Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)

What is it?

Ascorbyl palmitate (C22H38O7) is a fat-soluble form of vitamin C (antioxidant) used in some pharmaceutical products, such as suppositories. It may also be used in topical formulations because it is more stable than some water-soluble forms of vitamin C.^[1] According to the FDA, it is also used as a preservative in foods, such as in potato chips. Ascorbyl palmitate is listed on the FDA list of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances.^[2] Ascorbyl palmitate may be marketed individually as a vitamin C replacement with the name of vitamin C ester, but should not be confused with Ester-C, which is primarily calcium ascorbate.