Relationship Between Magnesium Stearate & Stearic Acid

Magnesium stearate is primarily a combination of the mineral magnesium and stearic acid. Both are substances found in nature. Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid that is found in many foods, such as meats and dairy products. Magnesium, an essential element for good health, is found in the bones and cells of tissues and organs of the human body.

Magnesium

• Bone health depends upon magnesium.

  Magnesium is an essential element for the proper functioning of the human body. According to the Office of Dietary Supplement, National Institutes of Health, magnesium is essential for more than 300 biochemical reactions. Green vegetables like spinach are an excellent source of magnesium, as are beans, peas and nuts. Magnesium can be combined with other substances, such as stearic acid.

Stearic acid

• Stearic acid is a saturated fat that may not be harmful to the heart.

  Stearic acid is a saturated fat that is found in many animal products like meat. One plant product that contains stearic acid is chocolate. When stearic acid is consumed, most of it is converted to oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat. This is significant since saturated fats have been shown to raise cholesterol levels. According to the American Heart Association, despite the fact that stearic acid is a saturated fat, studies have suggested that it has little effect on blood cholesterol levels.

Combination

• Magnesium stearate is used in the manufacture of pills.

  Magnesium stearate is a white powder with lubricative properties. According to the New World Encyclopedia, it is used by the drug industry to make tablets. Its purpose is to keep the tablets from sticking to equipment during tablet manufacture.

Features

• Magnesium stearate bears little relationship to stearic acid, even though it contains stearic acid. Combining stearic acid with magnesium produces a substance unlike the stearic acid found in meats and chocolate.

Uses

• Stearic acid is used in the making of lotions; it thickens them. The lotion will have a thick, cream texture when stearic acid is used, normally from 3 to 5 percent. This property of stearic acid, when combined with magnesium, gives magnesium stearate its ability to lubricate.