
Product Purity FAQ
We chose HDPE because it balances product protection with a lower environmental impact compared to many other packaging materials.
Want to know more about our sustainability efforts? Check out our eco-conscious FAQ.
After extensive research on vegetarian capsules, pullulan emerged as the purest option available. Derived from fermented tapioca starch, pullulan is water-soluble, entirely toxin-free, and free from animal products. These capsules align with the preferences of health-conscious consumers, as they are organic, starch-free, gluten-free, preservative-free, plant-based, and non-GMO.
Moreover, pullulan capsules cater to specific dietary needs and cultural preferences, holding Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status, as well as Halal and Kosher certifications. They are also approved by the Vegetarian Society. Additionally, pullulan capsules require minimal processing and are considered environmentally friendly.
In contrast, the most commonly used vegetarian capsule in the supplement industry is "vegetable cellulose," primarily due to its cost-effectiveness. Despite being derived from plant fiber, vegetable cellulose capsules undergo a rigorous manufacturing process that synthetically alters the cellulose to form a hard capsule (known as Hypromellose or HPMC). This process introduces toxic substances, making the cellulose less 'natural'—a factor we are not comfortable with.
Many supplement companies use additives and fillers to simplify manufacturing or reduce costs. These may include substances like rice bran (commonly used as a filler), silicon dioxide (to prevent clumping), or magnesium stearate (to lubricate machinery during capsule production). While some of these are considered generally safe at low levels, their inclusion is not always necessary — and in certain cases, their safety or impact on nutrient absorption has been debated in scientific literature.
For example, rice bran itself is safe for most people, but rice can naturally accumulate higher levels of arsenic compared to other plants, which raises concerns about its use as a routine filler. Magnesium stearate, though widely used and recognized as safe by regulatory agencies, has been criticized for its potential effects on nutrient dissolution and immune function in some experimental studies, though these findings remain inconclusive. The reality is that these additives primarily serve the manufacturing process — not the health of the consumer.
In our capsules, we take the more demanding route by avoiding fillers, binders, or flow agents altogether. Our capsules contain only pure magnesium bisglycinate and the vegan pullulan capsule shell. This approach is more costly and technically challenging, but we believe it ensures the cleanest, most effective product for our customers — without unnecessary additives that don’t contribute to your health.
Its main role is to improve powder flow, prevent sticking during production, and ensure consistent capsule filling. While it's widely used and generally considered safe, we believe that a pure supplement is a better absorbed supplement. If your body doesn’t need it, we don’t include it.
Some concerns about magnesium stearate stem from a mouse study involving high levels of isolated stearic acid—not magnesium stearate—and these findings have not been confirmed in human studies. A 2020 paper in the AAPS Journal also found that variability in magnesium stearate quality can impact the solubility of certain pharmaceutical drugs, potentially affecting performance.
Though uncommon, individuals with sensitivities to stearic acid may experience mild allergic reactions, such as skin irritation or respiratory symptoms.
Magnesium stearate is not a supplement—it’s a processing aid used in manufacturing, with no nutritional benefit.
At ITL Health, we keep it simple and clean. Our formulations are free from fillers, binders, and unnecessary excipients—so you get only what supports your health and nothing your body doesn’t need.
For some vitamins, the synthetic and natural forms are equally effective, while for others, there are key differences in how they function in the body.
- Our Vitamin K2 is synthesized to ensure purity and effectiveness. It is microencapsulated to prevent degradation in the presence of magnesium and calcium and is 100% Trans, making it the superior choice. Naturally sourced K2 from natto is present in very low amounts, in the microgram range. Extracting it requires solvents, which also pull out various other oils, creating a mixture with less than 1% K2. Additionally, much of the K2 in this extract is in the CIS form, which is less beneficial than the preferred Trans form.
- Vitamin E is an example where the synthetic version does not work the same way as the natural form. It’s like trying to wear a left-handed glove on your right hand—it sort of fits but isn’t ideal.
- Our Vitamin D3 is naturally sourced from lichen, which grows on trees and rocks. The lichen is harvested, and the D3 oil is extracted and concentrated using a solvent. This process allows us to offer a VEGAN D3. In contrast, non-vegan D3 is typically sourced from sheep lanolin—extracted from the wash water after sheep are cleaned.
- Our Citric Acid is sourced from non-GMO sugar beets.
- Our Magnesium Carbonate is made from seawater and carefully sourced for purity and quality.
Every natural material on earth — including fruits, vegetables, and even drinking water — contains trace amounts of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium, because they naturally occur in soil, air, and water. That said, we take this very seriously. Every batch of our raw materials is third-party lab tested to ensure heavy metal levels are well below the strict safety limits set by Health Canada, USP, and the European Union (about 0.5–3 parts per million).
To put that into perspective, 1 part per million (PPM) is like adding just half a shot glass of food coloring to an entire backyard pool — tiny. The amounts in our products are not harmful and are often lower than what’s naturally found in everyday foods like spinach, rice, or chocolate.
For full transparency, we’re always happy to share lab results for completed batches. Bottom line: while it’s impossible to eliminate heavy metals completely from nature, the levels in our supplements are kept well below considered safe. Your health and safety are always our top priority.