Tablet Supplement Formulation Components and Proportions

Subject: Tablet Supplement Formulation

To formulate a dietary supplement in tablet form, you need more than just the active ingredients. Tablets are typically composed of:

1. Active Ingredients: These are the substances providing the intended health benefit (in your case, Beta-glucan, Quercetin, and Ascorbic acid). The amount of active ingredient varies greatly depending on the required dosage and the potency of the substance. It can range from a few milligrams to several hundred milligrams per tablet, potentially making up anywhere from a small percentage to over 80% of the tablet weight.

2. Excipients: These are inactive substances that help in the manufacturing process and ensure the tablet has the desired properties (size, shape, hardness, disintegration, stability, etc.). Key types of excipients include:

   • Diluents or Fillers: Used to increase the bulk of the tablet to a practical size, especially when the active ingredient dosage is small. Common examples include Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC), Lactose, Dicalcium Phosphate. They often make up a significant portion of the tablet weight, potentially 20-80%.
   • Binders: Help hold the powder particles together, giving the tablet mechanical strength and preventing it from crumbling. Examples include Starch, Povidone (PVP), Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC). They are typically used at 2-10%.
   • Disintegrants: Help the tablet break apart quickly when it comes into contact with liquid in the digestive tract, allowing the active ingredient to be released. Examples include Crospovidone, Sodium Starch Glycolate, Croscarmellose Sodium. They are usually included at 1-5%.
   • Lubricants: Reduce friction between the tablet material and the tablet press machinery during compression and ejection, preventing sticking. Magnesium Stearate is a common example, typically used at 0.25-2%.
   • Glidants: Improve the flowability of the powder mixture, ensuring uniform filling of the tablet die. Colloidal Silicon Dioxide is a common glidant, used at less than 1%.
   • Other excipients like colorants and flavorants may also be added.

The exact proportion of each component, especially the excipients, depends heavily on the specific properties of your active ingredients (Beta-glucan, Quercetin, Ascorbic acid) and the desired characteristics of the final tablet (size, hardness, disintegration time, etc.). Ascorbic acid, for instance, can be sensitive to moisture and may require specific excipients or processing methods.

Therefore, while your active ingredients are Beta-glucan, Quercetin, and Ascorbic acid, the majority of the tablet weight will likely consist of a combination of fillers, binders, disintegrants, lubricants, and glidants, carefully selected and proportioned to ensure successful tableting and proper performance. There is no single "main ingredient" percentage for excipients; it's a blend optimized for the specific formulation.