Q. How does the manufacturing of Bosmeric-SR differ from other products using the same ingredients?
A. Bosmeric-SR is manufactured at the highest standards in the industry with Sabinsa, named the manufacturer of the year multiple times by the dietary supplement industry as they have been the leader in not only potency and purity, but also in the quality of production.
With over 240 global patients with their ingredients (3 which are in Bosmeric-SR), our manufacturing is not just cGMP as many supplement manufacturers will claim but it is produced in an FDA registered and audited facility. The reason for such higher standards ISO 22000 is that these products are directly used in human clinical trials at hospitals and universities. For example, just on the Curcumin C3 Complex, we have over 70+ (and counting) human clinical studies. If you take all the competitors in the market (see and add them up there is only about 30 (and most are just white papers, not clinical studies). In addition, all the ingredients are grown on their own controlled farms (over 400,000 acres) and the right cultivar of each plant is specifically used for choice to get the right phytonutrients and compounds necessary. In addition, the patents are for the processing and extraction of specific compounds which make all the difference in efficacy. In fact, a recent study (The Strong Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin) showed that the major generic 95% curcuminoid products on the market had little to no anti-inflammatory or immunological benefit in comparison – only Curcumin C3 Complex had strong significant benefits. As you can see we are very serious in what we do, what we use and have the scientific evidence to back the claims. Sabinsa who owns the patents on the ingredients in Bosmeric-SR even wrote the Monograph for Curcuminoids for the USP (United States Pharmacopeia). Thus the manufacturing standards we utilize are much higher than what all the suppliers in the supplement industry are held to since they are not regulated. For example, we disclose those inert ingredients because due to the process of manufacturing and being FDA inspected and audited, we are transparent and compliant with the current Dietary Supplement regulations. However, most companies are not. We are held to higher standards due to the ingredients being used in clinical studies and trials at major hospitals such as NIH, Mayo, MD Anderson, etc. The studies are independently funded and published by top universities and research centers, not company sponsored.
Q. Should I be concerned about the Other ingredients in Bosmeric-SR?
A. You should not be concerned about the use of Other ingredients (Excipients) since they are “inert” and are in such trace amounts that they cannot be measured. What should be of concern is 1) learning about what types of curcumin and other ingredients are in your products and whether they are natural and pesticide-free, 2) Is it synthetic (43% of one of the largest major suppliers to the U.S. of generic turmeric/curcumin extracts was found to be using synthetic forms made in a lab – again this is detailed in the book An Inflammation Nation), 3) is the curcumin extracted using harmful solvents (which are commonly used in generic and cheap turmeric/curcumin extracts). These harmful solvents leave larger amounts of residue in the products and cause side effects, 4) Is it irradiated. Almost all turmeric/curcumin products (as well as most natural herbal products) are irradiated. 5) Is your curcumin tested for heavy metals (recently generic turmeric extract was found to have lead contamination due to the grinding devices from China) – ours tested for heavy metals including lead and has no heavy metals. This is what the main problem is with many turmeric/curcumin products. I recommend that you read my book An Inflammation Nation which describes a chapter in detail about the ingredients and manufacturing of Bosmeric-SR vs all other major competitors. You will be surprised what you will learn. Bosmeric-SR is certified pesticide-free, gluten-free, soy-free, Non-GMO and non-irradiated. We also never use invalidated scientific methods, unreproducible results, false claims or third party data unlike many suppliers of other dietary supplements.
Q. Why is there the need for the Other Ingredients when I don’t see them on my other products?
A. The excipients or inert ingredients listed in the Other ingredients is common to almost all tablets and capsules that are manufactured in both the dietary supplement and pharmaceutical industries. Let me briefly explain the manufacturing process. For example, any tablet that is sustained released, even if it is an herb or vitamin/mineral uses those other ingredients (and sometimes more). Any tablet that is made from a powder to be compacted, even if its a whole food organic plant-based supplement, it still uses those ingredients to bind the tablet and also prevent the tablet from breaking apart in the manufacturing process. This is so the tablet can slide down the machines into bottles and not break into powder when you open the bottle and place it in your hands. Thus, when you look at all of the supplement markets, tablets/caplets are all made using these “inert” ingredients. That is how tables/caplets are manufactured. Unfortunately most companies and people white label (private label) products so they do not know anything about manufacturing and only provide information that is given by sales reps and marketers. Anybody who tells you that their tablets and caplets do not use those or other types of ingredients to do so for making them is not telling you the truth.
Unfortunately, most companies do not disclose these ingredients (since most of the products on the market are just private label from contract manufacturers) and thus are not told about this since they are not measurable ingredients and thus recognized as “inert.” However, they should list them to comply with current dietary supplement regulations and disclose that information. Unfortunately they don’t. Even other brands that I use in my office that are not mine but are organic non-gmo whole food plant based use these Other ingredients when making tablets but do not disclose that due to the reasons we are having this discussion. Even if they do disclose it, they use the generic name such as “natural lubricant” versus the chemical name like we do. However, they are the same. This inert and excipient aspect causes confusion to the customers in the health market, but that is the reality of manufacturing. Many people think it’s a major ingredient or even minor ingredient, but it’s not, it is an inert ingredient that is used in all manufacturing of tablets/caplets of supplements and pharmaceutical drugs. Being an inert ingredient basically means that it has come in contact with it (i.e. sliding down a machine) but can not be measured since its so small since its not a major or minor ingredient. Many people, unfortunately, think that just because something is wildcrafted, organic and non-gmo doesn’t use such ingredient to make a tablet/caplet but they do – they just haven’t disclosed it.
Q. Is the cornstarch in the Other ingredients GMO?
A. We only use certified Non-GMO corn starch – certified from the manufacturer of the cornstarch. This is an inert ingredient so the product has come in contact with it but its too small to even measure (see above question for details).
Q. What is magnesium stearate and why is in the Other ingredients?
A. Magnesium stearate is a fine white powder that sticks to your skin and is greasy to the touch. It is a simple salt made up of two substances, a saturated fat called stearic acid and the mineral magnesium. Stearic acid can also be found in many foods, such as: chicken, eggs, cheese, chocolate, walnuts, salmon, cotton seed oil, palm oil, coconut oil. However the Magnesium Stearate in Bosmeric-SR is plant based.
Magnesium stearate is commonly added to many foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. In medications and vitamins, its primary purpose is to act as a lubricant. Magnesium stearate is an additive that’s primarily used in medication capsules. It is considered a “flow agent.” It prevents the individual ingredients in a tablet or capsule from sticking to each other and the machine that creates the tablets and capsules. It helps improve the consistency and quality control of medication tablet and capsules.
It is possible to create supplements tablet and capsules without magnesium stearate, but it is more difficult to guarantee the consistency and quality of those tablets. Magnesium stearate is used to delay breakdown and absorption of medications, so they’re absorbed in the correct area of the bowel.
Q. What are the health risks of magnesium stearate?
A. Magnesium stearate is generally recognized as safe to consume. Since it is used as an excipient or inert ingredient, there is not enough to cause any problems. However when it is used as a major filler in many other supplements and medications on the market, if you ingest too much, it can have a mild laxative effect.
Some people on the internet claim that magnesium stearate suppresses your immune T-cell function and causes the cell membrane integrity in your helper T cells to collapse. However, there is no scientific evidence to support those claims.
These claims have been made based on a single mouse study that was related to stearic acid, NOT magnesium stearate. Mice lack an enzyme in their T cells that humans have. This makes stearic acid safe for us to ingest.
Some people have also claimed that magnesium stearate might interfere with your body’s ability to absorb the contents of medication or supplements tablets and capsules. But again, there is no scientific evidence to support those claims.
Some people report having negative reactions to magnesium stearate and feel much better when they eliminate it. These people might have a sensitivity to it. It is possible to be allergic to magnesium stearate like any ingredient (although it would be a rare) and it can be difficult to avoid this food additive since its in many packaged and processed foods whether listed or not.
Q. How much is magnesium stearate is safe to consume?
A. The Food and Drug Administration has approved magnesium stearate for use as an additive in food and supplements.
According to the Nation Center for Biotechnology Information, it is considered safe for consumption at amounts below 2,500 milligrams (mg) per kilogram per day. That means for a 150-pound adult, that equals 170,000 mg per day that can be consumed (about 1/3 of a pound). Since there are less than a trace amount in Bosmeric-SR, that can not be measured, (again being an excipient or inert ingredient), it is very safe to consume without concern and does not have enough to cause negative side effects.
Remember, don’t take everything you read on the internet as truth. If you have concerns about an additive or supplement that you’re thinking about taking, do your research first. If there are no research studies to back up claims made online, they’re likely false. If in doubt, talk to your doctor.
Q. What about propylene glycol in the Other ingredients?
A. Propylene glycol is a colorless and odorless liquid which may be derived from either petroleum, natural gas, or vegetable sources. The propylene glycol in Bosmeric-SR is plant based from vegetable sources. As with all our ingredients, we source plant-based ingredients when available as an option. Propylene glycol has a long history of safe use in personal care products. It is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s list of ingredients that are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS). Propylene glycol in Bosmeric-SR is an excipient or inert ingredient and thus is used on the machinery that the tablets slide down onto the bottle. It is not a major or minor ingredient but an inert ingredient that its so small it can’t be measured. However, unlike most manufacturers we disclose everything the product comes in contact since we provide our products to hospitals, university and clinical trials (see above question on Other ingredients for details of what this means).