Bien-être 18/06/2024

Capsules, tablets, gummies: which pharmaceutical forms to choose?

The dietary supplement market is rich and diverse, not only because of the variety of available ingredients but also because of the different pharmaceutical forms offered. Capsules, tablets, powders, gummies... each form has its characteristics and especially its advantages and disadvantages.

What is a pharmaceutical form, and why is it so important in choosing your dietary supplements? We tell you everything to make an informed choice!

What is a pharmaceutical form?

The pharmaceutical form refers to the form in which a dietary supplement or medication is presented. It can be capsules, tablets, powders, or even gummies or drinkable solutions.

This choice is not just a matter of practicality or aesthetics. It is mainly dictated by technical considerations, namely the nature of the ingredients and volume, the desired diffusion area, the target audience, the desired action, and especially bioavailability.

Why are pharmaceutical forms important?

Absorption and Bioavailability

The pharmaceutical form plays a crucial role in the absorption of active ingredients by the body. For example, liquids and powders dissolve quickly and are therefore generally absorbed faster than tablets or capsules, which must first break down in the stomach. This speed of absorption can be decisive for the effectiveness of supplements, especially those intended for rapid action.

Comfort and Practicality

Ease of use is also a key factor. Some consumers prefer gummies for their pleasant taste, while others opt for capsules or tablets for their discretion and ease of transport. The practicality of the dosage form can greatly influence the regularity of intake, a crucial element for the effectiveness of dietary supplements.

Ingredient Stability

The stability of active ingredients also depends on the chosen dosage form. For example, tablets and capsules better protect ingredients sensitive to moisture or oxygen than liquid or powder forms. This can extend the product's shelf life and maintain its effectiveness over the long term.

The Different Dosage Forms of Dietary Supplements: Advantages and Disadvantages

Tablets

Benefits:

• Precise Dosage: Tablets allow exact dosing of active ingredients
• Stability: They are often more stable than liquid forms, thus extending their shelf life
• Ease of Transport: Tablets are compact and easy to carry, convenient for intake on the go

Disadvantages:

• Slower Absorption: They require prior breakdown, which can slow the absorption of active ingredients
• Difficulty Swallowing: Some people may have trouble swallowing tablets, especially when they are large
• Taste: Some tablets can leave an unpleasant, chalky taste after intake

Powders

Benefits:

• Dosage Flexibility: Powders allow easy adjustment of dosage according to individual needs
• Rapid Absorption: They dissolve quickly, promoting rapid absorption of active ingredients
• Simple Formulation: Powders can be formulated without binders or excipients

Disadvantages:

• Taste: Powders can have an unpleasant taste
• Inconvenient for Travel: powders generally need to be mixed with a liquid for intake, making them inconvenient for travel
• Storage and Stability: Powders are often sensitive to moisture, which can affect their stability

Liquids

Benefits:

• Rapid Absorption: Liquids are immediately absorbed as they do not require prior breakdown
• Ease of Administration: Ideal for children or the elderly, liquid supplements are easy to swallow

Disadvantages:

• Shelf Life: Liquids have a shorter shelf life and may require preservatives
• Less Precise Dosage: It is often more difficult to achieve precise dosing with liquids
• Packaging and Practicality: In stick form, they are not very eco-friendly, and in bottles, they can be cumbersome to carry

Gummies

Benefits:

• Pleasant Taste: Gummies are often flavored, making their consumption enjoyable
• Ease of Use: These are chewable gummies, making them convenient for on-the-go consumption

Disadvantages:

• Sugar Content and Presence of Excipients: They often contain sugar, or sweeteners, and excipients (pectin, acidifiers, gelatin, etc.), which can be problematic for health and teeth
• Stability and Effectiveness: Ingredients may be less stable and altered by incorporation into the gummy, which requires heat
• Dosage: The dosage is less precise and less concentrated in actives
• Compatibility: Some active ingredients may not be compatible with the gummy matrix, thus limiting the variety of possible formulations
• Packaging: Gummies often require special packaging to protect them from moisture and preserve their quality

Soft Gels

Benefits:

• Elaborate Formulation: Capsules allow the integration of synergistic ingredients and actives in the formula
• Rapid Absorption: Soft gels dissolve quickly, promoting fast absorption of active ingredients
• Ingredient Protection: They protect ingredients sensitive to oxygen and moisture, extending their shelf life
• Ease of Transport: Soft gels are compact and easy to carry, convenient for on-the-go use

Disadvantages:

• Manufacturing Cost: The production of soft gels is more expensive, and they can be bulky
• Stability: They can be sensitive to extreme temperatures, which may affect their effectiveness
• Allergens/ Animal Origin: Soft gels may contain ingredients like animal-derived gelatin, which can be problematic for allergic or vegan individuals

Capsules

Benefits:

• Elaborate and precise formulation: Capsules allow the integration of synergistic ingredients and actives in the formula and in a precise and serious dosage
• Taste Masking: Capsules can mask the unpleasant taste of certain ingredients
• Ingredient Protection: They protect ingredients sensitive to oxygen and moisture, extending their shelf life
• Ease of transport: Capsules are compact and easy to carry, convenient for taking on the go

Disadvantages:

• Slower absorption: Capsules must dissolve before the ingredients are absorbed, which can delay the effect

 

Conclusion: the crucial choice of pharmaceutical form

When choosing the pharmaceutical form of your dietary supplements, it is essential to consider your specific needs, preferences, and health goals. Each pharmaceutical form has its advantages and disadvantages, and it is necessary to understand them to optimize the effectiveness and comfort of use of your supplements and choose the one that best matches your expectations and lifestyle.

We favor capsules and soft gels even though they have slower absorption. Indeed, these pharmaceutical forms best protect the active ingredients, are easy to carry, and guarantee a real and serious dosage of actives. For liquid ingredients, soft gels are preferred over drinkable solutions. As for powdered ingredients, capsules are the best option: they mask the taste, are easy to use and transport, avoid dosing problems, and can be opened if necessary. Moreover, being generally of plant origin, they are perfectly suitable for vegetarian or vegan diets.

As for gummies, they are a pharmaceutical form that needs to be perfected. Although fun and easy to consume, they often contain sugar – or a health-unrecommended alternative – and the ingredients can be altered by their transformation into gum, which reduces their concentration and bioavailability.

 

Sources: 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Capsules – The Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Compounding Laboratory - https://pharmlabs.unc.edu/labexercises/compounding/capsules/

Capsules vs. Tablet? How to Choose – Health - https://www.health.com/condition/headaches-and-migraines/gel-caps-or-coated-pick-the-right-pill

The advantages and disadvantages of different forms of dietary supplements – Annuaire Vert - https://www.annuairevert.com/magazine/7-nutrition-et-complements/219-les-avantages-et-inconvenients-des-differentes-formes-de-complements-alimentaires

Gummies: Fun, but without real benefits – Que Choisir - https://www.quechoisir.org/enquete-gummies-ludiques-mais-sans-reels-avantages-n107682/

What to think about gummies, these new trendy dietary supplements? - Top Santé - https://www.topsante.com/ma_sante_au_quotidien/complement_alimentaire/que-penser-des-gummies-ces-nouveaux-complements-alimentaires-a-la-mode-869455

Softgels vs. Tablets vs. Capsules [What You Need to Know] – Soft Gel Technologies Inc. - https://www.soft-gel.com/blog/softgels-capsules-tablets-which-is-best/

Tablets vs. Capsules: Pros, Cons, and How They Differ – Healthline - https://www.healthline.com/health/capsule-vs-tablet

The Pros and Cons of Adult Gummy Vitamins – Hartford HealthCare - https://stvincents.org/about-us/news-press/news-detail?articleId=48056&publicid=745