Capsugel says new Licap suited to supplements
liquid capsule it says is particularly suited to the dietary
supplement industry.
The company's Licaps capsules are now available in a size close to that of soft gel capsules - 1200mg. Capsugel sees particular uses for the capsule for fish oil applications as well as for sports supplements. The capsule industry is quickly coming up with a variety of alternatives to meet the growing needs of formulators and consumers, who are increasingly looking for answers to the bioavailability and ethical challenges guiding the market. According to Capsugel, the new size is well-suited to the fish oil category because of it can hold a larger liquid dose as well as protect longer against any deterioration of the ingredient. In addition, it says the sports supplement category needs bigger capsules for fitting numerous ingredients into one delivery system. "Fish oil supplements commonly are sold in 1 gram dosages and can benefit from a Licaps capsule that will effectively mask taste and smell," said Robert Whitelaw, director of sales, marketing, and business development for Capsugel's Americas Region. "The sports nutrition segment is looking for bigger and more potent dosages in one big package…" Licaps are being marketed for their ability to protect against oxidation and potential degradation of a liquid. Capsugel said this is made possible by its innovative technology. The company's patented liquid encapsulation process involves a microspray called LEMS. This seals the capsule creating what Capsugel claims is eight times the seal zone area of a banded capsule. The end result is a one-piece fused capsule. Once filled with liquid, the capsule is flushed with nitrogen to eliminate oxygen from the sealed product. The capsule has no plasticizers, says Capsugel, and as such provides an effective barrier to oxygen transmission. The company says this should appeal to companies as consumers like labels that list less unnatural additives as being added to a product. And due to the fact Licaps are less permeable than soft gels to oxygen, the manufacturer claims they effectively masks taste and unpleasant odors. Capsugel also plans to make this larger format available in a vegetarian suitable format called Vcaps. This would ensure a product making use of the Licaps could cover a greater number of markets, such as the vegetarian market. Over the past two years the size of the US vegetable capsule market has grown by 54 percent. The market for these softgels rose from $43.3m in 2004 to $66.6m in the year ending May 2006, according to natural products market researcher SPINS.
