Magnesium salts of edible fatty acids
Magnesium stearate - dangerous or safe? What does Sanopoly think?
In brief
- Magnesium stearate is the magnesium salt of stearic acid, a fatty acid that occurs naturally in many foods.
- It is authorised as food additive E 470b and is mainly used as a release agent in the manufacture of tablets.
- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) re-evaluated the substance in 2018 and sees no safety concerns for its use as a food additive.
- Most Sanopoly products do not contain magnesium stearate. Where it is used, it is stated in the list of ingredients.
Anyone who reads the list of ingredients of food supplements will often come across the terms “magnesium salts of fatty acids” or “magnesium stearate”. The substance is sometimes viewed critically online. This article provides a factual overview: what magnesium stearate is, what it is used for and how it is assessed scientifically.
What is magnesium stearate?
Magnesium stearate is a compound of magnesium and stearic acid. Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid that occurs naturally in many foods, for example in cocoa butter, vegetable oils, dairy products and meat. In the European Union, magnesium stearate is authorised as a food additive with the number E 470b. In lists of ingredients, it appears as “magnesium salts of fatty acids” or “magnesium stearate”, often with the addition “anti-caking agent” or “release agent”.
What is magnesium stearate used for?
In the manufacture of tablets, powders are pressed into solid forms by machines. Magnesium stearate ensures that the powder flows evenly and does not stick to the machine parts. This is important so that every tablet has the same composition and contains the stated amount of ingredients. Usually only a very small proportion is used. Besides food supplements, magnesium stearate is also found in many medicinal products and in some foods.
Is magnesium stearate safe?
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed magnesium salts of fatty acids in 2018 as part of the re-evaluation of all food additives. Its conclusion: there are no safety concerns for the authorised uses. EFSA did not consider it necessary to set a numerical acceptable daily intake (ADI). In the body, magnesium stearate is broken down into magnesium and stearic acid. We also take in both components through normal foods, in considerably larger amounts. Critical voices often refer to laboratory tests with isolated stearic acid or to very high amounts that are not reached with normal use. It is correct that too high a proportion can slow down the dissolution of a tablet. For this reason, the amount is kept as low as possible during product development and the release of the ingredients is tested.
How does Sanopoly handle magnesium stearate?
Most of our products, including all capsules and powders, do not contain magnesium stearate. In three chewable tablets, a small amount is used as a release agent so that the tablets can be pressed reliably: ESSENTIALS b12, ESSENTIALS melatonin and ESSENTIALS kids multi. Like all ingredients, magnesium stearate is stated in the list of ingredients of the respective product.
Frequently asked questions about magnesium stearate
What does “magnesium salts of fatty acids” mean? This is the official name of the food additive E 470b. It usually refers to magnesium stearate, the magnesium salt of stearic acid.
Is magnesium stearate a source of magnesium? No. The magnesium content is low and the amount used is very small. Magnesium stearate plays no role in the supply of magnesium.
Why do manufacturers use magnesium stearate? In tablet production, it ensures that the powder flows evenly and does not stick to the machines. This way, every tablet contains the same amount of ingredients.
How can I tell whether a product contains magnesium stearate? From the list of ingredients. It will state “magnesium stearate”, “magnesium salts of fatty acids” or “E 470b”.
Conclusion
Magnesium stearate is an authorised food additive that serves as a release agent in tablet production. According to EFSA's assessment, there are no safety concerns for the authorised uses. Sanopoly does not use it in most of its products. Where it is contained, it is stated in the list of ingredients.
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