The invention relates to a method for protecting active principles used in animal and human food, said method comprising the following steps carried out at a temperature lower than or equal to 600°C and in an uncontrolled atmosphere: mixing an active principle with a metal cation in the presence of water and glycerol during a chelation reaction in order to obtain a first complex; mixing said first complex obtained during the previous step with a glycerol monolaurate having a purity index higher than 30% during an emulsifying reaction in order to obtain an emulsion; mixing the emulsion obtained during the previous step with an amorphous silica source during an adsorption reaction in order to obtain a final complex of the protected active agent. The product obtained by the method of the present invention can be used as a food additive for humans or animals.