Fillers: what are they and are they bad for you?

In recent years there has been substantial growth in the supplement market. Research on the undisclosed “other ingredients” (aka excipients, inactive ingredients, fillers etc) saturating the supplement industry is often limited, contradictory or controversial. At Vitl, we are committed to ensuring that our ingredients are as pure and absorbable as possible by avoiding the use of unnecessary fillers, binders or bulking agents that do not provide any nutritional value and may reduce the overall quality and benefit of a product. 

 

 

Why are they used?

 

To reduce manufacturing costs

Many ‘other ingredients’ are used in industry to make the manufacturing and production processes more seamless, resulting in a more affordable end product. With hundreds of supplement companies marketing their products, you may have noticed a vast discrepancy in pricing; in general, when it comes to supplementation, price and quality are synonymous with one another.

Stabilisation

Excipients are used to achieve desired consistency or texture, either to improve durability or appearance of the capsule itself or within its contents. Excipients can reduce the occurrence of ingredients splitting, separating, cracking or clumping. Often, a combination of stabilisers is more efficient than one used on its own.

Bulking

The active ingredient of a supplement often accounts for a small proportion of it, due to the fact that sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals are visibly pretty tiny (measured in micrograms; 1mcg being 1 millionth of a gram). Many supplements contain bulking agents to add substance, ensuring the capsule or tablet is of a manageable size. 

 

Quick stop tour of fillers

 

• Magnesium stearate
• Titanium dioxide
• Starch
• Stearic acid, simethicone
• Vegetable gum
• Talc
• Propylene glycol
• Hydrogenated Oils

 

More specifically...

 

Magnesium stearate (lubricant, stabiliser)

A white powder, often used in the manufacturing process to prevent ingredients from sticking to equipment and machinery. Its sole purpose is ensuring higher output and cycle times of product. As you can see, not a lot to do with nutrition. The European Union and other countries including China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand have permitted the use of Magnesium stearate. The United States also granted the ingredient ‘generally recognized as safe status’ (GRAS). However, some advocate that long-term exposure to the ingredient should be evaluated, as excessive intake of Magnesium stearate may have a laxative effect on the gastrointestinal system ¹.

Titanium dioxide

Previously used as a colorant to give supplements a bright white appearance, titanium dioxide has raised health concerns. Research has indicated that it can increase the amount of free radicals in the body, which may negatively affect immune function, metabolism, and the nervous system ². Due to concerns over its potential DNA-damaging effects, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) banned its use in food and supplements in 2022. However, it may still be found in some products outside the EU.

Hydrogenated oils: lubricant, stabiliser, binder, bulking agent

Hydrogenated oils, often associated with trans fats, were historically used in supplements to improve shelf life and stability. However, research has strongly linked high trans fat consumption to an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) ³ . As a result:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the global elimination of industrial trans fats.
• The U.S. FDA banned artificial trans fats in food products in 2015, with full enforcement by 2021.
• The EU set a legal limit of 2g of industrial trans fats per 100g of fat in food products, effective since 2021.

While trans fats have largely been eliminated from mainstream food products, some lower-quality supplements may still contain them as binders or fillers. Checking ingredient labels for terms like ‘partially hydrogenated oils’ can help you avoid them.

 

How Vitl does it differently

 

Our brand differs from numerous others by being committed to avoiding the use of unnecessary fillers in our formulations. To ensure maximum absorption, we only use the highest quality ingredients in our products and avoid using any that are unnecessary. We keep informed about the latest nutritional science and use it to combine the purest form of each vitamin and minerals for maximum efficacy.

 

The vast quantity of nutritional information online can be overwhelming, with as much advice being anecdotal as it is based on evidential science. Ultimately we have to make informed decisions about what we wish to consume or avoid. We hope however that Vitl’s commitment to evidence-based research can reassure you that you know exactly what you’ve bargained for when it comes to using our products. Click here to start your free 30-day trial of personalised vitamins today!