Beware the ‘Other’ Vitamin Ingredients

Did you know that in most instances the ingredients outlined on your vitamin supplement bottle are not in fact ALL of the ingredients? Did you know that sometimes these ‘other’ ingredients are in fact less than good for you?

These ‘other’ ingredients that I’m referring to are known in the industry as ‘excipients’. They are a necessary addition to all vitamin supplements and serve to deliver the active ingredients in a convenient and ingestible form.

Excipients are used for a variety of reasons. Binders hold the ingredients in a tablet together while coatings protect the ingredients from deterioration and mask unpleasant tastes. Disintegrants expand and dissolve when releasing the active ingredient for absorption. Fillers increase the size of the tablet or capsule making it more convenient to take, while flavours, colours and sweeteners improve the taste or appearance. Preservatives prevent vitamin supplements from breaking down and sorbents make tablets or capsules water-proof. Glidants, lubricants and antiadherants are also added to support the manufacturing process and to stop tablets or capsules sticking in the machines.

Whilst excipients are a necessary addition to every vitamin supplement, there are certain choices that manufacturers can make to improve the quality of their products. For instance, antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin E or vitamin C may be used as preservatives instead of synthetic preservatives like Methyl Paraben.

It is these choices which ultimately affect the quality of your vitamin supplement. When you’re taking a proactive step in your health regime to take vitamin supplements, you don’t want to be ingesting excipients that detract from the quality nutrients you are taking.

One excipient that is currently making a name for itself within fish oil supplements is Polysorbate 80. This excipient is extremely efficient at nautralising fish oil in the gut to reduce fishy reflux burps notoriously associated with fish oil supplements. Polysorbate 80 is a surfactant that is used in kitchen detergents to ‘cut through grease’. Better to choose a fish oil that either uses a thicker natural coating or natural flavours to mask the fishy taste.

Some manufacturers also add artificial sweeteners and flavours to their children’s products to make them tastier for the child. It’s something to think about when your kids are running circles around your living room.

Rest assured that these ‘other’ ingredients are not known to be harmful. The Theraputic Goods Association (TGA) approves every ingredient in every product before it can be legally sold on Australian shores, rather the use of excipients is an element to be mindful of when you are researching for personal preference and quality vitamin supplements.

So before you make your next vitamin purchase, heed this advice and research the products well. If the manufacturer does not print the ‘inactive’ ingredients or ‘excipients’ on the label, give them a call and if they won’t tell you what’s in it, don’t buy it. Alternatively you could visit Australian vitamin information website HealthyComparisons.com.au to research leading Australian products before your next purchase.