Sodium carboxymethylcellulose

Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is a semi-synthetic compound derived from cellulose, the main structural polymer found in plant cell walls. It is produced through a chemical reaction between cellulose and monochloroacetic acid in an alkaline medium, giving it water solubility and distinctive gelling properties. Thanks to its ability to form viscous and stable gels, CMC is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries as a bulking agent, thickener, binder, and stabiliser. It contributes to improving the texture and cohesion of solid dosage forms such as tablets, facilitating both their manufacturing and their disintegration upon ingestion. In the context of food supplements, CMC acts primarily as a functional excipient: it provides no direct nutritional benefit, but plays an essential role in the quality, stability, and proper disintegration of the finished product. Its use is regulated by European authorities and it is recognised as safe at the doses used in formulation.