Ingrédient · Nutriment
Magnesium stearate
A common tablet and cosmetic filler that is safe at the tiny amounts used.
Magnesium stearate is the magnesium salt of stearic acid, a fatty acid found naturally in many foods. It's used as a lubricant to stop powders sticking to machinery in pills, supplements and cosmetic powders. At the small amounts used, it's considered safe by regulators, though very high doses have raised minor, unconfirmed questions in some studies.
Affiché en anglais — la traduction arrive.
Why it matters
Magnesium stearate is a white, waxy powder made by combining magnesium with stearic acid, a common fatty acid. It doesn't do anything to your body itself - it's added to tablets, capsules, and cosmetic powders (like pressed eyeshadow or foundation) as a 'flow agent' and lubricant. It stops ingredients sticking together or to manufacturing equipment. It's not a nutrient in the sense of providing meaningful magnesium, since the amounts used are too small. Almost nobody needs to worry about it.
Sources (2)
- 1.FDA GRAS Notices - Magnesium Stearate
- 2.PubChem - Magnesium stearate(pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
