When buying empty capsules, now
you have the option buying traditional Gelatin or Vegetarian
Capsule. As both can be used, the preference is determined by the
consumer's need. Even so, as a pharmaceutical or supplement manufacturer
understanding the materials and benefits of each type of capsules can help you
decide which is the most appropriate for the product.
Gelatin capsules
Gelatin is the most common
material in the production of capsules not only because it is cheaper than
other alternatives, gelatin also has beneficial effects for the body when
digested - it is good for the digestive system, protects the joints and helps
reduce the pain in these, assists in improving sleep and favors mood and
cognitive functions. Gelatin has been used in medicine for many years and there
is a wide variety of commercially available gelatin capsules that differ in characteristics
such as colors, sizes and flavors. Gelatin itself is an animal by-product that
is high in collagen and is produced with the connective tissue of calf or
chicken.
Although the percentage of people
who have restrictions on their preferences is not great, capsule manufacturers
have to consider another important factor. Specifically, that gelatin capsules
are preferred for powdered drugs. Liquid-based formulations are usually not
compatible with gelatin and this has to be considered when choosing a type of
capsule.
There are 2 types of Gelatin capsules:
1) hard with lids and 2) soft, with a single shell.
The consistency of the capsules
depends on the ratio of the three main components: gelatin, glycerin and water.
Glycerin can partially be replaced by other plasticizers - sorbitol, sugar
syrup.
Solid capsules are designed for
dispensing bulk powder and granular substances. They have the shape of a
cylinder with hemispherical ends are composed of two parts: the body and the
lid; both parts must freely enter one into the other without forming gaps.
Soft capsules - for liquid and
pasty medicinal substances. They have the form of spherical, ovate, oblong or
cylindrical hemispherical ends.
The quality of the capsules is
largely determined by the film-forming agents, which are currently over 50:
gelatin, fats, paraffin, MC, EC, polyethylene, nylon, PVC, etc. The main raw
material for capsules is gelatin.
The question that can be asked is
why soft gelatin capsules are plant-based? The use of animal gelatin in the
production of soft gelatin capsules can be a serious obstacle for many people
and markets in the world because of questions of religion, regulatory, cultural
and personal preferences when the use of animal products is unacceptable. The
shell of this capsule is made of seaweed extract and starch without gluten, and
also without modified sugars and dyes. In fact, it's a vegetarian capsule.
Advantages of soft gelatin
capsules based on plant raw materials are: complete absence of animal
derivatives (pork or beef), they are easy to swallow because of a soft and
natural shell without a specific odor. In addition, such a shell will provide
high stability with a wide range of temperatures and humidity.
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