Introduction
While the nutraceutical industry is flooded with different capsule materials, the oldest option - gelatin capsule - continues to dominate.
In 2024, gelatin capsules accounted for 82% of the $3.2 billion global empty capsule market, with its share being 7-fold larger than its vegetarian counterpart’s. This trend has persisted over the years and is projected to continue into the foreseeable future.
But why have gelatin capsules remained the gold standard among nutraceutical manufacturers in a market filled with alternatives? In this article, we unravel the reasons behind the leading run of gelatin capsules and why it remains the best bet to maximize profit for any pharmaceutical or nutraceutical manufacturer.
Why do nutraceutical companies continually choose gelatin capsules?
Despite the alternatives, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers have stuck with gelatin capsules because of their overall superior performance. These include:
1. Unmatched cost-effectiveness & manufacturing efficiency
Gelatin capsules have a much lower production cost compared to their vegetarian alternatives. Sourcing raw gelatin and producing gelatin capsules is cheaper compared to HPMC capsules, for example. This has made gelatin capsules the most cost-effective and affordable option, ensuring a better profit margin for manufacturers.
Beyond affordability, the manufacturing process of gelatin capsules has been optimized over the years, ensuring consistent quality, fewer production issues, and quicker turnaround times. Such efficiency has allowed manufacturers to scale production without costly adjustments.
2. Superior performance & bioavailability
Gelatin capsules exhibit great formulation delivery and technical and aesthetic qualities expected of an ideal encapsulation material, setting the benchmark for other capsule types.
Gelatin capsules dissolve quickly in the stomach, ensuring rapid and efficient absorption of active ingredients. Unlike many vegetarian options, they also provide a strong oxygen barrier, protecting sensitive nutrients like probiotics and herbal extracts from degradation. Additionally, gelatin capsules have excellent mechanical strength, making them resistant to brittleness and breakage. It also enhances their durability during storage, transport, and handling.
3. High consumer confidence & market familiarity
With its long history and proven track record in pharmaceutical and supplement encapsulation use, gelatin capsules have earned consumer recognition and trust. Further enhancing its acceptance, easy tweaks to the gelatin source often address the dietary concerns of some consumers, e.g., switching from porcine to bovine gelatin appeals to customers with restrictions against only pork-derived products.
This familiarity and trust boost gelatin capsule acceptance, keeping its market size large and profitable. Additionally, it makes them an easy, low-risk option for brands seeking ready-made acceptance and reliability in the market.
4. Broad customization & branding opportunities
Gelatin capsules can be presented in various sizes, colors, and imprinting options, allowing brands good flexibility in product branding and differentiation. They are also ideal for formulating specialized dosage forms to address specific needs, such as delayed-release capsules for prolonged action or suckable or twist-off soft gels for quick absorption.
The flexibility and versatility of gelatin capsules make them the best choice for manufacturers looking to expand their product line while keeping production streamlined.
5. Better regulatory compliance profile
Gelatin capsules meet many international pharmacopoeial requirements and have a long history of regulatory approval. This is because gelatin is considered a GRAS (generally regarded as safe) material, and several products have been developed based on gelatin capsules.
Hence, compared to newer materials that need to be confirmed for equivalence, gelatin capsules face fewer regulatory hurdles, offering a smoother and quicker path to the market. This good compliance profile strengthens their appeal to nutraceutical manufacturers.
Where to get high-quality gelatin capsules with the above-mentioned features and more
Here at Capsule Depot, you can get such top-grade gelatin capsules at the most competitive price ever!
We are a leading US-based wholesale supplier of quality empty gelatin capsules in bulk and small quantities. We offer them in a variety of colors, flavors, and standardized sizes (i.e., 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5). Our capsules are all ISO 9001- and ISO 22000-certified, with verifiable batch record information.
We believe that quality and affordability can and should co-exist. So, we deal in fair and transparent pricing on all our products, keeping them affordable to most.
Nevertheless, we operate a reliable and resilient supply chain that meets your demands promptly, with a responsive and dedicated client support system to guide you throughout the process. Special offers are also available on certain transaction volumes to give you the most cost-effective procurement experience.
Final thoughts: Gelatin capsules remain the best choice, and we can get them for you.
Despite new alternatives, gelatin capsules continue to offer unmatched advantages in cost, efficiency, performance, and consumer trust. If you want a capsule solution that balances quality and affordability, gelatin remains the superior choice.
