The role of excipients in supplements

Excipients are substances within a supplement other than the active ingredients. They are also known as inactive ingredients. They are usually in small quantities and play a critical role in helping to form tablets, capsules, or other dosage forms, such as preserving, binding, flavouring or colouring the supplement¹.

Excipients help to:

• Improve the stability and shelf-life of the product.²

• Ensure even dispersion of active ingredients.²

• Protect against undesirable interactions between active ingredients.²

• Minimise the impact of moisture to the product.²

• Support the product to breakdown, so the active ingredients can be released for absorption in a timely manner.²

• A id in the absorption or delivery of the active ingredients.²

All products listed with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) must contain only excipients that are deemed approved by the TGA. BioCeuticals has specific policies that favour natural or nature identical options where possible . Products also undergo regular reviews to update both active and inactive ingredients.

The role of excipients generally falls into one or both of the following categories.

1. Delivery to support, facilitate or enhance the final dosage.²
2. Production to maintain ease or consistency of manufacture.²

Some examples of excipients include:³

• Binders: are used to hold the ingredients of a supplement together and create a tablet.² They are usually made from materials like gelatin and cellulose derivatives.²

• Disintegrants: help to ensure a tablet breaks down in the gastrointestinal tract, in a timely manner so that it will release its active ingredients for optimal absorption.⁴

• Coatings: are often added to supplements to improve their appearance, mask taste and smell, and make them easier to swallow. Coatings can also protect the active ingredients from moisture and light.²

• Flow Agents: are used during manufacture to prevent the ingredients from sticking to the manufacturing equipment and to improve the flow of the mixture during processing. This ensures a high-quality end-product that meets expectations.²

• Fillers: are added to supplements to make them easier to handle, particularly when handling active ingredients in microgram doses . They ensure that the active ingredients in the supplement are evenly distributed and can be delivered to the body in a controlled manner.

If you have any concerns about the ingredients in your supplements, it's always a good idea to talk to your healthcare practitioner. They can help you choose supplements that may be suitable for your individual needs.

In conclusion, excipients play a critical role in the delivery and absorption of active ingredients and can affect how the supplement functions in the body.