Gellan Gum vs. Gelatin: The Future of Capsule Encapsulation?

Ever heard of Gellan Gum? It's a vegan-friendly alternative to Gelatin and a hit with folks on plant-based diets. So, what's the most common use for Gellan Gum? You can use it solo or mix it with other cooking, desserts, or baking stabilizers to keep ingredients from separating.¹

But here's something you might not know: Gellan Gum can also be used in nootropics (and other dietary supplements)? That's true. In fact, it may have a leg up over traditional materials such as Gelatin.*

Gellan Gum vs. Gelatin capsules.

At HCF®, our capsules are more than just containers—they're designed to deliver our carefully selected neuro-nutrients to your brain system (head, heart, and gut). So, each capsule is tailored to meet the specific demands of our advanced nootropics and nutrient compositions.*

But we also believe you shouldn't have to compromise on health or ethical standards when choosing a nootropic (or any other dietary supplement, as a matter of fact).

That's why we opted for Gellan Gum capsules as a vegan and allergen-free alternative to the more commonly used materials (like Gelatin) found in many nootropics today.*

So, how does Gellan Gum stack up against Gelatin in capsule making? Let's take a closer look.

Better stability and shelf life.

• Gellan Gum capsules: Can offer better stability over a wide range of temperatures and pH levels, maintaining their structure and effectiveness longer.*²
• Gelatin capsules: Typically less reliable in extreme temperatures, often becoming brittle or sticky. Additionally, they have a more limited pH stability range—which may affect their overall performance and shelf life.*

Did you know?

Scientists discovered that Gellan Gum may offer two distinct advantages over comparable products: it can achieve the same texturizing effects with very small amounts and can remain stable even under high temperatures.*

Allergen and sensitivity issues.

• Gellan Gum capsules: Since it's not derived from common allergenic sources (like dairy, nuts, or gluten), Gellan Gum is hypoallergenic and generally safe for those with common food allergies.*³
• Gelatin capsules: May contain trace amounts of allergens from the processing environment, which can raise the potential allergen risk—especially for those allergic to the source animals (e.g., beef or pork).*⁴

Digestibility and bioavailability

• Gellan Gum capsules: Depending on the need, gels can be engineered to dissolve at specific pH levels to help resist stomach acid and dissolve in the intestine (where the pH is higher). Why does it matter? Because it may be beneficial for delivering certain nutrients that can degrade in the stomach's acidic environment (or may require longer absorption times).*
• Gelatin capsules: Typically dissolve quickly in the stomach (which isn't always ideal for nutrients that need to be absorbed in the intestine). This rapid dissolution may limit the effectiveness of certain nootropics.*⁵

Environmental and ethical considerations.