Supplement ingredients
What Is Magnesium Stearate, and Why Is It Used in Supplements?
Magnesium stearate sometimes appears under “Other Ingredients” on supplement labels. Despite its chemical-sounding name, it is a simple compound used in very small quantities to help capsules and tablets be manufactured consistently.
A common label ingredient
What is magnesium stearate?
Magnesium stearate is the magnesium salt of stearic acid. Stearic acid is a common saturated fatty acid naturally present in foods such as cocoa butter, chocolate, meat, dairy products and eggs.
Although magnesium is part of its chemical structure, magnesium stearate is not included as a source of dietary magnesium. It is a manufacturing ingredient rather than an active ingredient.
Its practical purpose
Why is it used?
The powdered ingredients used in supplements do not always move smoothly through encapsulation equipment. They can clump together or stick to machinery, making accurate and efficient production more difficult.
A small amount of magnesium stearate acts as a lubricant and flow agent. It helps ingredient powders:
- Move smoothly through manufacturing equipment
- Resist sticking to machinery
- Fill capsules cleanly and consistently
- Maintain an efficient encapsulation process
This is why magnesium stearate is commonly found in dietary supplements, medications and other encapsulated products.
Safety and use
Is magnesium stearate safe?
Magnesium stearate has a long history of use in food, pharmaceutical and supplement manufacturing. The FDA recognizes it as generally recognized as safe when used according to current good manufacturing practices. It is specifically permitted as a lubricant, release agent and processing aid.
The European Food Safety Authority has also evaluated magnesium salts of fatty acids, including magnesium stearate, and found no safety concern at reported uses and use levels.
The amount needed during encapsulation is very small. At the quantities normally used in supplements, there is no credible evidence that magnesium stearate presents a health concern or diminishes the intended value of a properly formulated product.
Plainly stated
A practical manufacturing ingredient
Magnesium stearate is not an active ingredient, a cheap substitute or an unnecessary nutritional additive. It serves a straightforward manufacturing purpose: helping capsules be produced cleanly, efficiently and consistently.
Shining Solace uses small quantities of magnesium stearate in our capsule products to support a reliable encapsulation process. Its inclusion is stated plainly on each product label.
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