Beware of Additives in Supplements
Stearates – Hydrogenated
Fats Used in the Production of Most Supplements– Decrease
Absorption and May Be Toxic and Immunosuppressive
Magnesium stearate,
stearic acid and calcium stearate, made by hydrogenating
cottonseed
or palm oil, are used throughout the supplements industry
as lubricants. They are added to the raw materials
in supplements so that production machinery will run
at
maximum speeds. These fatty substances coat every particle
of the nutrients, so the particles will flow rapidly.
This ensures that production schedules will meet profit
targets.
Cottonseed oil has the highest content of pesticide
residues of all commercial oils; cotton crops are heavily
sprayed. In the hydrogenation process, the oil is subjected
to high heat and pressure in the presence of a metal
catalyst for several hours, creating a hydrogenated saturated
fat. Hydrogenated vegetable fats contain altered molecules
derived from fatty acids that may be toxic. The metal
catalyst used in the hydrogenation process may also contaminate
the stearates produced (see Erasmus, Fats and Oils).
While toxicity is one problem, decreased absorption
is another. In a study published in the journal Pharmaceutical
Technology, the percent dissolution for capsules after
20 minutes in solution went from 90% without stearates
to 25% with stearates (article available from us upon
request). This delays the absorption of nutrients. Individuals
with impaired digestion may have particular difficulty
absorbing nutrients coated with stearates.
Another problem with stearates: concentrated doses of
stearic acid suppress the action of T-cells, a key component
of the immune system. The article “Molecular basis
for the immunosuppressive action of stearic acid on T
cells” appeared in the journal Immumology in 1990.
Up to 5% of the average 1000 mg capsule or tablet is
magnesium stearate. That’s 50 milligrams. Suppose
you take 8 capsules or tablets a day. That’s 250
a month – or 12,500 mg of this hydrogenated oil,
nearly half an ounce. That works out to about 6 ounces
of hydrogenated oils a year, from just 8 pills a day.
Many people take more supplements, and ingest pounds
of this toxic oil we try to avoid in our diets – while
directly inhibiting the utilization of the nutrients
they’re supplementing!
Remember, the sole purpose
of using these oils is to make the machines go faster.
Supplements can be made without them – it just
takes more time, care and attention to detail. Our exclusive
process yields absolutely pure supplements – no
lubricants, binders, flowing agents, fillers, dyes or
additives of any kind – only the pure nutrients.
The raw materials that go into our supplements are independently
analyzed. Here are some typical results:
- Alpha Lipoic Acid: Assay: 99.72%; Loss on Drying: 0.25%.
Purity thus tested at 99.97%.
- Glucosamine Sulfate
Potassium: Assay: 99.88%; Loss on
Drying: 0.072%. Purity thus tested at 99.952%.
Other manufacturers cannot provide pure
products because of contamination by stearates.
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