Dietary supplements have become an indispensable part of modern life as an easy and efficient way to fill nutritional gaps, increase athletic performance and address specific health concerns. Unfortunately, though, as Mei Tsai of Torrance Memorial Medical Center notes in her board certified geriatric pharmacist capacity explains, they are unregulated compared with pharmaceuticals.
So when it comes to including capsules in an optimal wellness routine, we must proceed with caution and use our judgment as to their potential benefits. However, capsules have plenty to offer!
Ease of swallowing
Swallowing is a multi-stage process involving many pairs of muscles and nerves. For some individuals, swallowing pills may prove challenging due to an inability to manage saliva flow or fear of choking, making taking oral supplements difficult even when they have been prescribed by healthcare professionals.
Hermes Pharma, an industry expert in user-friendly oral dosage forms, recently conducted a study that demonstrated a majority of those having difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules would prefer alternative supplements like effervescent tablets, instant drinks or orally disintegrating granules over breaking or crushing pills which can affect API release, taste and medical efficacy. Participants improved their SODF swallowing with two postural techniques – pop bottle method and lean forward technique – which reduced anxiety while eliminating uncomfortable feelings in their throat that can trigger gag reflex or choke reflex.
Enhanced absorption
Supplements provide quick and convenient ways of accessing vitamins, minerals and compounds without the time or effort involved with eating whole foods. But supplements only become truly effective if they can be absorbed and utilized by the body – this depends on many factors including gut health, supplement properties and how they’re consumed.
In order to maximize the effectiveness of supplements, choose those certified by third parties such as NSF, USP or Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG). Such tests ensure that each batch remains uniform while also eliminating harmful levels of ingredients from your supplement regimen.
Capsules can also be engineered to facilitate absorption, making them an attractive option for consumers looking to optimize the effectiveness of their supplement regimens. For instance, enteric-coated capsules ensure they disintegrate more effectively within the intestinal tract rather than the stomach – this allows better nutrient uptake.
