Boosting the taste, stability and shelf-life of probiotic supplements

During the virtual CPhI Festival of Pharma (5–16 October), BENEO will showcase galenIQ 721 for probiotic supplements. galenIQ 721 is the agglomerated form of BENEO’s pharmaceutical-grade Isomalt.

Supporting the viability of micro-organisms, the sweet-tasting excipient is suitable for probiotic powders, capsules and tablets. At the company’s digital booth, visitors will be able to learn more about galenIQ and its various application possibilities.

Health-conscious consumers are increasingly using probiotic supplements to support their gut flora. As a result, a broad range of capsules, tablets and powder blends containing probiotic cultures is now available.

However, the micro-organisms within these dosage forms are very fragile. If exposed to excess moisture, heat or pressure, they lose their health-giving effects. Therefore, an efficient carrier excipient is essential.

According to scientific evidence, galenIQ 721 can be used to compact probiotic micro-organisms into a tablet form. Requiring only low compression forces, this alleviates mechanical stress on the cultures.

In addition, stability studies in powder mixtures with Lactobacillus rhamnosus have confirmed that galenIQ 721 is an ideal carrier.

Furthermore, BENEO’s excipient has a sugar-like taste, a smooth mouthfeel and can enhance the palatability of the final supplement. So, whether it is for probiotic tablets, stickpack powders or capsule fillings, galenIQ 721 is a highly functional filler-binder and carrier for probiotics.

Dr Maj-Britt Cepok, Head of Business Development Pharma, BENEO, explains: “To be effective, probiotic dosage forms must deliver an adequate number of viable micro-organisms to the gut during their claimed shelf-life. As the bacteria are sensitive to temperature, oxygen and moisture, this can sometimes be challenging.”
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“Some of these issues can be mitigated with adequate packaging and control during transport and storage; but, exposure to moisture also depends on the selected carrier. galenIQ 721 is very low hygroscopic and does not release any water through desorption. Therefore, it’s a perfect excipient in a well-designed carrier system for probiotic supplement formulations.”

About galenIQ™
BENEO is part of the Südzucker Group and a member of the International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council (IPEC). The company produces galenIQ™ (Isomalt Ph. Eur., BP, USP-NF, JP), a multifunctional range of water-soluble filler-binders according to cGMP conditions for pharmaceutical excipients. galenIQ™ is available in a wide variety of median particle sizes, morphologies and solubilities and
therefore is readily used in solid and liquid dosage forms such as tablets, sachets, effervescents, lozenges and syrups. It is physically and chemically stable, non-hygroscopic and enhances the palatability of the final form.