Let's talk frenemies: what's the place of excipients in supplements?

Beyond the active ingredients, we can find the inert ones and a dilemma: are them a silent friend or foe?

When we talk about dietary supplements, the focus is logically on the active ingredients (such as inositol, Vitamin D, Magnesium, or Coenzyme Q10, for example). However, there is a set of substances that make up a part of the final product and are as critical as the active ingredient itself: excipients. Are they real friends, or frenemies?

As informed consumers, it is vital to understand the double edge of these substances: they are absolutely necessary for a supplement's viability, but their potential accumulation, especially in women who consume multiple products (the so-called "poly-consumers"), demands some attention.

Why are excipients (still) necessary?

Excipients are pharmacologically inactive ingredients added to formulations for technical, functional, or regulatory reasons. Their existence responds to the need to ensure that the active ingredient is safe, effective, and pleasant to consume.

Their main functions are as follows:

1. Ensuring safety and stability (preservation)

- Antioxidant and preservative agents: Substances such as Vitamin E (tocopherols), ascorbic acid, or certain sulfites are used to prevent oxidation, a process that degrades sensitive active ingredients (like fish oils or certain vitamins) and can generate unwanted compounds.

- Stabilizing agents: They help the mixture remain homogenous and ensure the capsule or tablet does not degrade over time due to humidity or light. This guarantees that the dose indicated on the label is what is actually ingested at the end of the product's shelf life.

2. Improving bioavailability and effectiveness (technical-functional aspect)

- Release and dissolution agents: In tablets, they are needed so the pill releases the active ingredient for absorption. Conversely, in sustained-release capsules, they are essential for modulating absorption over time and in the correct place in the intestine.

- Bulking and diluting agents: Many active ingredients (such as Vitamin B12 or certain probiotics) require microscopic doses. Bulking excipients may be necessary to give the product volume so that it can be encapsulated or compressed.

3. Organoleptic properties

- Flavor and color correctors: If an active ingredient is bitter (like many herbal extracts or magnesium) or has an unattractive color, it is common to add sweeteners, flavorings, and colorants, which aids product acceptance.

Without excipients at all, it would be impossible to maintain the potency of an active ingredient, ensure its correct absorption, or guarantee that the consumption experience is tolerable.

The other side of the coin: A legitimate concern about the cumulative effect

While the necessity of excipients is undeniable, their use raises a growing concern, especially in the context of intensive consumption.

-        Each individual excipient may be safe in the dose of one product. However, this changes when consuming 4, 5, or more products daily.

-        The concern is not just the toxicity of one excipient, but the cumulative and synergistic effect of multiple inert additives, especially in the case of women, who often consume different supplements simultaneously for various required benefits.

-        Some common excipients can disrupt the gut microbiota.

-        Ultimately, every gram of excipient is a gram that is not a nutrient. Reducing excipients maximizes the space for the active ingredient.

A philosophy towards clean formulation

At Birtz, in addition to seeking effective active ingredients, advance towards the cleanest formulation is part of our philosophy in the search for maximum respect for the delicate internal balance.

It is not always easy to reduce excipients without compromising quality, as they are, to a certain extent, the guarantors of the ingredients' organoleptic properties. At Birtz, we have opted for very complete formulas in our dietary supplements to minimize the sum of these non-active components in women who would otherwise have to consume multiple supplements to obtain the same benefits. Continuing this philosophy across our range, our botanical blend tea is also 100% organic and free of flavorings, translating the value that guides our philosophy and the intention to maintain this effort in a process of continuous improvement.