There are various forms of dietary supplements available on the pharmaceutical market, depending on the needs and preferences of the consumer. The chemical form of a substance, its quality, as well as the physical form in which it is contained, all play key roles in the effectiveness of a given supplement. In case of capsules, the important characteristics include the type of capsule (hard, soft, enteral) or the amount of fillers, which is selected based on the properties of the substance contained in the capsule. For example, vitamins and minerals contained in a capsule are mostly well absorbed already in the stomach, while probiotics require a different capsule that would allow passing the stomach acid and having all the contents enter the intestines intact.
Advantages of DRcaps HPMC capsules
DRcaps capsules are composed of 95% vegetable hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and 5% gellan gum, and they demonstrate a number of advantages. First of all, they are resistant to the strong acid found in the stomach, thus protecting the nutrients and releasing them only 45 minutes after ingestion, meaning the release occurs in the intestines. This was confirmed in an in vivo human-based clinical trial at the Bio-Images Research laboratory in Glasgow, Scotland. Participants took a DRcaps capsule 30 minutes after eating a light breakfast, drinking water afterwards. A typical capsule releases nutrients about 5 minutes after ingestion. DRcaps, on the other hand, were released in the intestine in the majority of subjects, and the duration of this process was 20 minutes from the onset of release.
Thanks to the polymeric properties of the capsule itself, there is no need for film coatings and coating ingredients that would increase production time and cost. The polymeric properties of
DRcaps capsules also mask the taste and odor of the ingredients, therefore they reduce the risk of discomfort, unpleasant aftertaste and reflux caused by a supplement. In addition, DRcaps capsules have a moisture content of 4% to 6% at 50% relative humidity, which increases the stability of moisture-sensitive and hygroscopic probiotics.
It is worth noting that unlike gelatin, DRcaps HPMC capsules are made of materials with no animal origins, that is why vegetarians and vegans can consume them with peace of mind. Furthermore, they demonstrate low cross-reactivity with excipients, are stable over a wide temperature range, and show safety for human consumption
Rationale for using DRcaps HPMC capsules in dietary supplements
Difficult conditions in the gastrointestinal tract pose a challenge for dietary supplement manufacturers, as they can degrade the substances administered, reducing their effectiveness.
Starting from the stomach, to the duodenum, where pancreatic enzymes (lipase, trypsin, amylase) and bile salts can significantly affect the stability of various substances, especially the viability of probiotics. Probiotics are sensitive to changes in temperature, oxygen, acidity and humidity. These are live microorganisms that provide health benefits to the host only when administered in adequate amounts that reach the intestines. The answer to these problems are enteral or delayed-release pharmaceutical preparations inside DRcaps capsules. In a study by Marzorati M. et al., the performance of ten capsule configurations, single or DUOCAP combinations containing the L. acidophilus strain, was compared in a simulator model of the human gut microbial ecosystem. The best results were provided by DR-in-DR capsules (a combination of DRcaps® capsules in DRcaps® capsules) and DR-in-VC (DRcaps® capsules in Vcaps® capsules) in both postprandial and fasting conditions, in slow release and with the highest survival of L. acidophilus. In addition, data from this study suggest that the L. acidophilus in DR-in-DR or DR-in-VC that reaches the colon is viable and functional, that is: potentially causing changes in the composition and diversity of the intestinal microbiota.
Compared to other formulations, DRcaps also show (especially under starvation conditions) an increased ability to protect acid-sensitive enzymes, i.e. lipase and amylase, during digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, therefore they may also be useful for providing digestive enzymes.
References:
https://www.lonza.com/capsules-health-ingredients/nutraceutical-solutions/hard-empty-capsules/hpmc-designed-release-capsule
Robert Amo, Director Global OTC and Health & Nutrition Marketing, Capsugel Inc. DRcaps® Capsules Achieve Delayed Release Properties for Nutritional Ingredients in Human Clinical Study
Marzorati M, Calatayud M, Rotsaert C, Van Mele M, Duysburgh C, Durkee S, White T, Fowler K, Jannin V, Bellamine A. Comparison of protection and release behavior of different capsule polymer combinations based on L. acidophilus survivability and function and caffeine release. Int J Pharm. 2021 Sep 25;607:120977.
