How Do Enteric Capsules Work?

Enteric capsules, also known as extended-release capsules, are uniquely designed to resist the acidic environment of the human stomach during digestion until the next step in the digestive process. Enteric capsules are treated with a material to prevent or minimise dissolution in the stomach, allowing it to dissolve only in the small intestine. This type of preparation either protects the stomach from potentially irritating drugs or protects the drug from being partially degraded in the acidic environment of the stomach. Find out why our capsules are different from other enteric capsules.

The history of enteric capsules

Enteric formulations were originally created to control drugs that tasted unpleasant or caused upset stomachs to consumers. If a patient was unable to take a medication without vomiting due to its horrible aftertaste, that patient could not be treated. Early attempts to find a solution to this problem included the use of substances that were not affected by stomach acid, such as fats, waxes and paraffins.

How do enteric capsules work?

Enteric capsules work by taking advantage of the different acidic and alkaline pH properties of different parts of the human digestive tract. The overall pH of the body hovers in the neutral range of 7, but different parts of the body have different internal pH levels.

The human stomach is acidic, with a pH of 1.5-3.5. This high level of acidity allows your stomach to break down the food you eat for proper digestion.

After the stomach, the acidity decreases to an almost neutral level in the duodenum and then increases to a weakly alkaline pH of 7.4 in the small intestine. Capsuline enteric capsules are made from plant-derived HPMC and HPMCP, which are enteric ingredients that only break down at pH 5.5 or higher, allowing the capsules to pass through the acidic environment of the stomach (pH 1.5- 3.5) without dissolving.

In other words, this means that they pass through the stomach intact and then dissolve when they reach the alkaline environment of the small intestine about one to two hours after ingestion.

Enteric-Coated Empty Gelatin Capsules

Application

Capsules that successfully pass through the stomach without dissolving have a variety of uses, but are most often used in situations where

The stomach lining must be protected from potentially harmful or irritating substances; irritation of the stomach can lead to nausea, vomiting and potential injury.

The substance contained in the capsule must reach the lower part of the digestive tract before it can be dissolved to successfully administer the intended contents.

(For example: some drugs used to treat intestinal disorders must reach the intestine before the capsule dissolves; this allows the drug to retain its integrity and potency before reaching the site of treatment.)

Benefits of enteric-coated capsules

For some preparations, enteric-coated capsules are the best choice. This is because they.

Do not irritate the stomach. Many common drugs, such as aspirin, can irritate the stomach. Because they pass through the stomach intact, enteric capsules avoid this problem.

Maintain enzyme activity. Most tablets break down in the acidic environment of the stomach. Unfortunately, depending on the formulation of the product, this acidic environment can also have a negative impact on the required enzyme activity. Enteric capsules protect the enzymes so that they are absorbed at the highest activity level in the small intestine.

It takes longer to dissolve.

Although most capsules will dissolve within 15 minutes, enteric capsules will not break down until they reach an environment with the right pH. The rate of digestion depends very much on the contents of one's stomach and the feeling of satiety. It can take up to 7 hours to reach the small intestine, so this aspect is important for proper administration.

The bottom line

Enteric capsules offer many benefits to their consumers and allow for the release of drugs and supplements once they have entered the gut. Browse capsules View our full range of enteric capsules in stock now!