My Supplements Are Sticking Together — Is That a Sign They've Gone Bad?

Don't fret. Some stickiness is to be expected with softgel supplements. Here's what's considered normal when it comes to softgel or gelcap supplements, and how to best store them to make sure they don't go bad. 

Gel capsules range in size and have a round or oval shape.

Once in the digestive system, the gelcaps dissolve and the contents of the supplement (like fish oil or vitamin D) are released and then can be absorbed by the body. It's a pretty efficient process. 

If this occurs, you can give your bottle a swift shake (with the cap on, of course!), and the gelcaps will naturally break apart and pour out as needed.

And this is only if the bottle is exposed to extreme temperatures for prolonged periods. Even higher temperatures during shipping are almost always short term in nature and would not affect the safety or efficacy of (high-quality) ingredients in any way.

A comfortable indoor temperature to store your supplements spans from 50℉ to the mid-70℉ range. You wouldn't want to keep supplements in a place that's frequently hotter (and more humid) than room temperature. So, bathrooms and kitchens tend to not be the best places for supplements—as the heat and moisture can impact the stability and activity of the ingredients. Opt to keep them in the bedroom instead. 

Many widely used supplements are available as gelcaps—especially omega-3 fish oils and vitamin D (check out our favorite picks for each one here and here). Just shake the bottle if you find them sticking together. And rest assured that if you store them properly and you buy them from a high-quality brand, the ingredients will be efficacious until the expiration date.