What is Capsule capacity?
Capsule capacity is a term that is thrown around in the supplement industry, but what does it mean? Simply put, capsules come in different sizes. Each size can only contain a certain amount of powder before it is not possible to close. This amount is the capsule capacity and has been the cause of many a case of reformulation over the years.
While a simple concept, the reality is that capsule capacity quickly becomes complex due to the different densities and purities of ingredients. In our experience, the majority of people know how much of each active ingredient they want, but many fail to consider the effect of material density or ingredient purity, both of which can have a significant effect on what is possible to fit into a capsule.
What is material density?
Material density is a way of measuring how much space a given weight of a substance will take up. Remember the old trick question: “Which weighs more, a ton of bricks or a ton of feathers”? This is based on density as the bricks are much denser than the feathers, to the extent that a single brick could weigh the same as thousands of feathers.
Ingredients work in the same way (though usually not so dramatic!) and some powders will take up more space. Due to density, a label claim can take up different space because ingredients are usually measured by weight.
What is ingredient purity?
In addition to density, ingredients will have a purity rating, which will be different for each form of an ingredient. Food supplements are effective as a result of “active ingredients”. These are ingredients which are claimed to have an effect on the body such as minerals like Sodium or Magnesium. However, these minerals need some help so that they are in a suitable delivery form that the body can use. This is where supporting ingredients come in.
Example
An ingredient such as Magnesium Citrate has an active ingredient, Magnesium, and a supporting ingredient, Citrate, which designates the form that the substance takes. The purity rating is essentially a decimal which represents how much of the ingredient is the active ingredient. The rest of the ingredient is made up from supporting ingredients. For example, if our Magnesium Citrate has a purity of 0.3, that means that for every 1g of Magnesium Citrate, we will have 0.3g of Magnesium, and the other 0.7g are the Citrate.
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Why is it important?
Now that we know this, we can see how purity can affect capsule capacity and what a formulation can contain. If we want to include 10mg of Magnesium in our formula and we choose to use the Magnesium Citrate above with a purity of 0.3 then we need to make sure that we have 33.33mg available. The complexity increases when we then look at the density of the Magnesium Citrate as this will determine how much space within a capsule that the ingredient will take up.
Now we know the total amount of Magnesium Citrate we can calculate how much space it takes using the density. You find the density for a specific ingredient on the official paperwork which comes with it from the supplier. We find the density for the chosen Magnesium Citrate and use it with the total amount we need based on purity, discovering how much space it needs to fit in the capsule.
Conclusion
In summary, when trying to calculate how much space there will be in a capsule it is important to be aware of how the density and purity of the active ingredients can have a significant effect on the space required. Use forms of active ingredients which have higher purity or density to give yourself more space in a capsule.
Be aware that different forms may have different side effects and bio availability so make sure that you research thoroughly to ensure that you make the right decision.
If you are in any doubt about your formula get in touch with a registered nutritionist. They can assist you with formulation and check the safety and efficacy of the product before you have it manufactured.
Contact Us for information on specific ingredients or to discuss your formulations.
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