Inactive Ingredients (Excipients)
This list contains information about ingredients that are commonly found as inactive ingredients, or excipients, in dietary supplements.
| Ingredient and Description | Function | Safety Notes |
|---|---|---|
Ac-di-solsee crosscarmellose sodium |
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Avicel:see cellulose, microcrystalline |
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beeswax:derived from honey comb and sterilized |
flavoring; coating for tablets | widely used in foods |
benzyl alcohol:antimicrobial preservative |
preservative | included in FDA inactive ingredient list; used in foods |
calcium phosphate, dibasic:see dicalcium phosphate |
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calcium stearate:mineral calcium with stearic acid, a fatty acid derived from animal or vegetable sources |
flow agent—helps ingredients flow smoothly during manufacture; emulsifier | widely used in foods; GRAS status |
calcium sulfate:non-sodium salt of calcium |
used as a filler in capsules; guards against excess moisture | widely used in capsules and tablets; GRAS status |
Carbowax:see polyethylene glycol |
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carob:derived from pod of tropical tree (locust bean) |
low fat alternative to cocoa powder, used as flavoring; also used to color soft gels (to guard active ingredients from light) | widely used in foods |
cellulose, methyl:a fiber derived from plant sources |
used as product stabilizer, thickener, emulsifier or flavoring | GRAS status |
cellulose microcrystalline:a fiber with increased water-solubility derived from plant sources |
tablet binder—ensures that tablets do not break apart in the bottle and interestingly, also helps tablets disintegrate during digestion | GRAS status |
cellulose, powdered:a fiber derived from plant sources |
used as a stabilizer, thickener, or binder | widely used in foods; GRAS status |
crosscarmellose sodium :modified cellulose gum; cellulose is plant fiber |
helps tablets disintegrate during digestion | listed in FDA's inactive ingredients guide |
dextrin:see maltodextrin |
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dicalcium phosphate:inert naturally occurring mineral composed of calcium and phosphate |
tablet binder—ensures tablets do not break apart in the bottle; sometimes used as a source of calcium or phosphorous | used widely in foods; GRAS status |
Duratex:see hydrogenated vegetable oil |
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ethocel 20:fiber derived from plant sources |
used to coat tablets; tablet binder—ensures that tablets do not break apart in the bottle | GRAS status |
ethylcellulose:fiber taken from a plant source |
helps improve product stability; sometimes used to mask the taste of a tablet | GRAS status; widely used in foods |
FD&C Yellow No. 6:a synthesized color |
used as color "sunset yellow" | approved for use in foods, drugs and cosmetics |
FD&C Red No. 40:a synthesized color |
used as color "allura red AC" | approved for use in foods, drugs and cosmetics |
Flo-guard:see silicon dioxide |
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fructose:a simple sugar (monosaccharide) derived from corn or isolated from refined sugar |
sweetening agent; absorbs more slowly from the GI tract than table sugar (sucrose) | widely used in foods |
gelatin:purified protein derived from animal collagen |
used for forming capsules and soft gels | used in foods |
glycerin:occurs naturally in fats and oils |
preservative; adds moisture; sweetening agent | GRAS; widely used in foods |
glyceryl monostearate:derived from fatty acids |
flow agent—helps ingredients flow smoothly during manufacture; used to coat and stabilize tablets; improves texture | used widely in foods; GRAS status |
glyceryl triacetate:substance derived from fatty acids |
provide moistures; flavoring; flow agent—helps ingredients flow smoothly during manufacture | GRAS status |
hydrogenated vegetable oil:mixture of fatty acids taken from vegetable oil; processed for stability |
small amounts as flow agent; tablet binder—ensures that tablets do not break apart in the bottle | used in foods |
hydroxypropyl methylcellulose pthalate (HPMCP):fiber derived from a plant source |
used to coat and stabilize tablets | included on FDA's list of inactive ingredients |
magnesium stearate:combination of the mineral magnesium and stearic acid (a fatty acid) |
flow agent—helps ingredients flow smoothly during manufacture | GRAS status; widely used in foods |
maltodextrin:non-fermentable sugar obtained from cornstarch |
flow agent—helps ingredients flow smoothly during manufacture; product stabilizer; thickener; improves texture; nutritive sweetener | GRAS status |
maltol, natural:isolated from naturally occurring sources such as beechwood, pine needles, or chicory |
flavor enhancer | GRAS status; used in fruit flavorings and some baked goods |
Methocel USP:see cellulose, methyl |
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Myvaplex:see glycerol monostearate |
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octadecnonic acid:(18 carbon fatty acid) see stearic acid |
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polyethylene:commonly used substance |
used in milk as carrier of vitamins A, D; used in the tablets production; flavoring; flow agent—helps ingredients flow smoothly during manufacture | GRAS status; safe in commonly used amounts: passes through the gastrointestinal tract without being absorbed |
polyvinylpyrrolidone:a long-chain molecule |
product stabilizer; thickener; used in the tablet production | included on FDA's inactive ingredients list |
potassium sorbate:non-sodium salt of potassium; the mineral potassium combined with sorbic acid (synthesized or naturally occurring substance (from berries) |
antimicrobial preservative | used widely in foods; GRAS status |
Povidone:see polyvinylpyrrolidone |
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pthalate:colorless, oily liquid |
used to keep tablet coatings from cracking during the drying process | safe and non-irritating |
rice flour, rice powder:gluten-free flour milled from rice |
filler | common food ingredient |
shellac, purified:purified resin, non-vegetarian |
flow agent—helps ingredients flow smoothly during manufacture; helps guard ingredients from moisture; coloring or flavoring | GRAS status |
silica:common mineral |
keeps ingredients from getting too sticky; helps tablets disintegrate during digestion | GRAS status |
silicon dioxide:naturally occurring form of the mineral silica |
keeps ingredients from getting too sticky; flavoring; emulsifier; adds moisture and aids in the formation of tablets | GRAS status |
soapstone:see talc |
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sodium benzoate:commonly used preservative |
antimicrobial preservative; flow agent—helps ingredients flow smoothly during manufacture | GRAS status; used in foods |
sodium carboxymethylcellulose:water-soluble gum derived from plant sources |
thickener, binder, stabilizer | used widely in foods |
sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS):salt form of a common fatty acid (lauryl) |
emulsifier; also used to aid in the making of tablets | GRAS status |
sorbitan mono-oleate:an alcohol sugar (non-sodium) salt of a fatty acid |
helps stabilize water and oil mixtures | included in FDA's inactive ingredient guide; used widely in food products |
sorbitan tri-oleate:see sorbitan mono-oleate |
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sorbitol:a sugar alcohol; half as sweet as sugar |
sweetening agent; sugar substitute; adds moisture to products | used widely in prepared diabetic foods; GRAS status |
stearic acid:a fatty acid derived from vegetable or animal fats |
emulsifier: flow agent—helps ingredients flow smoothly during manufacture; flavoring | used in foods; GRAS status |
Sterotex:see hydrogenated vegetable oil |
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sunflower oil, high oleic:oil extracted from sunflower seeds |
lubricant or flavoring agent | common ingredient in foods |
Sipernat:see silicon dioxide |
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Syloid:see silicon dioxide |
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Sylox:see silicon dioxide |
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talc:naturally occurring magnesium silicate |
non-nutritive sweetener, surface removal agent | no known toxicity |
titanium dioxide:mineral titanium combined with oxygen |
coloring; sometimes added to during manufacture to keep ingredients from getting too sticky; provides moisture to products | used in confectionery |
Triacetin:see glyceryl triacetate |
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xanthan gum:polysaccharide produced through fermentation of a carbohydrate, then purified |
stabilizer and emulsifier | GRAS status; used in foods |