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Sodium Alginate

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 15, 2023.

Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)

What is it?

Sodium alginate, also known as algin, is a carbohydrate product of a seaweed, Macrocystis pyrifera. Sodium alginate is used as a gel in pharmaceutical preparations. Sodium Alginate (E401) is extracted from brown seaweed. It is also used as a stabilizer, thickener and emulsifier for food products such as ice cream, yogurt, cream, and cheese. It acts as a thickener and emulsifier for salad, pudding, jam, tomato juice, and canned products. It is a hydration agent for noodles, bread, cool and frozen products. It is a cold gelling agent that needs no heat to gel. It is most commonly used with calcium lactate or calcium chloride in the spherification process.[1][2]

Some examples of medications containing Sodium Alginate

References

  1. Drugs.com Algin. Accessed March 1, 2015 at http://www.drugs.com/dict/algin.html
  2. Modernist Pantry. Sodium alginate. Accessed March 1, 2015 at http://www.modernistpantry.com/sodium-alginate.html

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.