
Phone Number
1-800-637-7893
Web Address
www.nessenzymes.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance by NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System: Common Questions

Does Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance by NESS Nutritional Enzyme Support System interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance has a known interaction with 208 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance contains 5 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant?
The data we hold on safflower in pregnancy is mixed — some sources rate it as likely safe and others as possibly safe, but medicinal amounts of safflower flower may stimulate the uterus and should be avoided during pregnancy. Protease is best avoided during pregnancy unless prescribed. Lipase has little safety data in pregnancy. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product while pregnant; the decision should be personalized to your situation.
What about breastfeeding?
There is little safety data for protease while breastfeeding and it is not recommended without medical advice. Lipase safety while breastfeeding has not been well studied, so check with your healthcare provider first. Safflower is best avoided beyond normal food use while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product if you're nursing.
Does this actually help with digestion?
The evidence we hold does not establish how well these enzymes work for digestion or any other condition. Lipase has been studied for inflammatory bowel disease and dyspepsia (indigestion), but the evidence is insufficient to rate it. You may want to talk with your doctor about whether an enzyme supplement is right for your digestive needs.
Can proteolytic enzymes trigger an allergy?
Protease is generally well tolerated but may cause allergic reactions in some people. Occupational exposure to the airborne protease pepsin has rarely resulted in allergic rhinitis or asthma in workers. If you have a history of enzyme allergies or respiratory sensitivities, mention this to your pharmacist before taking this product.
Is safflower oil in this product safe long-term?
Safflower oil in food is generally well tolerated, but concentrated flower extracts and high-dose supplements have less safety data. Very high doses of safflower oil have been linked in rare case reports to serious liver damage, though the exact dose or duration responsible is not clear. If you plan to take this long-term, discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Formula 7 Fatty Acid Balance's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 18 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) 3 references
  1. Weeks JA, Harper RA, Simon RA, Burdick JD. Assessment of sensitization risk of a laundry pre-spotter containing protease. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2011;30(4):272-9. PubMed
  2. Marquès LI, Lara S, Abós T, Bartolomé B. Occupational rhinitis due to pepsin. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2006;16(2):136-7. DOI
  3. Cartier A, Malo JL, Pineau L, Dolovich J. Occupational asthma due to pepsin. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1984;73(5 Pt 1):574-7. PubMed

See these in context on the Proteolytic Enzymes (proteases) monograph →

Lipase 1 reference
  1. Casper C, Hascoet JM, Ertl T, et al. Recombinant bile salt-stimulated lipase in preterm infant feeding: A randomized phase 3 study. PLoS One. 2016;11(5):e0156071. PubMed

See these in context on the Lipase monograph →

Safflower 14 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  3. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  4. Borkman M, Chisholm DJ, Furler SM, et al. Effects of fish oil supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in NIDDM. Diabetes 1989;38:1314-9.. PubMed
  5. Amato, P. and Quercia, R. A. A historical perspective and review of the safety of lipid emulsion in pregnancy. Nutr Clin Pract. 1991;6(5):189-192. PubMed
  6. Demke, D. M., Peters, G. R., Linet, O. I., Metzler, C. M., and Klott, K. A. Effects of a fish oil concentrate in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Atherosclerosis 1988;70(1-2):73-80. PubMed
  7. Kaji, K., Yoshida, S., Nagata, N., Yamashita, T., Mizukoshi, E., Honda, M., Kojima, Y., and Kaneko, S. An open-label study of administration of EH0202, a health-food additive, to patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol. 2004;39(9):873-878. PubMed
  8. Kwon, J. S., Snook, J. T., Wardlaw, G. M., and Hwang, D. H. Effects of diets high in saturated fatty acids, canola oil, or safflower oil on platelet function, thromboxane B2 formation, and fatty acid composition of platelet phospholipids. Am.J.Clin.Nutr. PubMed
  9. Lloyd-Still, J. D., Simon, S. H., Wessel, H. U., and Gibson, L. E. Negative effects of oral fatty acid supplementation on sweat chloride in cystic fibrosis. Pediatrics 1979;64(1):50-52. DOI
  10. Challen, A. D., Branch, W. J., and Cummings, J. H. The effect of aspirin and linoleic acid on platelet aggregation, platelet fatty acid composition and haemostasis in man. Hum Nutr Clin Nutr 1983;37(3):197-208.
  11. Asp ML, Collene AL, Norris LE, Cole RM, Stout MB, Tang SY, Hsu JC, Belury MA. Time-dependent effects of safflower oil to improve glycemia, inflammation and blood lipids in obese, post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-masked, cro
  12. Liu Y, Liu S, Shi Y, et al. Effects of safflower injection on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of warfarin in rats. Xenobiotica. 2017 Oct 25:1-6. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed
  13. de Ataide EC, Reges Perales S, de Oliveira Peres MA, et al. Acute liver failure induced by Carthamus tinctorius oil: Case reports and literature review. Transplant Proc. 2018;50(2):476-477. PubMed
  14. Ruyvaran M, Zamani A, Mohamadian A, et al. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) oil could improve abdominal obesity, blood pressure, and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. PubMed

See these in context on the Safflower monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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