2EXCIPIENTS

Calcium Carbonate: The Sustainable, Safe, Health-Conscious Whitening Nutrient

3 min read

Essentials

Calcium Carbonate is emerging as a promising alternative to Titanium Dioxide due to its whitening properties, added benefits of providing Calcium, and strengthening products.
The use of Titanium Dioxide in the food and supplement industries has seen a decline of over 40% since 2010 due to increasing scrutiny.*

For years, Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) was the go-to agent for achieving the pristine whiteness you see in many tablets and capsules. In fact, many brands still use it for its potent color performance (even when used in tiny amounts).

If it was the standard, then why is Titanium Dioxide under a cloud of scrutiny?

The winds of change are blowing, and there has been a noted shift in the industry's preference regarding Titanium Dioxide in recent years. In fact, Titanium Dioxide use in nootropics has decreased by over 40% since 2010.*

What happened? Consumer advocacy groups and global regulatory bodies raised concerns that primarily revolve around the potential genotoxic effects of TiO2.*¹

Then, in August 2022, the European Union took a strong stance, banning its use in the nootropic (and dietary/food) industry.² France had already set the ball rolling with its ban on Titanium Dioxide from January 1, 2020.

All these put even more pressure on the nootropic (and dietary/food) industry to take action and make a united stand against the use of Titanium Dioxide.

How about the alternatives?

Titanium Dioxide can be a difficult to replace excipient—that’s true. As a mineral, TiO2 is extremely cost-effective compared to alternatives.³ Plus, common market alternatives like Rice Starch and Calcium Carbonate can require higher usage rates than Titanium Dioxide, which may increase production costs.

So, which of these two potential alternatives is our go-to choice? Rest assured, it’s not a decision we took lightly.

	TITANIUM DIOXIDE	RICE STARCH	CALCIUM CARBONATE
WHITENING EFFECTIVENESS	High, Due to Its Strong Pigment Properties, It Is Used in Tiny Amounts for Potent Color Performance	Moderate, Offers Gentle Whitening but Requires Higher Usage Rates Compared to Titanium Dioxide	High, Especially When Optimally Engineered (Particle Size, Shape), It Can Rival Titanium Dioxide in Coverage
SAFETY	Safety Concerns Due to Potential Genotoxic Effects Have Led to It Being Banned in France and Then the EU in Food/Nootropic Industries*	Very Safe, Often Used in Food and Cosmetics, Though Moisture Retention Can Be a Downside*	Considered Safe and Health-Conscious, It Provides the Nutrient Calcium and Strengthens Products*
COST	It Is Cost-Effective as a Mineral, but Its Usage Is Declining Due to Safety Concerns	Relatively Inexpensive, Requires Higher Usage Rates Which Impact Production Costs	Cost-Effective, Especially Given Its Dual Functionality as a Nutrient and Whitening Agent
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT	Moderate; Concerns Over Nano-Particle Pollution Have Led to a Decrease in Usage by Over 40% Since 2010 in Some Industries	Low, Biodegradable and Sustainable, Making It a Natural Choice That Reduces Artificial Numbers in Ingredients	Low to Moderate; It Is Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly
APPLICATIONS	It Was the Preferred Choice in Many Industries, Including Nootropics and Food, for Achieving Pristine Whiteness	Used in Cosmetics, Food, and as a Filler in Paper, It Can Thicken Products, Which Is Undesirable in Some Applications	The Preferred Alternative in Many Nootropics, It Can Offer Excellent Whitening Properties and Strengthen Products
TEXTURE/CONSISTENCY	Fine and Powdery, It Can Provide a Smooth Finish, Typically Used in Small Volumes (0.5%-1% of Product Volume)	Fine but Can Retain Moisture and Thicken Products, Generally Used in Larger Amounts (Around 5% of Product Volume)	Particle Engineering May Affect Efficacy, but Optimal Particle Size Can Ensure Consistent Performance
PH LEVEL	Neutral to Slightly Alkaline	Neutral	Alkaline, It Is Beneficial in Some Applications
STABILITY	Chemically Stable Under Various Conditions*	Stable, But Can Degrade in Moisture*	Highly Stable, Especially in Dry Conditions, It Offers Consistent Performance With Minimal Batch-to-Batch Variations When Engineered Optimally*
Sources DOI: 10.1016/j.jfda.2014.01.008, 10.1080/10837450.2021.1968900, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2090, SAFC® White Paper

Let's start with Rice Starch. As a natural whitening agent, Rice Starch may reduce the #%@ artificial numbers on ingredient lists (and is relatively inexpensive). These are all positives. But Rice Starch also has drawbacks, which ultimately made us skip it in our advanced nootropics.

Here’s an example: Rice Starch can retain moisture and thicken products. Far from ideal. Especially because it has to be used in larger amounts—typically about 5% of the product volume as opposed to 0.5%-1% with Titanium Dioxide.

The second alternative, our go-to in HCF®’s advanced nootropics, is Calcium Carbonate.

Apart from its excellent whitening properties, Calcium Carbonate can offer the dual advantage of containing the nutrient Calcium and strengthening nootropics. Calcium Carbonate is also a particularly interesting alternative to Titanium Dioxide because particle engineering may significantly influence its efficacy. Elements such as particle size, shape, surface structure, and arrangement are important in determining the opacity of white pigments.*⁴

HCF® has a long-standing commitment to exploring sustainable and health-conscious alternatives in our nootropics.

And that's why HCF®’s advanced nootropics contain no Titanium Dioxide, GMOs, gluten, dairy, caffeine, eggs, wheat, artificial colors or flavors, Magnesium Stearate, nuts, fish, or soy.

But HCF®’s 7 Advances® principles go beyond simply avoiding unnecessary fillers, binders, and additives. These are our commitment to purity, transparency, and safety in nootropics.