HPMC stands for hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or hypromellose for short. HPMC is the material from which most supplement capsules are made. It is a clear, tasteless, vegetarian and vegan appropriate material. It is normally made by extraction from wood pulp.
Of course, there are plenty of other materials that supplement capsules can be made from. HPMC is by far the most common, but bovine gelatine capsules are still used occasionally, or there are more unusual options, such as pullulan, which is made from a tapioca extract.
Once upon a time, almost all vitamin capsules were made from bovine gelatin. As vegetarianism and sustainability became more popular, market trends moved away from gelatin based capsules. Today most supplement products in the UK and European market would be made from HPMC. Bovine gelatin tends to only be used in very lost cost products, or products where it would not matter that it is not vegetarian, such as a collagen capsule.
G&G favors the use of HPMC capsules as they allow us to manufacture supplements without additives like magnesium stearate. Manufacturing tablets requires glue, binders, fillers, and coating. With an HPMC capsule you can fill it with just the active ingredient, and thus minimize the number of additional ingredients required.
HPMC is vegan and vegetarian friendly. Nobody really wants to swallow a capsule made from boiled cow bones if they have a choice, so gelatin capsules have become unpopular with educated consumers. HPMC has no natural taste, smell or colour, although many capsules will have colours added. Most people find HPMC easy to swallow. It also dissolves in the stomach quite quickly, often in just 5-10 minutes. Bovine gelatin capsules take longer to dissolve at more like 20 minutes. Tablets can take hours to dissolve completely. This makes HPMC capsules an ideal delivery method for most supplements, where we want the powdered vitamin or mineral content to arrive quickly and comfortably into the users stomach.
European law allows for the use of HPMC capsules in the manufacture of organic product, where exceptions are not made for other shell materials. HPMC is not as cheap to buy as gelatin capsules, but is relatively inexpensive.
The HPMC capsule itself is made from a wood source, so is often described as natural. Of course the contents of the capsules you buy may or may not be from a natural source, but the shell itself will be.
Where the HPMC capsule has been coated with a colour, the coating may well be synthetic. Titanium dioxide is commonly used to colour capsules, and this synthetic colourant has some associated health risks and warnings. It is possible to naturally colour capsules, but only in certain colours. Shades of green can be achieved with a coating of chlorophyll, and a purple capsule shell is available using a purple carrot extract.
To order your HPMC capsules contact G&G today.
The demand for gelatin capsules/HPMC capsules for oral consumption has risen considerably due to its universal use without any fillers. Today, over 18 percent of all medications are delivered in capsule form, reflecting the fact that 32 percent of supplement users in the US prefer capsules for their convenience.
While gelatin capsules have long been the preferred choice in the pharmaceutical industry and were expected to remain popular, vegetarian alternatives such as Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) capsules have increasingly made their mark in the industry.
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Gelatin is a protein vital for human consumption and development, and it is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by most regulators for use in pharmaceuticals and food. Being GMO-free, completely natural, and non-allergenic, gelatin is a preferred choice. Typically derived from beef or pork, gelatin capsules also include water and a plasticizing agent like glycerine to enhance durability. These capsules offer significant advantages for both consumers and manufacturers.
There are two main types of gelatin capsules: hard gelatin capsules, designed for solid substances, and soft gelatin capsules, which are used for liquids or semi-solid contents.
Gelatin capsules are easily digestible and dissolve within minutes once they reach the stomach, ensuring that the medicine or supplement inside is absorbed rather than passing through the digestive system unutilized.
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According to Natural Products Insider, soft gel gelatin capsules can significantly enhance the bioavailability of nutrients that are poorly absorbed or soluble. By employing techniques such as stabilisation and solubilization, manufacturers can improve the effectiveness of include nutrients like herbal remedies and supplements, such as coenzyme Q10. Many of these methods are often not feasible with solid capsules.
Because of the smooth texture, gelatin capsules are much easier to consume for some. They also mask any horrible tastes from the supplements inside. Most people hate the taste of fish oil for example but know the benefits it can provide the body, so a capsule alternative is much more convenient.
As gelatin capsules have robust and approved technology, the manufacturing cost of making gelatin shells is low.
Various materials have been explored as alternatives to gelatin capsules, with Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) emerging as a successful substitute for two-piece capsules and is used in supplements across the globe.
HPMC, known globally as Hypromellose, is manufactured by chemically made polymer cellulose. It is recognized as safe for human consumption and is often used as an alternative to gelatin due to its vegetarian source and similarity in appearance.
Since , plant-derived cellulose has been used for vegetarian capsules in pharmaceuticals.
This stable polymer resists stringent heat and humidity, with a low moisture content that protects sensitive ingredients
HPMC capsules effectively shield their contents from temperature fluctuations or moisture exposure (stability is a critical factor in product development)
They incorporate a gelling agent to achieve enteric properties, allowing for the protection of sensitive ingredients from the acidic environment of the stomach and complete dissolution in the intestine
They provide sufficient taste-masking and acid-resistance to prevent gastric reflux for fish oils and have become the solution of choice for numerous probiotics, herbal or mineral formulations on the market today
HPMC-based capsules can also play a role in addressing poor bioavailability. These capsules can interact with poorly soluble APIs, leading to a lower crystallisation rate in the GI tract, which can be important in situations when there are supersaturated APIs in the intestine or when dosing either a high-energy salt form or a weakly basic API.
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