New Extended-Release Caffeine Ingredient Makes Customizing Energy Products Possible

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PLT Health Solutions (Morristown, NJ) has launched a new extended-release caffeine ingredient that is liquid-stable and geared to the 2- to 4-oz beverage, or “shot,” market. Unlike other extended-release caffeine ingredients on the market, the company says that ZümXR targeted-release caffeine ingredients are developed using pharmaceutical techniques and a special non-pH-dependent lipid-based coating that ensures the ingredients release caffeine in a predictable, controlled manner.

“Most approaches to making modified-release caffeine feature lipids and waxes that were originally focused on masking flavor and later adapted to this application,” explained Sid Hulse, vice president of product development, PLT Health Solutions, in a press release. “Most of the early modified-release solutions were done ‘in tablet’ rather than as an ingredient matrix, which means no powders and no beverage applications. Our testing has shown that, quite often, the extended-release materials we see on the market either give up too much caffeine too quickly, or don’t give up enough caffeine at all-making it less experiential.”

The new ZümXR liquid-stable targeted-release ingredient is suited for beverages, supplements, stick packs, powders, gummies, bars, and gels. The ZümXR line also includes extended-release and delayed-release caffeine ingredients designed for dry systems.

The company says that the ZümXR line “represents a significant step forward from conventional caffeine-coating technologies.” “Caffeine is released through enzymatic processes. The caffeine ‘spheres’ do not float at the top; they remain dispersed throughout liquids-lending a striking visual effect of the material in the liquid substance,” the firm explains.

These ingredients are “designed to provide long-term energy without the unpleasant effects associated with many caffeine products,” the firm says, with the ingredients designed to deliver not more than 55% of their total caffeine content at the one-hour mark, and not more than 80% of their total caffeine content at the six-hour mark.

“The ZümXR technology shows excellent reproducibility of dissolution profiles from batch to batch,” Hulse added. “As a result, we can really design energy profiles that fit lifestyle requirements.” Examples include “a ‘morning pick-me-up’ that would function like a long-lasting cup of coffee; a pre-workout product that gives an extra boost of energy an hour or so into a workout and eliminates the post-workout crash; or a ‘long study night’ product that gives smooth and steady, long-term energy.”

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