Supplements without excipients

For the production of tablets and capsules, substances that themselves have no nutritional value are required. For the manufacture of tablets, anti-caking agents, stabilisers, and emulsifiers are needed. Without these excipients, the tablet machines would jam, and the composition of the tablets would be inconsistent. Well-known excipients include glycerine, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide.

For the production of regular capsules, gelatine is used (made from bone meal), and for the production of vegetarian capsules, the so-called Vegicaps, a special form of cellulose (HPMC, made from wood) is used. For softgels, a combination of gelatine and carrageenan is usually employed. Liquid products typically contain alcohol, sugar, or another preservative.

All the mentioned substances are completely safe and not harmful to health when used normally, as indicated on the label. Contrary to what some sources claim (without substantiating this with scientific information), they do not cause diseases and there is no valid reason to "definitely avoid" them. On the website of Het Voedingscentrum, you can look up E-numbers and see which are safe.

Nevertheless, in some cases (such as a personal sensitivity), it may be necessary to avoid certain excipients, and we have gathered these products below. By clicking on the product, you can also find a detailed overview of the ingredients under the "ingredients" tab.