A clever combination: galenIQ™ enhances the taste and formulation properties of vitamin D supplements
A clever combination
galenIQ™ enhances the taste and formulation properties of vitamin D supplements
Winter is here and the days are short. This means a lack of direct sunlight and, in turn, depleting levels of vitamin D in the body. In addition, owing to the coronavirus pandemic and recent lockdowns, most people are staying at home all day. Therefore, many consumers are looking for dietary supplements to prevent vitamin D deficiencies. BENEO’s sweet filler-binder, galenIQ™, is the excipient of choice to make vitamin D supplements.
Strong market potential
As consumers have been increasingly reflecting on their health and lifestyles in recent times, the nutraceuticals industry has experienced a surge in demand. A survey from the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) found that vitamins and minerals continue to be the most frequently mentioned supplement category, with nearly all supplement users reporting usage in the past year (98%).[1] Owing to its sweet taste and excellent technical properties, galenIQ™ is the excipient of choice for manufacturers of vitamin D tablets and chewables, who are looking to make the most of this trend.
See our video about galenIQ™ for vitamin D supplements here:
A multifunctional excipient for vitamin D supplements
Vitamin D plays an important role in the body, particularly in terms of helping to maintain normal muscle function, keeping our bones healthy and the intestinal absorption of calcium to strengthen the immune system. It is able to activate the innate and inhibit the adaptive immune systems with antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. Vitamin D deficiency has a negative impact on bone density, especially in children and the elderly, and may increase the risk or severity of viral infections. EFSA has defined an adequate intake of 15 µg per day for healthy individuals older than one year of age.[2] However, for many people, such as the elderly and those who follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, it can be difficult to achieve an adequate dietary intake. And, although vitamin D can be synthesised in the body by exposure to the sun, sufficient production is not always guaranteed during the winter months. In all of these cases, vitamin D supplements, often in combination with calcium compounds can be helpful. Calcium is a mineral needed by the body to maintain bone health and to prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin D supports the calcium uptake. For this reason, a great number of nutritional supplements containing both, calcium and vitamin D, are available. These supplements usually contain calcium in a high dose and Vitamin D in a low dosage.
When developing direct compression vitamin D and calcium tablets, it is important that the bulk filler-binder excipient in the formulation fulfils certain functions, such as providing excellent flowability, low hygroscopicity, physical stability during mixing, chemical inertness and high content uniformity. galenIQ™ 721 fulfills all of these requirements. In fact, the agglomerate morphology of galenIQ™ 721 ensures that both high dosage calcium source and low dosage vitamin D are both well distributed within the powder mixture and that there is a high content uniformity in the finished dosage form.
galenIQ™ is the pharmaceutical excipient grade of Isomalt, BENEO’s disaccharide alcohol derived from beet sugar. The galenIQ™ range is available in a wide array of particle size distributions, morphologies and levels of solubility. There are specific grades for direct compression, wet granulation, roller compaction, hot melt extrusion, syrups and pan-coating. This makes it a highly versatile excipient for oral solid and liquid dosage forms.
[1] https://www.crnusa.org/newsroom/2020-crn-survey-reveals-focus-vitamins-and-minerals-available-purchase-consumer-survey
[2] https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/161028