Carnauba Wax
Also known as: Brazil wax, palm wax, Copernicia prunifera wax, E903
Effective Dosage
No established dose
What the Science Says
Carnauba wax is a natural wax derived from the leaves of the Brazilian palm tree Copernicia prunifera. In supplements and food products, it is used almost exclusively as a coating, glazing, or encapsulation agent — not as an active ingredient. One animal study found that p-hydroxycinnamic diesters extracted from carnauba wax reduced total cholesterol and LDL levels in mice fed a high-fat diet, but this has not been tested in humans.
What It Doesn't Do
Not proven to lower cholesterol in humans. Not a supplement ingredient with any established health benefit. Won't detox your body. No evidence it does anything useful when swallowed as a coating on a pill. The animal study used isolated chemical extracts, not the wax itself.
Evidence-Based Benefits
Carnauba wax is a natural wax derived from the leaves of the Brazilian palm tree Copernicia prunifera. In supplements and food products, it is used almost exclusively as a coating, glazing, or encapsulation agent — not as an active ingredient. One animal study found that p-hydroxycinnamic diesters extracted from carnauba wax reduced total cholesterol and LDL levels in mice fed a high-fat diet, but this has not been tested in humans.
Weak EvidenceEffective at: No established dose
Source: auto-research
Absorption & Bioavailability
Unknown — carnauba wax is largely indigestible and functions as an inert coating. The bioactive compounds extracted from it (e.g., p-hydroxycinnamic diesters) may behave differently, but human absorption data are not available from the provided studies.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Carnauba wax appears in a large prospective cohort study as part of a food additive mixture associated with higher type 2 diabetes incidence — though causality was not established and it was one of many additives in the mixture
- Almost no human clinical trial data exists for carnauba wax as a health supplement ingredient
- Animal studies used isolated chemical extracts, not the whole wax — products listing 'carnauba wax' are unlikely to deliver the same compounds
- Widely used as an excipient (inactive ingredient) in over 1,000 registered supplement products, meaning most consumers are ingesting it without knowing it
- No established safe or effective dose for any human health outcome
Products Containing Carnauba Wax
See how Carnauba Wax is used in these analyzed products:
Research Sources
- PubMed
- NIH DSLD
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-04-09