Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1035980
32F October 2018 Tablets & Capsules The DSLD data suggests that capsules and tablets are the most widely available dosage forms under all the cate- gories and that dietary supplement manufacturers prefer capsules overall. As Table 2 and Figure 3 show, more than 17,000 products are available as capsules under various categories, accounting for a 34 percent share among all dosage forms [6]. Tablets are the second most popular dosage form, with nearly 10,000 dietary supplement prod- ucts (20 percent), followed by powders with 9,766 prod- ucts (19 percent), softgels with 5,250 products (10 per- cent), and liquids with 4,322 products (9 percent). Although usage of caplets, packets, and gummies is grow- ing fast, they are still the least-used dosage forms. Analysis of the availability of products under various categories indicates that capsules lead the specialty, herbals, diges- tion, and single mineral categories; tablets dominate the single vitamin and multi-vitamins categories; and softgels are mostly available in the fat/oil/fatty-acid category. Why capsules dominate the market Capsules, especially hard capsules, dominate the dietary supplement market because they offer manufac- turers formulation flexibility. Capsules are available in several sizes (000 to 5), providing manufacturers with numerous dosing options. Many types of active ingredi- ents can be encapsulated with minimal excipient use, which helps companies market their products to end users concerned with a product's clean-label status. Tablet formulations, on the other hand, require more excipients to provide optimal compression results. Also, capsules accept a range of filling materials besides pow- ders, such as granules, pellets, and liquids. Additional advantages that capsules offer over other dosage forms include attractive color combinations, printing options, and ease of handling. The future of dietary supplement dosage forms While tablets and capsules offer formulation flexibil- ity, they can be difficult to swallow for the elderly and children. It is essential for companies to ensure that their dietary supplement products are user friendly to children and elderly too. In a highly competitive market with low barriers to entry, dietary supplement manufacturers are not shying away from experimenting with other unique dosage forms to provide consumers of all age groups with more options. However, analysis of the DSLD data shows that their application is often limited to a few sup- plements, for example, lozenges are a unique dosage form, but their availability is limited to minerals like zinc. Similarly, gummies are available, but they are mostly available for vitamins (calcium, D3, and B12), fatty acids (omega-3) and probiotics [5]. Available in a variety of flavors, colors, and textures, gummies and lozenges offer convenient dosing options for children and the elderly. Driving factors behind this solid dosage trend include: taste, perceptions of onset of action, intended benefit, and consumer compliance. However, such unique dosage forms often present chal- Table 2 US dietary supplement dosage forms by number of products Capsules 17,000 Tablets 10,000 Powders 9,766 Softgels 5,250 Liquids 4,322 Packets 2,388 Caplets 1,161 Gummies 427 Source: DSLD website; ACG analysis Table 1 Dietary supplement categories in which capsules are available as a dosage form Vitamins and minerals Functional foods Protein supplements • Single vitamins • Single minerals • Multi-vitamins/ multi-minerals • Probiotics • Omega fatty acids • Amino acids Source: CRN website; E Y white paper; Frost & Sullivan–FICCI; ACG analysis Figure 3 US dietary supplement dosage forms by percentage Capsules 34% Tablets 20% Softgels 10% Powders 19% Liquids 9% Packets 5% Caplets 2% Gummies 1%