« The Quantum Nutrition Effect | Home | Salt Flush »
What Are Excipients?
By | April 9, 2008
Excipients are binders, fillers, and “glues” that are typically non-nutritive substances in nutritional products. These substances often test toxic. Would you want to consume anything that is not nutritive? We believe it is unnecessary to take nutritional products which have questionable, potentially toxic, non-nutritive excipients.
Here are just a few examples of questionable excipients commonly found in nutritional products:
Corn Starch (typically form cheap GMO corn; can invoke allergic responses)
Magnesium Stearate (a cheap lubricating agent; research shows it to be immune compromising)
Methacrylic Copolymer (methacrylic acid, a component of the methacrylic acid copolymer, has been reported to act as a teratogen in rat embryo cultures)
Methylparaben ( a benzonate family member; a known cancer-causing agent)
Microcrystalline Cellulose (a cheap filler)
Natural Flavors (AKA for MSG, monosodium glutamate, a neurotoxic agent)
Silicon Dioxide (a cheap flowing agent)
Talcum Powder (a common excipient not listed on product labels; a suspected carcinogen)
Titanium Dioxide (used for color; liver toxic)
Triethyl Citrate (a plasticizer)
Please Note: Tablets ALWAYS contain excipients (that is how they are made: because they need a binder, they cannot be made without excipients.)
Common Tableting and Encapsulating Agents:
Cellulose Starch: A starch made from plant material that is used as filler, binder and disintegrant. Starches processed form corn contain free glutamate (MSG), resulting from processing. MSG is a known neurotoxin.
Dicalcium Phosphate: A mineral complex of calcium and phosphorous that is commonly used as a tableting aid, filler or bulking agent. Phosphates can induce the same symptoms as MSG.
Magnesium Stearate: This commonly used excipient can be made from animal or vegetable sources. It is used as a flowing agent and lubricant. It is insoluble in water and may hinder the absorption of nutrients. Research shows it suppresses the immune system.
Maltodextrin: A refined sugar obtained by the hydrolysis of cornstarch. It is used for flavor, as a texturizer and bulking agent. Maltodextrin may contain free glutamate (MSG), which occurs as a result of processing.
Pharmaceutical Glaze: This is actually shellac used to coat vitamin tablets. Shellac is insoluble in stomach acid, and supplements coated with shellac are difficult for the body to break down and assimilate.
Polyethylene Glycol 3350: This excipient is used as an emulsifier, binder, and surfactant. It improves resistance to moisture and oxidation. Polyethylene is a polymerized ethylene resin and glycol is a dihydric alcohol.
Polysorbate 80: A non-ionic surfactant that is a polymer containing oleic acid, palmitic acid, sorbitol, and ethylene oxide and is formed by microbial fermentation. It is used as an emulsifier, dispersant, or stabilizer in foods, cosmetics, supplements, and pharmaceuticals.
Povidone (polyvinylpyrrolidone or PVP): PVP is a synthetic polymer used as a dispersing and suspending agent in virtually all encapsulated nutritional supplements; considered to be a potential carcinogen.
Resin: Resins are used as binders and aid in water resistance. They may be of plant or synthetic origin and are used in lacquers, varnishes, inks, adhesives, synthetic plastics and pharmaceuticals. Synthetic forms include polyvinyl, polystyrene, and polyethylene. Toxicity is dependent on the ingredients used in the manufacture of the resin.
Silicon Dioxide: Silica is a transparent, tasteless, powder that is practically insoluble in water. It is the main component of beach sand and is used as an absorbent and flowing agent in supplements. It may hinder digestion or the uptake of other nutrients and deplete hydrochloric acid.
Titanium Dioxide: This inorganic, white, opaque pigment made from anatase (metallic mineral) is often used in supplements as a whitening agent. Titanium Dioxide is a prooxidant. It is also used in paints and coatings, plastics, paper, inks, fibers, food, and cosmetics.
Reprinted from Premiere Research Labs – “Nutrition That Really Works”™
© Copyright 2004 Premier Research Labs
Topics: Why PRL |
