Health Ingredients Europe Review: Acid-Resistant Capsule

Capsugel (Greenwood, SC), the world leader in dosage delivery forms, showcased its DRcaps capsules, which are clean-label vegetarian capsules for acid-sensitive products and for masking taste. DRcaps delay capsule opening after swallowing, without adding synthetic chemicals, solvents, or other costly coating ingredients.

Made from hydroxypropyl methylcellulos (HPMC), DRcaps disintegrate more slowly than conventional gelatin or HPMC capsules. Capsugel says that in vitro studies show that the capsule contents are protected for at least 30 minutes at a gastric pH of 1.2 and release fully at an intestinal pH of 6.8. (Capsugel data on file.)

These properties make it a good fit for many probiotics and enzymes, the company says, and the taste-masking qualities suit ingredients like valerian root and garlic. In addition, the elimination of coatings or additives promotes efficient manufacturing and can appeal to culture-specific and sports nutrition markets.