Magnesium stearate, a compound of magnesium salts and stearic acid, often appears as an inactive ingredient in medications and supplements. Although the FDA reports that magnesium stearate is generally recognized as safe, some natural healers and marketers of nutritional supplements have raised concern over its effects on the immune system. There are currently no studies supporting any negative effects from magnesium stearate in medications. However, if you are breastfeeding, you should consult your physician before taking any drug or herbal preparation, regardless of whether it contains magnesium stearate or not.
Breastfeeding
Physicians and nutritionists alike credit breastfeeding with significant benefits for both you and your baby. According to pediatrician Miriam Labbock, director of the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute at the UNC School of Public Health, breast milk contains the perfect balance of nutrients, fat and electrolytes for your infant's needs. It also helps prevent illnesses by providing immunological support. In addition, the act of breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin, which promotes relaxing feelings for both you and your baby; Babycenter.com notes that nursing can reduce your stress level and lower your risk of postpartum depression. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life.
Magnesium Stearate Features
Magnesium stearate, classified as an excipient -- or filler -- is the most widely used lubricant in the pharmaceutical industry. Its purpose is to coat medications and stop them from sticking to industrial machinery during the manufacture of capsules, tablets and powders. Carter Pharmaceutical Consulting reports that magnesium stearate is non-toxic and chemically inert, and notes that the typical concentration of magnesium stearate in products ranges from 0.25 to 1.5 percent.
Stearic Acid Features and Safety
Concern about magnesium stearate's safety has revolved around stearic acid -- also called octadecanoic acid -- a naturally-occurring saturated fatty acid. According to a 2009 article in "Natural Products Marketplace," normal servings of commonplace foods, such as milk chocolate, contain far more stearic acid than the infinitesimal amount found in supplements. Byron J. Richards, a clinical nutritionist in Minneapolis, concurs, pointing out that 5,000 milligrams of stearic acid are present in a chocolate bar, as opposed to 10 to 20 milligrams in a typical dietary supplement capsule. Richards maintains that stearic acid's opponents have distorted the results of a 1990 test tube study on stearic acid and damage to the immune system. Brad Douglas, Ph.D., education manager at Jarrow Formulas, agrees, and adds that stearic acid actually has positive effects on immune function. However, the amounts found in medications are too small to have an effect either way.
Magnesium Stearate and Breastfeeding
According to Babycenter.com, an informational website for mothers, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's Drugs and Lactation Database lists acetaminophen -- marketed under the brand name Tylenol -- as usually safe for nursing mothers in normal doses; this drug contains magnesium stearate as an excipient. However, many magnesium stearate-containing medications are unsafe for breast feeding; BabyCenter stresses that you must always check with your doctor before taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs or herbal remedies.
References
- Carter Pharmaceutical Consulting, Inc: The Role of Lubricants in Solid Oral Dosage Manufacturing
- Babycenter.com: Drug Safety During Breastfeeding
- Modern Medicine.com: Overview of Pharmaceutical Excipients Used in Tablets and Capsules
- Babycenter.com: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Breastfeeding
- Wellness Resources: The Facts on Magnesium Stearate
- Tylenol.com: Extra Strength Tylenol
- Natural Products Marketplace: Safety of Stearic Acid, Magnesium Stearate
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