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Magnesium Stearate & Diabetes

Magnesium stearate is a colorless, tasteless and odorless chemical compound. It is made up of magnesium and stearic acid (octadecanoic acid). Magnesium stearate can be obtained from both animal and vegetable oils. It has many industrial and commercial applications, especially in the pharmaceutical industry. It is commonly used as a filling agent in the manufacture of supplement capsules. The FDA has approved magnesium stearate to be safe for human consumption.

  1. Diabetes

    • Diabetes is a metabolic disorder of carbohydrate metabolism. Because of its frequency, diabetes is likely the most important metabolic disease. It can be caused by a combination of environmental and hereditary factors. Diabetes mellitus is a common form of diabetes that is characterized by excessive urine production, insufficient secretion or utilization of insulin, excessive amounts of sugar in the blood and urine, and thirst, hunger and weight loss.

    Diabetes & Magnesium Stearate

    • Diabetes is a major problem in the United States. There are almost 24 million diabetic sufferers in the U.S. Because of the risks involved with diabetes, maintaining proper blood sugar levels is important. As a naturally occurring fatty acid, magnesium stearate is a medicament useful for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

    Side Effects

    • A few people using magnesium stearate-containing supplements have reported side effects, such as joint pains, and there are some diabetes patients who claim to experience side effects. These patients are usually prescribed dietary mineral supplements (which contain magnesium stearate) as a routine part of practice in management of diabetes, and some have experienced worsening of their diabetes control after using these supplements.

    Medical Research

    • Medical research literature does not indicate any adverse effect of magnesium stearate nor could it substantiate that the use of magnesium stearate causes or reduces control over diabetes. The FDA has approved magnesium stearate fit for human consumption after adequate research and study.

    Stearate

    • Many people believe that the stearic acid part of magnesium stearate is harmful. However, it is also said that stearate is present in greater quantities even in some food substances, such as chocolate, which most of us not only consider delicious, but safe, as well. Methodical and well-planned studies are yet to be done to know exactly whether this commonly used compound really has some of the serious effects claimed during diabetes treatment, nor is there evidence that it causes diabetes.

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