Solving nutraceutical problems with Mannitol pellets

Rising consumer health consciousness is driving demand for nutraceuticals that support metabolic health, weight control, and reduced-sugar diets. But the search for genuinely ‘sugar-free’ label formulations has also introduced some industry problems to which Mannitol pellets provide smarter solutions.

Stability problems

Formulators face persistent challenges in ensuring precise dosing of sensitive active ingredients, masking undesirable tastes, and delivering products that remain stable over time – especially under the varying humidity and temperature conditions that come with global supply chains.

A persistently under-rated challenge is choosing the right excipient and core material for coated dosage forms like tablets and capsules containing nutraceutical actives, such as plant extracts, probiotics, or vitamins, that are often moisture-sensitive or heat-labile, making them vulnerable during processing or storage.

The trouble with sucrose and lactose

A potentially even more serious problem jeopardizing patient safety is high glycemic content in the excipient, which can cause blood sugar spikes in vulnerable diabetic consumers. This is a particular issue with sucrose-based sugar cores, which are also inherently hygroscopic absorbing moisture and swelling to accelerate degradation and reduce shelf life.

Lactose-based cores for tablets or chewables also have issues for dairy-intolerant consumers, further complicating clean label positioning with consumers scrutinizing every ingredient.

The form of the core is also a concern. It must be smooth and round to accept high-quality functional coatings in controlled release systems, otherwise it can lead to inconsistent dissolution and unpredictable bioavailability.

The Mannitol solution

Mannitol pellets, produced through advanced extrusion–spheronization or spray-congealing processes, provide answers to all these problems and more, with multiple advantages for nutraceutical formulation.

Mannitol is a sugar alcohol naturally found in certain plants and commonly used as a sweetener in foods and supplements. It has a low glycemic index, meaning it does not cause significant spikes in blood sugar levels. This characteristic makes mannitol an ideal choice for people with diabetes or those looking to reduce their sugar intake.

Its further advantages include:

• Low hygroscopicity: Mannitol absorbs significantly less moisture than sucrose or lactose, protecting moisture-sensitive actives and prolonging shelf life – even in high-humidity environments.
• Excellent stability under heat: Mannitol’s thermal stability makes it suitable for hot melt coating or heat-intensive processing steps, safeguarding heat-labile compounds like probiotics or herbal extracts.
• Versatility: Mannitol can be incorporated into various supplement forms, including bars, powdered granules, tablets, and capsules.
• Reduced Caloric Content: Being sugar-free, Mannitol pellets contribute to lower caloric intake, aiding weight management.
• Non-cariogenic and GI-friendly: Mannitol does not promote tooth decay and is gentle on the digestive system, supporting clean label and health-focused claims.
• Superior mouthfeel and sweetness: As a naturally derived polyol, mannitol provides a pleasant, cool taste without the calories of sugar – ideal for chewable tablets, stick packs, or orally dispersible pellets.
• High sphericity and smooth surface: These features make mannitol pellets an excellent substrate for functional coatings – enabling delayed release, taste masking, or multi-layered delivery of several actives in the same capsule.
• Flexible particle sizes: Pharmatrans can provide Mannitol SANAQ^® Spheres in a very wide range of diameters from 200 – 1000 μm and particle sizes, including specifically tailored options, to suit the whole range of nutraceutical delivery formats, including energy and protein bars, powdered supplements, tablets and multi-particulate capsules.

High pedigree producer

This flexibility is made possible by Pharmatrans’ long-term experience with the sizing, classification, and particle size analysis of Mannitol.

The Pharmatrans pedigree as a high-quality ethical producer also assures that its Mannitol pellets are dedicated pharmaceutical grade products, in total Compliance with EP, USP, IP pharmacopeia standards, of outstanding microbiological quality, and deserving of worldwide regulatory and consumer acceptance.

The low glycemic index reduced caloric content, and versatility of Mannitol pellets make them an excellent choice for various applications in the nutraceutical industry. By incorporating mannitol-based pellets into their formulations, manufacturers can meet the growing demand for sugar-free supplements and support the health and wellness goals of their consumers.

Resources

Click on Mannitol SANAQ® Spheres  for further information.