Since many people are unaware of the additives and excipients used by manufacturers during mass production, I wanted to provide a deeper insight into the background of these substances. Below, you’ll find detailed information about the additives used, as well as their roles in other industries, to give you a more comprehensive understanding of these ingredients.

We all want to be healthier, which is why more and more people turn to dietary supplements to fill the gaps in vitamins and minerals. But are we aware of what we’re actually putting into our bodies with these products? Like many other ultra-processed foods and products, dietary supplements contain numerous additives and excipients. Let’s take a closer look, without aiming for exhaustiveness, at the substances we consume daily and the hidden risks these everyday products may carry.

For the sake of curiosity, I analyzed the additives and excipients in one dietary supplement from a well-known Hungarian company with a long history. So, let’s dive in.

Binders: The Hidden Ingredients

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)
PVP is commonly used as a binder in tablets. But did you know this substance is also used outside the pharmaceutical industry?

• Adhesives: Found in glue sticks and hot melt adhesives.
• Special Additives: Used in batteries, ceramics, fiberglass, and inks.
• Emulsifiers: Utilized in polymerization and the photosensitive layer of cathode-ray tubes.

Anti-Caking Agents: The Invisible Helpers

Magnesium Stearate
Magnesium stearate is widely used in the production of tablets and capsules to prevent ingredients from sticking together. It is also found in:

• Baby Powder: A common ingredient in talcum powders.
• Cosmetics: Used in powdered products like eyeshadows and foundations.
• Food: Acts as an anti-caking agent and emulsifier.

Talc
Also known as talcum, this mineral is widely used across industries, including:

• Food Industry: As an anti-caking agent and filler in dried foods.
• Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals: As an additive in insulating ceramics, textiles, and rubber production.
• Agriculture: Used as a carrier in pesticides.

Fillers: The Space Occupiers

Active ingredients are often present in very small amounts in capsules. To ensure the capsule is the proper size and shape, the remaining space must be filled with something.

Calcium Phosphate
A widely used and versatile compound found across industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agriculture. Excessive intake may pose potential health risks.

• Creams and Lotions
• Fertilizers
• Animal Feed
• Toothpaste: Used as an abrasive to clean and whiten teeth.

Sorbitol
A natural sweetener used as an emulsifier and humectant. Additionally:

• Cosmetics: Adds moisture and increases volume.
• Biofuels: Used in the production of solid rocket fuel and biofuels.

Disintegrants: The Spreaders

Croscarmellose Sodium
With its highly viscous properties, it’s used in the food industry as an emulsifier and volumizer (E466). Additionally:

• Toothpaste: Acts as a texture enhancer.
• Water-Based Paints: Used as an additive.
• Personal Lubricants: Increases moisture content.

Coating Agents: The Protectors

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC)
HPMC is widely used as a coating agent in tablets and capsules. It is also found in:

• Food Industry: As an emulsifier and stabilizer.
• Cosmetics: Used in creams, lotions, eye drops, and gels.
• Construction: Added to cement and plaster mixes.

Colorants: The Enhancers

Titanium Dioxide
Used extensively for whitening in paints, sunscreens, and as a food coloring. Its applications include:

• Paints and Coatings: Found in white paints and UV protection.
• Cosmetics: Used in sunscreen and makeup products.
• Food Industry: Used as a coloring agent in candies, chewing gum, and dairy products.

Quinoline Yellow and Patent Blue V
These food colorings are found in various foods and pharmaceutical products. However, they are banned in certain countries due to health risks (e.g., Quinoline Yellow is banned in the USA, Japan, and Norway, and Patent Blue is banned in Australia, the USA, and Norway). These colorants are not recommended for children and may occasionally cause allergic reactions, with symptoms ranging from skin itching and mild nausea to low blood pressure and, rarely, anaphylactic shock.

Clean Foods, Healthy Living

The presence of additives and excipients in dietary supplements and other everyday products highlights just how abnormal it is to consume so many unnecessary substances. While these materials are often essential for product production and stability, their long-term effects are not always known and may carry potential health risks.

This is why it’s worth paying attention to product labels and striving to consume clean, natural foods to minimize the intake of such substances. Let’s not forget that our health is the most important thing, and it’s up to us to protect it.