subject: Softgel Capsule Benefits In Natural Health And Pharmaceutical Products [print this page] Soft gels or soft gelatin capsules provide an ideal drug delivery vehicle for controlling absorption and enhancing bioavailability of both insoluble and lipid-soluble compounds. In addition, soft gels offer many other key advantages and therapeutic benefits:
Ease of Swallowing
Convenience
Acceptability
Dosage Accuracy
Uniformity and precision dosage
Adaptability
Liquid
Semi-solids
Suspension
Emulsion
Product Security
Dosage and formulation are tamper-resistant (a punctured or tampered softgels will leak or become discoloured)
Protection against counterfeit
Product Stability
Sealed container
Protection from light for photosensitive formulations
Masking of objectionable odors and tastes
Protects drug from oxidation and degradation
Market Differentiation
Size, shape and colour customization
Imprintability of capsules
Softgel technology
Softgel benefits of Biological and marketing advantage:
Better protection of active ingredientshermetically sealed dosage form protects drug from oxidation and degradation.
Improved absorption and bioavailability any formulations in softgel can enhance bioavailability or produce a quicker onset of action.
Marketplace differentiationa nearly endless array of shapes, sizes and shell colors helps your product stand out from branded or generic competitors.
Consumer preferenceresults of studies done through the years show that consumers expressed their preference for softgels in terms of ease of swallowing, perceived speed of delivery, lack of unpleasant odor or taste, and modern appearance.
Tamper evidencea punctured or otherwise tampered softgel will leak or become discolored, indicating a potential problem.
Formulation characteristics:
Self-emulsifying/microemulsion vehicle systems
Liquid (solution or suspension) fills
Wide range of softgel-compatible vehicles (hydrophilic/lipophilic)
Virtually unlimited selection of shapes, sizes and colors
Unique formulations leading to patentable line extensions
New technologies, including innovative shell forms and manufacturing techniques
Key advantages:
Enhanced bioavailability
Minimizes patient-to-patient variability
Possible lowered drug dosing
Excellent dose uniformity
Obvious evidence of tampering
Ability to solubilize a wide range of active ingredients
