Excipients Flashcards
(12 cards)
What are excipients in supplements?
Non-active ingredients that stabilise, bind, and fill tablets or capsules without therapeutic effects.
Why are excipients used in supplements?
Many nutrients cannot be manufactured in stable form alone and need excipients to keep them active and to form tablets or capsules.
What materials are capsule shells commonly made from?
Gelatine or plant cellulose.
What are flow agents and which should be avoided?
Ingredients that help powders flow through machinery; magnesium stearate should be avoided.
What is the role of binding agents in supplements?
To hold ingredients together to form tablets (e.g., maltodextrin).
How much of a supplement tablet can be the active ingredient?
Sometimes as low as 2% of the total content.
What are fillers and give examples of natural fillers?
Fillers add bulk to capsules, especially when active ingredients are in small amounts; natural fillers include fossilised seaweed, vegetable powder, and inert rice flour.
What are emulsifiers used for in supplements?
To mix oily and watery ingredients together.
What should be avoided in flavours of supplements?
MSG (monosodium glutamate).
Name some natural colouring agents used in supplements.
Riboflavin, beet extract, turmeric.
What are common sweeteners and preservatives in supplements?
Sweeteners like glycerine; preservatives like vitamin E and ascorbic acid.
What is the best practice regarding excipients in supplement choice?
Choose supplements with minimal or no unnecessary excipients.
