Supplement Ingredients to Avoid

When choosing a supplement, most people focus on the key active ingredients—vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial components. However, what’s often overlooked are the inactive ingredients, which are disguised as fillers, binders, preservatives, and artificial additives.

Supplement companies use these ingredients for several reasons:

Shelf Stability: Preservatives help extend the life of supplements.

Manufacturing Efficiency: Flow agents like magnesium stearate prevent ingredients from sticking to machinery.

Aesthetic Appeal: Artificial colors and coatings make supplements more visually appealing.

Cost Reduction: Cheap fillers like maltodextrin bulk up products at a low cost.

While some additives are harmless, others may negatively impact health, interfere with absorption, or introduce unnecessary synthetic compounds. In this article, we’ll break down the top supplement ingredients you should avoid and pinpoint specific additives to watch out for if you follow a vegan lifestyle.

1. Artificial Colors and Dyes

Many supplements, especially gummies and coated tablets, contain synthetic food dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1. These artificial colors serve no nutritional purpose and are primarily used to make products look more appealing. However, studies have linked certain artificial dyes to hyperactivity in children and potential allergic reactions (1).

What to look for on labels: FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Blue No. 1

2. Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide is a whitening agent used to enhance the appearance of supplements. While it’s commonly found in cosmetics and food products, concerns have been raised about its potential effects on gut health and possible carcinogenic risks (2). Some countries, including the European Union, have banned its use in food due to these concerns.

What to look for on labels: Titanium dioxide (TiO2)

3. Hydrogenated Oils and Trans Fats

Some supplement capsules, particularly softgels, contain partially hydrogenated oil or trans fats to improve texture and stability. These fats have been linked to increased cholesterol levels, heart disease, and inflammation (3). While their use has decreased in food products, they still appear in certain supplements.

What to look for on labels: Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (soybean oil, palm oil)

4. Magnesium Stearate and Stearic Acid

Magnesium stearate is a common flow agent used in supplements to prevent ingredients from sticking to manufacturing equipment. While generally considered safe, some research suggests it may interfere with nutrient absorption in high amounts (4). Additionally, if derived from animal sources, it may not be suitable for vegans.

What to look for on labels: Magnesium stearate, stearic acid

5. Artificial Sweeteners

Many chewable and gummy supplements contain artificial sweeteners to improve taste. However, sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium have been associated with digestive issues, potential metabolic disruption, and gut microbiome imbalances (5).

What to look for on labels: Aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium (Ace-K)

6. Carrageenan

Carrageenan is a thickening agent derived from seaweed, often found in plant-based softgels. While it’s a natural ingredient, some research links carrageenan to gut inflammation and digestive discomfort (6). Those with sensitive stomachs or digestive conditions like IBS may want to avoid it.

What to look for on labels: Carrageenan

7. Unnecessary Fillers and Bulking Agents

Some supplements contain cheap fillers such as silicon dioxide, maltodextrin, or talc that serve no nutritional purpose and may even cause gastrointestinal distress.

What to look for on labels: Maltodextrin, talc, silicon dioxide

Ingredients to Avoid If You're Vegan

If you follow a plant-based lifestyle, some supplement ingredients may contain hidden animal products. Here’s what to watch for if you're looking for a vegan supplement:

1. Gelatin

A common ingredient in capsules, gummies, and softgels, gelatin is derived from animal bones and connective tissues and is typically used as a thickening agent (7).

What to look for: Look for vegan capsules made from plant-based alternatives like hypromellose (HPMC).

2. Lanolin-Derived Vitamin D3

Most vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplements are sourced from a fatty substance from sheep’s wool known as lanolin. This is because lanolin provides the precursors to making vitamin D3. Vegan alternatives use lichen-derived D3.

What to look for: Vegan D3 (from lichen)

Looking for a vegan vitamin D3? Shop vitamin D3 sourced from lichen in the plant-based essentials now.

3. Omega-3 from Fish Oil

Traditional omega-3 supplements come from fish oil, but algae-based omega-3 provides the same benefits without the use of animal products.

What to look for: Algal oil (vegan omega-3)

Find algae-based omega-3s in the plant-based essentials here.

4. Magnesium Stearate

Magnesium stearate, a binder, thickener, or lubricant, is sometimes derived from animal fat, making it unsuitable for vegans unless explicitly labeled as plant-based.

What to look for: Plant-based or vegan magnesium stearate

How to Choose a Clean Supplement

To ensure you’re getting the best-quality supplement without unnecessary additives, follow these steps:

Check the Ingredient List – Fewer, high-quality ingredients are better.

Look for Third-Party Testing – Certifications like NSF, USP, or Informed Choice ensure purity and safety.

Opt for Transparent Brands – Brands that disclose sourcing and ingredient details are often more trustworthy.

Choose Vegan and Non-GMO Options – If you follow a plant-based lifestyle, verify the supplement aligns with your values.

Final Thoughts

Not all supplements are created equal, and what’s inside matters just as much as the active ingredients. Avoiding artificial colors, sweeteners, fillers, and animal-derived ingredients can help you make cleaner, more effective choices for your health. At Nu Pursuit, we prioritize science-backed, high-quality ingredients—without unnecessary additives—so you can feel confident in what you’re putting in your body.

By reading labels, staying informed, and choosing transparent brands, you can ensure your supplements support your wellness journey, not work against it.

References

1. Stevens LJ, Burgess JR, Stochelski MA, Kuczek T. Amounts of artificial food colors in commonly consumed beverages and potential behavioral implications for consumption in children. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2014 Feb;53(2):133-40. doi: 10.1177/0009922813502849. Epub 2013 Sep 13. PMID: 24037921.

2. Bettini S, Boutet-Robinet E, Cartier C, Coméra C, Gaultier E, Dupuy J, Naud N, Taché S, Grysan P, Reguer S, Thieriet N, Réfrégiers M, Thiaudière D, Cravedi JP, Carrière M, Audinot JN, Pierre FH, Guzylack-Piriou L, Houdeau E. Food-grade TiO2 impairs intestinal and systemic immune homeostasis, initiates preneoplastic lesions and promotes aberrant crypt development in the rat colon. Sci Rep. 2017 Jan 20;7:40373. doi: 10.1038/srep40373. PMID: 28106049; PMCID: PMC5247795.

3. Mozaffarian D, Katan MB, Ascherio A, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC. Trans fatty acids and cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med. 2006 Apr 13;354(15):1601-13. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra054035. PMID: 16611951.

4. Litton Bionetics . 1996. Mutagenic Evaluation of Compounds FDA 75-33, Magnesium Stearate. Report Prepared Under DHEW Contract No. FDA 223-74-2104, Kensington, Maryland.Suez J, Korem T, Zeevi D, Zilberman-Schapira G, Thaiss CA, Maza O, Israeli D, Zmora N, Gilad S, Weinberger A, Kuperman Y, Harmelin A, Kolodkin-Gal I, Shapiro H, Halpern Z, Segal E, Elinav E. Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota. Nature. 2014 Oct 9;514(7521):181-6. doi: 10.1038/nature13793. Epub 2014 Sep 17. PMID: 25231862.

5. Bhattacharyya S, Dudeja PK, Tobacman JK. Carrageenan-induced NFkappaB activation depends on distinct pathways mediated by reactive oxygen species and Hsp27 or by Bcl10. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008 Jul-Aug;1780(7-8):973-82. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2008.03.019. Epub 2008 Apr 11. PMID: 18452717; PMCID: PMC3698247.

6. Hanani NZA. Gelatin. In: Caballero B, Finglas PM, Toldrá F, editors. Encyclopedia of Food and Health. Academic Press; 2016. p. 191–5. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-384947-2.00347-0.