Administration Flashcards
(12 cards)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of tablets as a supplement form?
Tablets are cheap and easy to produce in large quantities but often contain more excipients (additives), which are best avoided.
Why might capsules be preferred over tablets?
Capsules have fewer excipients but are less efficient for delivering large doses.
When are powdered supplements most useful, and what are their limitations?
Best for large doses (e.g. glutamine); not suitable for sticky, moisture-sensitive, toxic, or unstable ingredients.
What are the pros and cons of liquid supplements?
They have excellent absorption but are less stable and more expensive. Often need antioxidants like vitamin E to prevent oxidation (e.g. fish oils).
What are excipients in supplements?
Additives used to bind active ingredients in tablets and capsules.
What is the purpose of enteric coatings in supplement tablets?
To protect the supplement from stomach acid and release it in the small intestine (e.g. garlic capsules).
What are spore form probiotics and why are they beneficial?
They survive stomach acid and reactivate in the intestines, enhancing probiotic effectiveness.
Why are chewable supplements often coated?
To mask the unpleasant taste of vitamins and minerals.
What ingredient is often used in cheap slow-release supplements?
Hydrogenated fats, to prolong tablet breakdown.
What are liposomal supplements, and why are they effective?
They use a phospholipid bilayer to protect nutrients, increasing absorption, bioavailability, and delivery to cells.
How does liposomal B12 compare in absorption to regular B12?
Liposomal B12 showed a 270% increase in absorption after two months.
How does liposomal vitamin C differ from non-liposomal forms?
It has a significantly higher absorption rate due to its protective lipid layer.
