“Cellulose?”Here!plant fiber, often as microcrystalline cellulose
Appears in 1 scanned product.
In personal care
A carbohydrate that makes up the structural fiber of plants. In cosmetics it is usually derived from wood pulp or cotton and processed into a fine powder or film.
Why it’s used
Used as a thickener, texturizing agent, and mild abrasive or absorbent, depending on the particle form. It can also give a mattifying feel in powders and some skincare.
What the evidence says
We haven’t found a source for this one that you can open and check, so we’re not summarizing the evidence.
Look it up yourself
We would rather point you at the shelf than summarize something you can’t check. These are the same places we search:
- PubChem — what the substance is, chemically — names, synonyms and structure
- PubMed — every paper indexed by the US National Library of Medicine that names it
These are starting points, not our findings — we haven’t run them for you. A substance whose name is also an ordinary word (“Heart”, “Alanine”, “Water”) will return papers that are not about the ingredient at all.
Rumors
Microcrystalline cellulose is non-toxic and biodegradable, making it an environmentally friendly clean-beauty ingredient.
We haven’t checked the evidence on this one yet.
What was measured is not yet noted.
Who’s saying this
- revivalabs.com — we haven’t checked who runs this site yet
Microcrystalline cellulose gently exfoliates skin without irritation, as a natural, biodegradable alternative to plastic microbeads.
We haven’t checked the evidence on this one yet.
What was measured is not yet noted.
Who’s saying this
- revivalabs.com — we haven’t checked who runs this site yet
Microcrystalline cellulose does not cause skin irritation or sensitivity and is tolerated by all skin types.
We haven’t checked the evidence on this one yet.
What was measured is not yet noted.
Who’s saying this
- revivalabs.com — we haven’t checked who runs this site yet
Microcrystalline cellulose absorbs excess oil and mattifies oily or acne-prone skin.
We haven’t checked the evidence on this one yet.
What was measured is not yet noted.
Who’s saying this
- revivalabs.com — we haven’t checked who runs this site yet
As a supplement
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Roll Call does not check drug interactions or assess personal safety.
A plant-derived fiber refined into a fine powder used as a filler and binder in tablets and capsules. It gives pills bulk and helps hold their shape.
Why it’s used
Used to add bulk to a tablet or capsule and to help ingredients bind together so the pill holds its form during manufacturing and handling.
What the evidence says
Cellulose used this way is not taken for a health effect, so there is no efficacy question to evaluate. It has a long history of use as a food and pharmaceutical excipient and is generally recognized as safe for this manufacturing role by regulatory bodies.
Context
No dosing protocols apply, since it is not administered as an active ingredient.
Rumors
Microcrystalline cellulose is an artificial filler that supplements should be free from; whole-food supplements without it are healthier because the body recognizes food, not synthetics.
Not gradedhealth and safety evidence
Sources cited — no verdict reached.
What was measured is not yet noted.
- Re‐evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives (Regulatory) · Funding not checked
- Microcrystalline cellulose (WHO Food Additives Series 40) (Regulatory) · Funding not checked
- Synthetic or Food-Derived Vitamin C—Are They Equally Bioavailable? (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment; Zespri International Ltd. (industry) · No conflicts declared
Who’s saying this
- The Non-GMO Project — an advocacy group: nonprofit offering non-GMO product certification (Butterfly label)
How we know who this is
- “The Non-GMO Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building and preserving the non-GMO food supply for all .” (their page)
- “The Non-GMO Project is a mission-driven nonprofit organization offering rigorous product verification and trustworthy education that empowers people to care for themselves, the planet, and future generations.” (their page)
Microcrystalline cellulose in supplements causes side effects such as a laxative effect, low energy and headaches.
Does not support — suggestivehealth and safety evidence
Measured as an outcome.
- Microcrystalline cellulose (WHO Food Additives Series 40) (Regulatory) · Funding not checked
- 311. Microcrystalline cellulose (WHO Food Additives Series 5) (Regulatory) · Funding not checked
- Re‐evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives (Regulatory) · Funding not checked
Who’s saying this
- The Non-GMO Project — an advocacy group: nonprofit offering non-GMO product certification (Butterfly label)
How we know who this is
- “The Non-GMO Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building and preserving the non-GMO food supply for all .” (their page)
- “The Non-GMO Project is a mission-driven nonprofit organization offering rigorous product verification and trustworthy education that empowers people to care for themselves, the planet, and future generations.” (their page)