galenIQ™: good taste, stability, shelf-life of probiotic supplements

Boosting the taste, stability and shelf-life of probiotic supplements with galenIQ™

To support the stability of the formulation and the viability of microorganis.ms for a healthy gut, BENEO presents galenIQ™ 721 at CPhI Festival of Pharma 2020.

Mannheim (Germany), October 2020 – During the virtual CPhI Festival of Pharma (5–16 October), BENEO will showcase galenIQ™ 721 for probiotic supplements. galenIQ™ 721 is the agglomerated form of BENEO’s pharmaceutical-grade Isomalt. Supporting the viability of microorganisms, the sweet-tasting excipient is suitable for probiotic powders, capsules and tablets. At the company’s digital booth, visitors will be able to learn more about galenIQ™ and its various application possibilities.

Health-conscious consumers are increasingly using probiotic supplements to support their gut flora. As a result, a broad range of capsules, tablets and powder blends containing probiotic cultures is now available. However, the microorganisms within these dosage forms are very fragile. If exposed to excess moisture, heat or pressure, they lose their health-giving effects. Therefore, an efficient carrier excipient is essential.

According to scientific evidence, galenIQ™ 721 can be used to compact probiotic microorganisms into a tablet form. Requiring only low compression forces, this alleviates mechanical stress on the cultures. In addition, stability studies in powder mixtures with Lactobacillus rhamnosus have confirmed that galenIQ™ 721 is an ideal carrier. Furthermore, BENEO’s excipient has a sugar-like taste, a smooth mouthfeel and can enhance the palatability of the final supplement. So, whether it is for probiotic tablets, stickpack powders or capsule fillings, galenIQ™ 721 is a highly functional filler-binder and carrier for probiotics.

Dr Maj-Britt Cepok, Head of Business Development Pharma, BENEO, explains: “To be effective, probiotic dosage forms must deliver an adequate number of viable microorganisms to the gut during their claimed shelf-life. As the bacteria are sensitive to temperature, oxygen and moisture, this can sometimes be challenging. Some of these issues can be mitigated with adequate packaging and control during transport and storage; but, exposure to moisture also depends on the selected carrier. galenIQ™ 721 is very low hygroscopic and does not release any water through desorption. Therefore, it’s a perfect excipient in a well-designed carrier system for probiotic supplement formulations.”
Visit BENEO at the CPhI Festival of Pharma and learn more about galenIQ™.