At NEOSIUM, we are obsessed with using pure, effective, and plant-based ingredients. We believe in science-backed supplements, containing only the most essential and natural ingredients. Certain substances will never appear in our products — even if many other brands use them. Curious to know which ones? Here are the 8 ingredients we refuse to use and why.
What makes a good dietary supplement?
A supplement is a concentrated source of nutrients. To be effective, it must be potent, easily absorbable, and responsibly manufactured, without potentially harmful ingredients.
Our founding principles prohibit us from using ingredients that are:
- Synthetic or unnecessarily processed
- Animal-derived or animal-tested
- Harmful to the biodiversity and sustainability of our environment
- Whose long-term safety for human health is not proven
1. GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)
Many bulking agents and additives like corn starch, maltodextrin, soy lecithin, and xanthan gum can be extracted from genetically modified plants. GMOs are relatively recent, and more research is needed to understand their long-term effects on human health.
Furthermore, their environmental impact is already visible: herbicides and insecticides used in the production of GM crops affect habitat biodiversity, pollute water, and promote the appearance of resistant weeds.
2. Magnesium Stearate
Mainly used as a flow agent, magnesium stearate can also act as an emulsifier, binder, thickener, or anti-caking agent. It is added to formulas to prevent ingredients from sticking to machines during manufacturing.
Although considered safe in small quantities, the effects of cumulative exposure via multiple sources (foods, supplements, baked goods, confectionery) remain unclear. This is particularly concerning for young children and individuals with chronic kidney failure. Due to a lack of sufficient safety data, we do not use magnesium stearate.
3. Animal Gelatin Capsules
Many brands use animal-derived gelatin to make their capsules. At NEOSIUM, we have a strict policy against using animal-derived ingredients. Our capsules are exclusively made from plant cellulose — never animal gelatin.
4. Palm Oil Derivatives
The devastating impact of palm oil production on tropical forests is leading more and more consumers to avoid it. But its 500+ derivatives are much harder to spot. With names like acetylated monoglycerides or aluminum stearate, it's almost impossible to tell if a product contains them. At NEOSIUM, we never use palm oil derivatives.
5. Bulking Agents
Bulking agents only serve to fill a capsule or give shape to a tablet. They provide no health benefits. We simply do not use them.
6. Titanium Dioxide (E171)
Titanium dioxide is used as a coating agent and to protect ingredients from UV light. In 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that it was no longer safe as a food additive, due to concerns related to genotoxicity and potential DNA damage.
As with magnesium stearate, these concerns relate to unknown cumulative effects. No safe daily intake level has been established — so we prefer to exclude it entirely from our products.
7. Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners
Sugar and artificial sweeteners might be the last things you'd expect in a health supplement. Yet, some brands add them to make their chewable products more palatable. At NEOSIUM, zero sugar and zero artificial sweeteners.
8. Synthetic Additives
Colorants and flavor enhancers have no place in our formulas. We don't need to mask unpleasant tastes or alter the appearance of our products — so you won't find any synthetic additives in our range.
So, what do we put in our supplements?
We use the most natural, effective, and vegan forms of available ingredients. This makes our supplements slightly more expensive than those sold in supermarkets — but a slightly higher price guarantees a significantly more effective product.
A good example: calcium. Most brands use calcium carbonate or phosphate, two forms that are poorly absorbed and known to disrupt digestion. At NEOSIUM, we only use calcium citrate, which is better tolerated and much better absorbed.
Our Manufacturing Standards
All our ingredients are traceable throughout our supply chain and subject to a rigorous supplier validation program. Each raw material undergoes quality, microbiological, and heavy metal checks before entering production.
We comply with European Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) at every stage — so you can consume our supplements with complete confidence.
FAQ
Why avoid magnesium stearate in supplements? Although considered safe in small doses, its cumulative effects via multiple dietary sources remain unknown. As a precaution, NEOSIUM does not use it.
How to tell if a supplement contains palm oil? Palm oil derivatives have hundreds of different names. A transparent brand clearly commits to not using them — as is the case at NEOSIUM.
Are GMOs dangerous in supplements? Research on their long-term health effects is still insufficient. Their environmental impact, however, is already documented. We exclude them as a precautionary principle.
Why are vegetable capsules better? They are vegan, free from animal-derived ingredients, and just as effective as gelatin capsules — without ethical compromise.
