The rising tide of fish oil supplements
The global fish oil market is expected to reach USD 5.42 Billion by 2026. Fish oil is mainly used for aquaculture feed, animal & pet feed, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, and functional food. An increase in consumer awareness about the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids is anticipated to fuel the growth of the global fish oil market in the forecast period. They have been promoted as an easy way to protect the heart, ease inflammation, improve mental health, and lengthen life. Fish oil supplements can typically be produced for consumption in the form of capsules.
Types of fish oil capsules
Soft gelatin capsules, or soft-gels are sealed air tight as a 1-piece capsules that contain a semi-solid or liquid fill, whereas hard gelatin capsules shell consists of two parts namely a body and a cap. Traditionally liquid doses like fish or other oils have been provided in the soft gel-cap forms. They have the highest consumer appeal as they are easy to swallow, providing dose uniformity and protection of active ingredients which gives customers a sense of security. However they have presented drug makers with the common problems such as high cost, wastage, cross-contamination, migration of the drug into the capsule, and low bioavailability. On the other hand, hard gel capsules although not as popular offer a cost effective alternative to soft gels. They are assumed to have better bioavailability as gelatin shells can rapidly collapse. They are easier to fill up and reduce costs for manufacturers as they can be packaged easily.
Meeting the rising demands for fish oil supplements
Both hard gel and soft gel capsules have come with their pros and cons. However using the correct and accurate production process can help overcome some of the manufacturing hurdles you may face. Automatic soft gel capsule machines offer full-scale production of oval or oblong filled soft gel capsules. Hard capsule fillers provide pharmaceutical innovators with a chance to harness this growing industry. They can be filled with a wide range of formulations including lipid-based products, high viscosity pastes, and wax type products and maintaining a tightly controlled process suitable for scaling to production levels.
