Cellulose used to make supplement capsules is misleadingly branded as “veggie caps” – however these capsules are in fact not made from vegetables, but from pine tree bark or cotton plant fibers. It’s quite a stretch to call either of these “vegetables.”
Those of us with strong salicylate sensitivities (or perhaps allergies) may not tolerate cellulose and may do better with gelatin caps – this is certainly my case.
I’ve spent a lot of time reading ingredient labels, trying to find supplements which don’t contain cellulose, or which contain cellulose ONLY in the capsule and not as a filler as well. I’m sharing my list here to help others with the same problem.
When curating this list, I’m also avoiding other salicylate-risky ingredients such as annato, flavorings, olive oil, benzoates, etc.
I will update this list as I find more options. Please double check ingredients before you purchase – manufacturers might change their ingredients at any time.
Cellulose-Free Low Sal Supplements
B-1
-
Nutricost Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) – 100 mg*
B-6
- Naturebell – P5P – 100 mg*
B-12
- Vitacost B-12 Methylcobalamin – 500 mcg
Cod Liver Oil
- Jigsaw Health Alaskan Cod Liver Oil
CoQ10
- Nature’s Bounty Co-Q10 Q-Sorb™
Digestive Enzymes
- Vital Nutrients Pancreatin & Ox Bile Extract
Fish Oil
- Pure Encapsulations EPA DHA Essentials
GABA
- Source Naturals Serene Science GABA Calm Mind
Read about my experience with this supplement!
Magnesium Malate
- Seeking Health Magnesium Malate – powder
Magnesium Citrate
- Naturebell Magnesium Citrate – 500 mg*
Molybdenum
- Eidon Ionic Minerals Liquid Molybdenum Concentrate
MSM
- Jarrow Formulas MSM – powder
Probiotics
- Solaray Babylife Bifidobacterium Infantis – powder
Vitamin E
- NOW Sun-E 400
Vitamin K
- Jigsaw Health Vitamin K2 + E Complex
Zinc
- Premier Research Labs Liquid Zinc Ultra
Cellulose-Capsuled Low Sal Supplements
These supplements don’t contain cellulose as a filler but do have cellulose capsules. Their contents can be emptied out or transferred to gelatin capsules.
B1
- Doctor’s Best Benfotiamine + Alpha Lipoic Acid 150 mg/300 mg
B2 (Riboflavin)
- NOW B-2 100 mg*
B6
- NOW B-6 100 mg
Biotin
- NOW Biotin — 1000 mcg
- NOW Biotin — 5000 mcg*
Calcium D-Glucarate
- Pure Encapsulations Calcium-d-Glucarate
Digestive Enzymes
- Enzymedica Digest Spectrum
- Microbiome Labs FODMATE
Lipsomal Glutathione
- Codeage Liposomal Glutathione – Reduced Setria® L Glutathione
Probiotics
- Biocodex Florastor* ***
- Jarrow Formulas Ideal Bowel Support LP299V
- Microbiome Labs HU58
- Natural Factors CalmBiotic* **
- Seeking Health Saccharomyces Boulardii
Taurine
- NOW Taurine 500mg
*Contains stearic acid or magnesium stearate
**Contains maltodextrin
***Labeling was unclear, spoke with the manufacturer who said cellulose was only in the capsule.
This article does not intend to diagnose any health conditions or offer treatment advice. Please consult with your health practitioners before trying any supplements or making any dietary changes.
Last updated on March 4, 2022 at 10:15am.