Known for its natural carotenoid solutions, Lycored has launched a highly concentrated vitamin D3 ingredient that offers formulators the ability to develop combination products with synergistic benefits. Capsudar D3 1000E delivers 1 million IU/g of vitamin D3).
 
This high concentration (2.5% of that of pure vitamin D3) frees up more “space” for other vitamins, minerals and other actives, the company said. The product also provides 81 mg toward a 1 g daily dose of calcium and can be partnered with magnesium and vitamin K, making it ideal for multivitamin supplements.
 
There is a wealth of scientific evidence for the benefits of such pairings. Taking vitamins D and K with calcium is more effective than taking calcium alone, and magnesium assists in the activation of vitamin D. A combination of calcium and vitamin D has been recommended in populations such as seniors to reduce the risk of fractures.
 
The pandemic has spotlighted the role of vitamin D in immune health, with groups most likely to be deficient in the micronutrient disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Lockdowns have also increased interest; two in three consumers who responded to a recent Lycored survey were concerned that they were not getting enough vitamin D due to less time outdoors.
 
Capsudar D3 1000E owes its high concentration to Lycored’s unique precision microencapsulation technology Capsudar, which turns fragile, volatile and easy-to-spoil ingredients into stable powders that remain viable throughout the rigors of processing, packaging and storage.
 
Vitamin D3 oxidizes easily, is sensitive to light and usually needs to be kept in a vacuum in the dark. The Capsudar precision microencapsulation technology ensures the actives in Capsudar D3 1000E are protected during processing and storage, and released effectively in the body. A core of calcium phosphate is spray-coated with a layer of vitamin D3, and both are surrounded by a protective outside layer.
 
Vitamin D “works best in combinations with other vitamins and minerals,” said Christiane Lippert, global product manager, vitamins, at Lycored, “so we set out to develop a product that would deliver maximum synergy between active ingredients. Thanks to our Capsudar encapsulation technology, we were able to create a powerful, super-concentrated D3 that overcomes formulation challenges and offers opportunities for fabulous pairings with a range of other actives.”
 
Available in all global markets, the new ingredient is suitable for hard shell and tablet applications. With a short ingredient list, it is free from silicon dioxide, maltodextrin, carbohydrate and sugar. It is also kosher, halal and vegetarian.