Food supplement manufacturing methods are constantly improving thanks to increasingly cutting-edge scientific research. Recently, a new type of food supplement has appeared on the market that is manufactured using a technique that is both innovative and incredibly advantageous compared to previous ones: microencapsulation by coacervation.

Currently supplements are manufactured in the form of tablets, gelatine capsules, liquids, powders or bars. These methods, although effective, have limitations in terms of concentration and durability. These limitations are not produced with coacervation, which, in turn, creates a product of higher quality.

How are microencapsulated supplements manufactured?

To answer this question, we must first understand how manufacturing supplements through coacervation works. This technique consists in coating microscopic parts of a substance, in either the liquid or solid state, in a thin membrane, via the three-stage coacervation technique which allows the coating to precipitate on the substance in a process similar to that of forming a crystal. These coatings are generally made up of polymers that can be eliminated from our body without causing issues.

What are the advantages of microencapsulation by coacervation?

Food supplements manufactured through coacervation have numerous advantages over those manufactured using traditional methods. First of all the active ingredients have a greater stability and durability due to the product’s reduced reactivity with oxygen.

The second advantage is the ability to mask and cover flavours and smells. Without said coverage, some food supplements, such as ginger-based ones, cause itching when they come into contact with the taste buds. In addition, the microcapsule protects the active ingredient from the gastric juices, preventing heartburn and delivering the product directly to the intestine.

Finally, coacervation allows the concentration of active ingredients to increase by up to 87% and allows for its controlled release under specific conditions, maximising its absorption and therapeutic efficacy.