By Previnex®
It can feel overwhelming to pick up a supplement bottle and see all the vitamins, minerals, percentages, and information on the label. Oftentimes, we lose focus before we get to the part of the label that lists “other ingredients.” But this part of the label is crucial to look at! This is where hidden ingredients like sugar, gums, and other additives get hidden—things that many supplement companies try to slip past you, hoping it’ll go unnoticed.
Vitamin excipients are extra ingredients in your supplements that you may not even be aware you’re consuming! So let’s dive into what some of these “other ingredients” are and how they affect both the integrity of the supplement and your overall health.
Flavoring
Most common in chewable vitamins, gummy supplements, and protein powder, added flavoring is a way that supplement companies try to make their product more enticing, especially in children’s vitamins. There is a difference between natural flavors and artificial flavoring:
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Natural flavors are typically derived from edible sources like fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices, etc.
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Artificial flavors are typically chemically synthesized substances merely designed to mimic the flavor of a natural compound. An example of this is “strawberry flavor.”
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Natural flavors have a more mild, authentic taste and flavor profile.
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Artificial flavors have an intense flavor designed to be potent.
Artificial flavors are made by combining chemicals to create a specific taste or smell, rather than adding that actual ingredient (like strawberries or bananas) to the product itself. The chemically created compounds are then mixed with things like solvents, emulsifiers, and preservatives to create the final flavoring.
Some concerns about artificial flavoring are that it can cause cancer, negatively impact gut health and gut bacteria, and even behavioral issues (most specifically with artificial food coloring). When it comes to your supplements, it’s important to look at what (if any) flavorings are included, and potentially look for alternatives.
Unfortunately, “natural flavors” are not regulated, so vendors are not required to disclose what is actually in the flavors. Because of this, it’s easy to hide so many unhealthy substances in “natural flavors” like corn syrup, maltodextrin, and other sugar substitutes. When choosing a protein powder or supplement, it’s crucial that you purchase from a company that is transparent about their ingredients and sourcing. At Previnex®, there are natural flavors in our protein powder, Nourify® PLUS. However, they are non-GMO, and we require our vendors to disclose every single ingredient in their natural flavoring! Many supplement companies prey on consumers who are not knowledgeable about these things, so they sneak unhealthy, unwanted ingredients into the products that should be the healthiest for you. That’s why we (and other reputable companies, too) believe in transparency, honesty, and sourcing from only the highest quality vendors!
Fillers, Binding, and Coating
One of the most common excipients or “other ingredients” is fillers. These additives are in our supplements solely to increase the bulk or volume of a product. They are used to make capsules or tablets easier to handle by filling up the space inside, stabilize the active ingredient to prevent clumping, and reduce production costs, since fillers are inexpensive. Common fillers are:
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Cellulose - popular in binding and coating. It’s a naturally occurring compound found in the cell walls of plants. Since humans do not have the enzymes necessary to absorb cellulose, it is considered a type of dietary fiber.
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Gelatin - derived from animal sources, this is generally safe for humans (though vegans, vegetarians, and those with allergies to certain animal products would want to avoid it). Consuming gelatin in high amounts can cause gastrointestinal issues.
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Silicon Dioxide - this is a popular anti-caking agent and flow enhancer. While the FDA regulates how silica is used in foods, the supplement industry is not regulated by the FDA. Given that there are no long-term studies done on the safety of silicon dioxide, there are concerns that the fine particles are being consumed. Long-term exposure to silica dust can have serious health impacts.
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Magnesium Stearate - this is a white powder typically used to prevent ingredients from sticking to equipment. The purpose is to ensure higher output and product cycle times, and is generally considered safe—there are only concerns about long-term exposure.
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Titanium Dioxide - typically used to give supplements a bright white appearance. Research suggests this can increase the number of free radicals in the body, which can have a negative impact on your immune system, metabolism, and nervous system.
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Potassium Sorbate - this is a natural salt that’s often used as a preservative to extend a supplement’s shelf life. While generally considered safe, it is often synthetically manufactured and some have sensitivity and allergies to potassium sorbate.
Coloring
Another common added ingredient is coloring, whether artificial or natural. If coloring is natural—things like spirulina, beet powder, or beta-carotene—it is safer for consumption. However, many companies opt to add artificial color in order to make the product more appealing or even to give it brand identity. The problem with added color is the source of the pigmentation. Artificial coloring like Blue 1, Red 40, and Yellow 5 & 6 can cause behavioral issues (especially in children), allergic reactions like migraines, issues with gut health, and more. Studies have shown that there are varying degrees of health concerns for all nine US-approved dyes.
Preservatives
Because many vitamins are expected to sit on the shelves of the store or your medicine cabinet for some time, preserving them becomes important. There are natural preservative options like vitamins A or C and amino acids like cysteine and methionine. There are also less desired preservatives that are all too often added to your supplement, like parabens, benzoates, sorbates and sulfites, which can all have a negative impact on your overall health. They can cause nervous system toxicity, headaches, asthma, stomach pain, neurotoxicity, and can be endocrine disruptors.
Disintegrants
Once you take a supplement, the next task your body has is to break it down. To aid in this process, many vitamins and supplements contain disintegrants to help break down the pill and release the supplement’s ingredients. There are a number of agents that have been approved by the FDA for use in over the counter and prescription medications. However, since supplements do not need FDA approval, some disintegrants housed in cheaper vitamins are less than desirable. Some common disintegrants and superdisintegrants are starches, cellulose, and gums. Many supplements use sodium starch glycolate as their major disintegrant. Because this ingredient is made from starchy foods, it can have negative effects for people who have gluten intolerance.
Conclusion
When it comes to supplements, it’s important to find those that are high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade (meaning they’ve undergone rigorous testing to ensure there are no heavy metals or other harmful substances), and with ingredients sourced from high-quality manufacturers. Here at Previnex®, we source our ingredients from the highest quality partners, we do raw material testing, product run testing, and finished product testing, and we do everything we can to make sure our supplements are the best on the market. Our promise to you is that we will never give you anything but the best of what we can find. What you see on our labels is exactly what’s in the product. Check out our wide variety of supplements like Joint Health PLUS®, Muscle Health PLUS, Gut & Green Superfoods, our Previnex® Probiotic, and more!
