What Is the Source of Gel Capsules?

Gelatin capsules, or gel caps, play a major role in medication delivery today. The gel cap itself serves as a water-soluble vehicle that can be filled with anything from over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications to the most powerful prescription drugs.

Identification

• According to Capsugel, a major gel cap manufacturer, most gel capsules are made from the same gelatin that's used in puddings, marshmallows and gelatin desserts. Typically, gelatin is produced from collagen, a naturally-occurring protein found in the connective tissue of animals.

Process

• Manufacturers use a controlled extraction process to expose animal hides and bones in a way that releases collagen. The collagen is then refined to meet pharmaceutical standards.

Safety

• Gel caps are manufactured from medical grade gelatin under the oversight of the United States Pharmacopeia, a non-profit organization that determines safe standards for drugs as well as medical devices and diagnostics. USP publishes a compendium that clearly identifies standards for many products, including gelatin.

Considerations

• Some companies produce gelatin from other sources for people whose dietary preferences, religious beliefs or cultural norms require non-animal products. Some examples are pullalan, a water-soluble starch that's made through a fermentation process, and a complex carbohydrate known as hypromellose.

Warning

• Many gel caps contain additional dyes that can cause allergic reactions in very susceptible people.