Do You Know the Different Formats in Which Food Supplements Come?

Have you ever wondered why every food supplement comes in a different format, such as capsules, tablets, softgels, etc.? The choice of format is not arbitrary but depends on several elements, such as the dose you want to take per unit or the type of ingredient it contains. In this article, we will find out what each of the food supplement formats is used for, and what their associated advantages are.

Hard capsules (Capsules)

They are used for powder-form ingredients, such as plant extracts, minerals, or hydrosoluble (water-soluble) vitamins. There are different capsule sizes, but the most commonly used are the "0" or "00" size capsules, which hold about 600 or 800 mg of powder respectively. The material used to make these capsules is either gelatine or cellulose (vegan option).

If you have problems swallowing this type of capsule, you can open them and mix the powder with yoghurt or any liquid, always avoiding hot liquids, as this could damage the active ingredients of the supplement.

Gastro-resistant capsules

They are very useful for ingredients such as probiotics, as we want them to reach the intestine intact. They look like normal capsules but they contain one extra ingredient in their formula: gellan gum. This ingredient makes the capsules resistant to stomach acid and allows them to dissolve in the intestine's higher pH, releasing their contents directly into the intestine.

Gastroresistant capsules are an exception. They cannot be opened because, as you can imagine from what we have explained above if you were to open them, their contents would no longer be protected from stomach acid and would no longer act on our intestinal microbiota.

Tablets

Like hard capsules, these are also used when the active substance is in powder form. They come in different sizes, and allow for more active ingredients than capsules, as the powders are "compressed" into a tablet. For example, one of the larger "ibuprofen" type tablets holds 1000 mg of Vitamin C. However, not all powders can be compressed, because when the powder is compressed it heats up and the temperature could spoil some of the active ingredients.

At Zenement, we opt not to coat our tablets in order to maintain their purity and naturalness, thereby avoiding the addition of unnecessary ingredients

Powder

This galenic form allows delivery of high doses using a scoop or spoon, optimising the bioavailability and absorption of the supplement. The powdered nature allows for a fast and efficient release of nutrients, crucial for therapeutic applications or supplements intended to enhance athletic performance.

Softgels

They are used when the active ingredient to be encapsulated is liposoluble (fat-soluble), such as vitamin D3. If the amount of active ingredient is not enough to fill the entire volume of the capsule, vegetable oil is used as a filler, for example in our case organic extra virgin olive oil.

There are various sizes and shapes of softgels, although the largest softgel usually produced is 1 g (1000mg) of the active ingredient. Larger sizes would be difficult to swallow.

The capsule usually consists of a mixture of gelatine, glycerine, and water. However, in recent years, the technology to make vegan softgels has been developing. However, there are still a number of limitations, such as the fact that it is difficult to make them in large sizes, such as 1g.

Drops

This form is very useful when a different dose needs to be taken depending on the need. This may be the case with melatonin (dosed in mg), because some people have enough with 4 drops (1 mg), while others need a higher dose, for example, 7 drops (1.8 mg), to feel its effect.

Liquid

Liquid food supplements are a useful and practical pharmaceutical form for people who have difficulty swallowing capsules or tablets. The incorporation of pleasant flavours in these liquid formulas enhances consumer acceptability and intake. Liquid form also makes it easier for the active ingredients to be absorbed quickly and efficiently. However, they are more difficult to transport on a daily basis.

Below you will find a table with some of our products according to the pharmaceutical form in which they are presented:

Warning: It is very important not to expose food supplements directly to sunlight, as this may alter the quality and efficacy of their active ingredients.

Knowing the different pharmaceutical forms of food supplements will allow you to make informed decisions, always with the help of a healthcare professional, as well as being able to choose the pharmaceutical form that best suits you, thereby enhancing your well-being in the most convenient way possible.