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HPMC stands for hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or hypromellose for short. HPMC is the material from which most supplement capsules are made. It is a clear, tasteless, vegetarian and vegan appropriate material. It is normally made by extraction from wood pulp.

Is it safe?: In an FDA study with rats, there were no significant toxic effects other than growth retardation once HPMC reached levels of 20 to 30% of the rats’ diet. This study noted that growth retardation may be contributed to malnutrition and not the amount of HPMC. In another study, rabbits were injected with 2% HPMC for over a month and there were no observations of toxicity or irritation. Overall, the FDA sees it as a non-toxic and non-irritating inactive ingredient that is safe for human use and consumption.