What Is The Capsule Shell Made Of? Can The Human Body Digest And Absorb Capsule Shells?

Most capsule shells are made of gelatin. Gelatin itself is a water-soluble protein extracted from collagen, which can be digested and absorbed by human proteolytic enzymes. It is harmless to the human body itself. It is easily soluble in hot water and warm gastric juice. The capsule shell made of gelatin quickly dissolves in gastric juice and releases its contents.

Gelatin is widely used in many foods, such as pudding, sweets, preserves, chewable candies, sugar coating, canned food, and dipping sauces. In food, gelatin can help solidify, thicken, and stabilize food, and is an extremely popular, nutritious, and low-fat food ingredient.

There are various types of gelatin. Bone gelatin made from  bones is hard, brittle, and has poor transparency; Pig skin gelatin made from pig skin is highly malleable and has good transparency. It is ideal to use a mixture of bone and skin glue to balance the strength and plasticity of the capsule shell. Medicinal capsules are made of pharmaceutical grade gelatin, which meets the strict quality requirements for use in pharmaceuticals.

The capsule shell of hard or soft capsules is often made of gelatin as the raw material. Nowadays, methyl cellulose, calcium alginate (or sodium salt), polyvinyl alcohol, modified gelatin, and other polymer materials are also used to change the solubility of the capsule. To increase the toughness and plasticity of the capsule shell, plasticizers such as glycerol and sorbitol are added; To prevent mold growth, preservatives such as nipagin can be added; Light sensitive drugs can be treated with a light blocking agent, titanium dioxide; For aesthetics and ease of identification, coloring agents such as food coloring are added.