Nutraceutical Tablet Uses: Types, Benefits and Applications

Nutraceutical tablets are convenient dosage forms used to deliver vitamins, minerals, botanical ingredients, amino acids and other permitted nutritional ingredients in a measured serving size. They are used extensively in the health and wellness industry because tablets are easy to manufacture, transport, store and consume.

In India tablets are also allowed as a presentation format for certain health supplements and nutraceutical products under the applicable FSSAI framework.

If you’re starting your own supplement brand, understanding nutraceutical tablet uses can help you choose formulation and dosage form.

What Are Nutraceutical Tablets?

Nutraceutical tablets are formulated products that contain nutrients or other permitted ingredients as part of a person’s diet. Depending on the formulation, they may contain vitamins, minerals, botanical extracts, amino acids or other ingredients permitted by regulations (e.g., GRAS).

Unlike food, tablets provide measured amounts of ingredients in a small format so they are good for products where serving sizes need to be controlled and daily use is desired.

Nutraceuticals in India are regulated under FSSAI framework for health supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods and related categories.

What Are the Main Nutraceutical Tablet Uses?

The purpose of a nutraceutical tablet depends on the ingredients and how the product is used. Some common applications are:

1. Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation

Tablets are often used to formulate products containing vitamins C, B12, D, zinc, magnesium, iron etc. Other vitamins and minerals as well. Tablets provide brands with a format for daily nutritional supplements.

2. Botanical and Herbal Formulations

Some botanical extracts can also be formulated into tablets. Depending on the ingredient and regulatory requirements, manufacturers may develop herbal and botanical nutraceutical formulations for different wellness categories.

3. Combination Nutraceutical Products

Tablets can contain combinations of multiple nutritional ingredients (e.g. a formulation may combine some vitamins and minerals into one product rather than consumers taking several individual supplements). Suitability of a combination will depend on ingredients, dosage levels, formulation requirements and FSSAI regulations applicable.

4. Targeted Nutrition Products

Nutraceutical tablets can be targeted to nutritional needs or consumer categories.

General wellness
Sports nutrition
Healthy aging
Women’s nutrition
Children’s nutrition
Beauty and wellness
Immunity-focused nutrition
Bone and mineral nutrition

The actual product claims and intended use have to be developed for each category depending on regulations.

Why Are Tablets Popular for Nutraceutical Products?

From a manufacturing point of view tablets have several practical advantages:

Convenient dosage: Each tablet can contain a defined serving amount
Easy packaging: Tablets can be packed in bottles, blister packs, strips or other suitable packaging formats
Convenient transportation: Compact format makes them relatively easy to store and transport
Product flexibility: Different ingredients and combinations can be used depending on formulation requirements
Consumer familiarity: Tablets are familiar supplement format for many consumers

Types of Nutraceutical Tablets

Depending on formulation and manufacturing capabilities nutraceutical brands can explore different tablet formats such as

Conventional tablets
Chewable tablets
Effervescent tablets
Dispersible tablets
Orally disintegrating tablets
Sublingual tablets, where appropriate

The format chosen depends on the ingredients, formulation objective, stability, manufacturing process and applicable regulatory requirements.

Nutraceutical Tablets vs Other Dosage Forms

Tablets are not the only option for nutraceutical manufacturing. Depending on the product brands can also choose capsules, softgels, powders, sachets, gummies, liquids, oral sprays, drops etc.

An oil based formulation may be better suited to a softgel while some liposomal formulations may be developed as liquids or oral sprays.

The dosage form should therefore be selected based on formulation rather than market trends.

What Should Brands Consider Before Manufacturing Nutraceutical Tablets?

Businesses planning to launch a nutraceutical tablet should consider:

Ingredient selection
Ingredient dosage
Formulation compatibility
Tablet size and serving requirement
Flavour or coating requirement
Packaging format
Stability
Target consumer
Regulatory requirements
Minimum order quantity
Quality testing
Labeling requirements

For products sold in India formulations and labeling should be developed in compliance with FSSAI requirements (FSSAI sets regulations for health supplements and nutraceuticals — permitted ingredients and presentation formats).

FSSAI’s regulatory framework lays down requirements for health supplements & nutraceuticals such as permitted ingredients and presentation formats.

Choosing a Nutraceutical Manufacturing Partner in India

When a business plans to launch a supplement brand, choosing the right nutraceutical manufacturing company in India is not just about finding a facility that can make tablets.

You need a manufacturing partner who can help you with formulation development, ingredient sourcing, quality control, packaging, labeling, documentation and production.

Axtrom Lifecare offers third party nutraceutical manufacturing solutions for businesses developing nutritional & wellness products. Depending on formulation, businesses can discuss suitable dosage forms, customized formulations, packaging requirements and production requirements with the manufacturing team.