10/31/2010: Francisca from Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France replies: "It is awful to hear that even supplements, which one hopes are healthy, come with things which could harm your health! "

10/31/2010: Tina from Princeton, Nj replies: "Hi, newagewoes, after reading about the harmful effects of magnesium stearate ( either via a post by Ted from Bangkok or Bill from Luzon, Phillipines) I have been very diligent about studying labels before buying my supplements. Of late I have been coming across something new on the labels: magnesium stearate from vegetable source. Does any one have more info about this?"

11/01/2010: Francisca from Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France replies: "I had never heard of magnesium stearate before I read about it on this site yesterday and therefore went to check my supplements. Only the Quercitin I bought in Britain contained it and then the vegetable kind. No idea if that is the same, better or worse but then I did a Google on the subject and found as many articles defending it as attacking it so I really don't know. Some say you get it from a lot of stuff you eat so the little bit in a pill amounts to nothing, others say that it is bad for your immune system.... Someone said that if you want to make good quality supplements you need to use it.... Well, I am used to being confused about all kinds of subjects connected to my health and now I have still another one! Someone suggested online that this component has been forbidden here in France but somewhere else I read that it has been regulated and couldn't find anything more about it being forbidden."

11/01/2010: Aurora from Mason City, Iowa replies: "Is this the same as stearic acid or magnesium stearate? which are both present in my magnesium citrate capsules. I looked it up on "wiki" and it doesn't sound like a good thing. I would appreciate any more info. Thanks"

11/02/2010: Rob from Manhattan, Ny replies: "Newagewoes, please let us know if as a result of eliminating Magnesium Stearate from your diet, you are able to get better immune readings (higher CD4, T cell, etc) from your doctors tests... I see it in many of my supplements, even in immune builders and would like to hear from some real world results before I decide to eliminate them or not. Thanks!"

11/03/2010: Merryanne from Orange City, Florida, Usa replies: "I did a google on magnesium stearate, it is mostly made from vegetable stuff and it may be from soy beans and I am led to believe it is. Soy will stop your body from absorbing all the iodine you need, and it blocks some of the absorbency of the vitamin and minerals your body needs and you will find soy products in 98% of all packaged products on the market, even starkist tuna has soy veg broth!!!! Linda in Florida"

11/03/2010: Bill from San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines replies: "Hi Tina... Magnesium Stearate is found in many compressed tablet forms of vitamins, minerals etc and is only used to actually help form the tablet. When I used Ascorbic Acid tablets in the past I would crush them up and add water as Ted advises. But this always produced a cloudy, milky solution. That is caused by the Mag Stearate. When I switched and used pure Ascorbic acid powder, the solution was always crystal clear. Being a waxy substance, Mag Stearate also interfere's with digestion and absorbtion of nutrients, and some people are actually allergic to it. The best forms of vitamins, minerals and nutrients to take are either in powdered form or in a capsule(containing powder). Avoid all tablets forms if you can."

11/03/2010: Tricia from Ireland replies: "I can't remember where I got this information so I can't substantiate it or reference it. I read somewhere in the past that magnesium stearate is used as an acceptable method of oiling the machinery used in making the supplements where the ingredients would come in contact and normal machinery oils could not be used"

11/04/2010: Tina from Princeton, Nj replies: "Hi Bill, thanks for your post. So magnesium stearate, from vegetable source or not, is best to be avoided? I thought so. I do try to buy my supplements either in gelatin form or as powder but in some cases, it is well nigh impossible. Calcium, for example, is hard to find in either of those mediums. What do you suggest?

I tried to use the shell of an organic egg ( I read that it is an excellent source of calcium in a book about natural care for preventing tooth decay and also for re-growing teeth if one has cavities) in a smoothie but there were still tiny pieces in my green smoothie ( I use a Vita blender). Thanks again for your helpful posts."

11/05/2010: Francisca from Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France replies: "Tina, my Quercitin, bought in the UK, powder in a gelatin pill also contained magnesium stearate! So it is not only the pills that have it. I suppose they use it when they ground the components to powder so that they don't glue to the machines. By now I am really confused, I have read that it is bad, also that it doesn't quite matter...... One never knows who is telling the truth!"

11/05/2010: Tina from Princeton, N J replies: "Hi Francisca. As soon as I read your post, I went and checked the ingredients on the two supplements I have in powder form: Ascorbic acid from Trader Joe's and MSM from Jarrow. Both of them do not mention magnesium stearate! The MSM mentions silicon dioxide as an anti-caking agent and I will do some research on exactly what this is. The HA that I get from Source Naturals mentions stearic acid, as one of its ingredients - another name for magnesium stearate? Thanks for alerting me."

11/05/2010: Rob from Manhattan, New York replies: "Could someone point me to some scientific studies proving that Magnesium Stearate impedes immune function. I am wondering if this is just a sales pitch for some companies to sell their vitamins against a competitor. Personally, I would prefer my supplements to be without it or any fillers but still need some proof to it's harm."

11/06/2010: Francisca from Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France replies: "Rob, if you do a Google you will find enough page against and pro magnesium stearate. Difficult to tell.... And some say that it is indeed a sales pitch by some companies. I don't know what to believe but this morning I talked to a lady in an excellent health shop where I go quite often and she told me that she is convinced that magnesium stearate only helps the manufacturers make better quality supplements (something I had already read online! ). I have to say that the people working in this shop seem not only to be very well informed but the customer care is also very good: everything you buy is in their computer so that they can check next time, they really take the time for you.... I love going there.

Still.... They can't know everything and nowadays more than ever there always seem to be two different opinions on everything! I asked her about Monosodium Glutamate and similar components on some of their products and although none contained MSG as such others contained similar products which she had no idea also seem to contain MSG. The world we live in is so very complicated that making an informed choice is very hard. Therefore.... I did buy the supplements and some do have magnesium stearate. There weren't other choices..... But in the end, was this spread because someone found a way of selling his products to a wider public? No idea! "

11/06/2010: Lolly from Brooklyn, Ny replies: "Made from hydrogenated palm or cottenseed oil, or occasionally even beef tallow, it is used to lubricate each particle comprising a capsule or tablet containing it. (This speeds up the manufacturing process). However, it reduces bioavailability of the capsules' nutritional content by up to 65%, impairs T cell activity, can cause liver toxicity, and carries a high pesticide residue."

01/09/2011: Maria from Sarasota, Fl replies: "magnesium stearate has been an issue a long time but only recently has it been exposed as not something you want in your supplements. the company vpnutrition has never had mag/veg stearate in their products and they ship all over the world."

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