Magnesium stearate, also known as vegetable stearate, is used as a "flow agent" in supplement tablets and capsules to prevent different supplement ingredients from sticking to each other and to the blending and punching equipment. The flow agent ensures a homogenous blend of ingredients and a consistent dosage in each and every capsule or tablet. It is a common ingredient in many supplements, including strontium citrate products. I have never had a problem with it, but some people might have.
"Magnesium stearate is generally safe to consume, but too much of it can have a laxative effect. In large amounts, it can irritate the mucus lining of the bowels. This may trigger a bowel movement or diarrhea."
"Allergic reactions to magnesium stearate are rare, but you should avoid it and talk to your doctor if it affects you."
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/what-is-magnesium-stearate
Below is a list of strontium citrate products with and without magnesium stearate. It is not an exhaustive list. If your product is not listed here, check the label.
Strontium Citrate Products with Magnesium Stearate
Life Extension Strontium has microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable cellulose (capsule), vegetable stearate, and silica, in addition to strontium citrate.
Nova Nutritions Strontium Citrate has a gelatin capsule, rice powder, and vegetable magnesium stearate.
Vitacost Strontium has hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearic acid and vegetable magnesium stearate in addition to strontium citrate.
Strontium Citrate Products without Magnesium Stearate but with Other Additives
Swanson Strontium Citrate has gelatin, rice flower, calcium laurate, and silica.
Pure Encapsulations Strontium (Citrate) has a vegetarian capsule (cellulose, water) and contains hypoallergenic plant fiber (cellulose) and ascorbyl palmitate.
Strontium Citrate Products with No Additives
AOR Strontium Support II, which I take, is in a capsule composed of hypromellose and purified water and contains no additives.
AlgaeCal Strontium Boost is in a vegetable cellulose (vegetarian capsule) and contains no additives.
3 comments:
This list of products containing magnesium stearate is very helpful. It confirms my suspicions about why I'm experiencing a reaction to AlgaeCal. Thank you!
Emily, my post on "Vegetable Magnesium Stearate in Strontium Citrate Products" stated "AlgaeCal Strontium Boost is in a vegetable cellulose (vegetarian capsule) and contains no additives." Perhaps, you experienced a reaction to AlgaeCal Plus (a calcium supplement with other minerals plus vitamins) that was not mentioned in my post, which only included SrC products. AlgaeCal Plus does contain vegetable-grade magnesium stearate and microcrystalline cellulose.
Your post was very clear--I just leapt over to my current reaction with the basic AlgaeCal product, realizing it has vegetable magnesium stearate in it. My focus was on the additive, not the strontium in this case. Knowing this, I will not attempt the AlgaeCal Plus, but I will start their Strontium Boost. Sorry for the confusion, and thanks again for the explanation & list of SrC products for comparison.
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