Tablets, chewables, gummies, hard capsules, gel capsules, liquids, powders, creams, gels, lotions, powders, and liquid sprays? What’s your preference? Consumer preference and convenience are major factors driving the choice of delivery systems for dietary supplement manufacturers. For instance, as business becomes more global, more people are traveling. Travelers prefer individual powder packets to carrying entire strips of capsules or liquid supplements because individual packet doses are easier to carry and convenient to take.
Here are a few of the most common delivery solutions:
Tablets are the most cost-effective delivery form. However, statistics show that tablets are losing popularity to hard capsules. Consumers find tablets difficult to swallow compared to capsules. As it relates to dissolution, tablets are considered to have less disintegration ability in the body. Additionally, excipients used may irritate the digestive system. This is not the best delivery system choice for the elderly or children because of difficulties in swallowing and digestion. Liquid supplements, powders or gummies are a more preferable form of delivery for this type of demographics.
Tablets do have their advantages. They can pack in more ingredients, have more shelf life and are easy to store.
Hard capsules are easier to swallow and begin to disintegrate in the stomach within minutes after ingestion. They also offer greater resilience to heat and humidity and are easier to fill and therefore more popular than even softgels. Today, the manufacturing of hard capsules is predicted for unprecedented growth according to the World Gelatin Market Press Release in the International Business Times (December 2008). Worldwide consumer preferences have shifted more towards hard capsules over tablets. Hard capsules are relatively cheaper to produce than softgels and can pack in a good amount of nutrients. Fillings can be granules, powders, and now with new technology, hard capsules can fill liquids as well. Capsules also have an aesthetic appeal and can be produced in a variety of colors with brand imaging. They can be transparent or opaque. Vegan capsules are also available.
Softgels have a softer outer gel shell. They offer maximum bio-absorption as the ingredients are in suspension form and are thus ready for absorption as soon as the outer shell disintegrates. Softgel manufacturing is more expensive and therefore this delivery system is used selectively, usually for fat-soluble nutrients such as Vitamin E, CoQ10 and fish oil.
Liquids. Up until now there have been very little regulations for liquid dietary supplements. In fact, even an energy drink was considered to be a dietary supplement. However, currently, the FDA is in the process of introducing new guidelines for liquid dietary supplements. These regulations are yet to be finalized but will definitely change future trends in liquid dietary supplement manufacturing.
Factors to Consider in Choosing an Optimal Delivery SystemThe choice of which delivery system to choose is often not an easy one to make. Your choice of delivery system for your particular product will depend on factors such as:
- Cost-effectiveness
- Convenience of the delivery form
- Visual appeal
- Optimization of dissolution and bio-availability of active ingredients
- Target demographics and their preference of delivery form
- Necessity to mask offensive odor, taste or color of any of the ingredients
- Necessity for opaque capsules if any of the ingredients are light sensitive
- Maximizing storage stability and preservation
- Type of packaging used
For example, fruit extracts are subject to oxidation and are also sensitive to moisture. An appropriate delivery form must protect active ingredients from oxidation and moisture in order to maintain product stability and performance.
Another example is calcium carbonate. This compound is not readily absorbed by the body (studies show only a 4 to 20 percent bioabsorption rate). Calcium carbonate needs a slightly acidic stomach environment in order to break down in the digestive tract. In the effervescence process, calcium carbonate combines with citric acid present in the formula. The chemical reaction that takes place results in the production of calcium ions that are easily absorbed through the intestinal lining. The effervescent delivery form of calcium carbonate, therefore, offers maximum bio-absorption of calcium.
Latest Delivery Solutions
Recent advancements in technology have introduced nano capsulation. Certain amino acids (proteins) are dependent on the pH environment in the digestive tract and certain co-enzymes for its disintegration and absorption. Without these any protein supplement could just as well go down the drain. With the introduction of nano capsules, protein can be delivered to the body in a form which is easily and readily absorbed by cells.
Research shows us that drinking Green tea is great! But Green tea extracts in oral supplements are even better! Green supplements offer maximum bio-absorption of Green tea’s health-benefiting polyphenols (EGCG). What is more interesting is that studies show that EGCG may offer more benefits as a trans-dermal gel which is why it is used successfully in many topical skincare applications.
When selecting a supplement manufacturer, be sure to partner with one that keeps abreast of the latest research and technology. They can help you choose the most appropriate delivery form depending on your formulation, target audience and a host of other related factors.
