A dosage form guide to SupplySide Global 2026

Dosage form is the decision that turns an ingredient into a product, and SupplySide Global 2026 (education October 26 to 30, expo October 28 to 30, Las Vegas) programmes it explicitly: a Supplement Solutions Stage session on October 29 compares tablets, gummies, capsules, liquids, powders, and liposomal delivery on absorption and consumer experience, and nine sponsored presentations cover cocrystals, cyclodextrin solubilisation, sustained release, capsule-in-capsule formats, gummy platforms, and beverage-grade minerals [1]. This guide sets out what each format demands before those sessions start. Tablets and hard capsules must disintegrate within 30 minutes and softgels rupture within 15 minutes under USP General Chapter 2040, and vitamin-mineral products must release at least 75 percent of label claim within one hour [3]. Gummies are chewable gels under USP monographs that allow overages up to 250 percent of label for vitamin C and 245 percent for folic acid, with water activity of not more than 0.75 and pH of not more than 4.5 [5]. Capsule shell choice sets oxygen and moisture exposure, softgel shells cross-link with reactive fills, and the bioavailability technologies on the programme range from liposomal vitamin C with randomised crossover evidence to cocrystals with animal data only [8,9,11,12,15].

Table of contents

• 

  Which SupplySide Global 2026 sessions cover dosage forms

• Tablets and capsules: what USP 2040 and USP 2800 require
• Capsule shells: gelatin, HPMC, and pullulan compared
• Softgels: cross-linking is the constraint to design out
• Gummies: what the USP chewable gel monographs allow
• Powders, effervescents, and beverages: moisture and solubility
• Oral thin films and other low-dose formats
• Bioavailability technologies on the programme and their evidence
• Clean-label coatings and the titanium dioxide question
• Questions to ask format and excipient suppliers on the show floor
• Frequently asked questions
• Key takeaways
• Sources

Which SupplySide Global 2026 sessions cover dosage forms

Dosage-form content at SupplySide Global 2026 is concentrated on October 28 and 29. The headline session, “Bioavailability by design: choosing the right delivery format”, runs on October 29 at 13:30 on the Supplement Solutions Stage and examines tablets, gummies, capsules, liquids, powders, and liposomal delivery against absorption, ingredient compatibility, and dosing [1]. Sponsored Product Development Theater slots follow: Cocrystal Technology on cocrystals of ubiquinol, curcumin, silybin, and lutein (October 28, 12:30); Sirio on softgel, gummy, and emerging formats (October 28, 14:00); SloIron on protein-shell iron delivery (October 28, 14:00); Ligand on a berberine and sulfobutylether beta-cyclodextrin formulation (October 29, 12:00); TopGum on microencapsulated, fiber-based, and high-dose gummies (October 29, 13:30); Ourvita and NutriScience on a capsule-in-capsule butyrate product (October 29, 14:00); and Actylis on magnesium bisglycinate for clear beverages (October 29, 15:00) [1]. Nutriventia’s breakfast brief on October 29 argues for sustained release to collapse multi-pill routines, and Jungbunzlauer’s Innovation Stage session on magnesium form and delivery format follows at 11:15 [1].

Exhibitors cover the excipient side: capsule makers ACG, Lonza Capsugel, Bright Pharma Caps, and BioCaps; tablet excipient suppliers JRS Pharma, DFE Pharma, Sigachi, Asahi Kasei, Roquette, and Alcedo PharmaChem; coating suppliers Colorcon, Biogrund, Seppic, and Clariant; gummy manufacturers 3H Pharmaceuticals and TopGum; and microencapsulation and particle-engineering specialists Lubrizol and Glatt [2]. All4Nutra’s supplier overview for SupplySide Global 2026 lists them with their portfolios.

Tablets and capsules: what USP 2040 and USP 2800 require

A nutraceutical tablet or capsule has a compendial performance standard. USP General Chapter 2040, Disintegration and Dissolution of Dietary Supplements, applies to tablets and capsules but not to troches, products to be chewed, or extended-release forms [3]. Uncoated tablets must disintegrate completely within 30 minutes in water at 37 °C; plain coated tablets within 30 minutes after a 5-minute water pretreatment; hard gelatin capsules within 30 minutes in pH 4.5 acetate buffer; and soft gelatin capsules must rupture within 15 minutes [3]. For vitamin-mineral products in the dissolution classes, the acceptance criterion is not less than 75 percent of the labelled content dissolved in one hour [3].

USP General Chapter 2800, Multi-Ingredient Dietary Supplement Products, became official on December 1, 2024 and extends the quality framework to products with two or more dietary ingredients across capsules, tablets, oral powders, oral liquids, and chewable gels, with universal tests, dosage-form-specific tests, and performance tests [4]. For a formulator, the practical consequence is an excipient system that disintegrates on time at commercial hardness, which is harder when magnesium stearate and silica are replaced; All4Nutra’s report on the powder rheology of clean-label excipients covers those flow and lubrication trade-offs.

Capsule shells: gelatin, HPMC, and pullulan compared

Capsule shell material decides how much oxygen and moisture reach the fill. Gelatin and pullulan shells show equivalent, low oxygen permeability, while first and second generation hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) shells are reported to permit oxygen transfer up to 50 times faster, so oxygen-sensitive fills in HPMC need an antioxidant or barrier packaging [9]. Moisture behaves the other way round: HPMC capsules have lower moisture sorption and retention than pullulan or gelatin, pullulan sorbs less than gelatin, and HPMC or pullulan shells protect hygroscopic fills better than gelatin does [8]. Pullulan is the most hygroscopic shell in handling and can feel tacky, and HPMC shells carry about a third of the moisture of gelatin or pullulan shells [9].

Table 1: Hard capsule shell materials compared on oxygen barrier and moisture behaviour, with the fill types each suits.

Enteric performance without a coating is now documented in people. In a magnetic resonance imaging study, an acid-resistant HPMC capsule given to 16 healthy adults after a light meal showed no gastric disintegration or leakage, with 38 percent of capsules opening in the jejunum and 62 percent in the ileum, and gastric residence rising from 43 minutes fasted to 158 minutes fed [10]. Capsule-in-capsule formats separate incompatible or moisture-sensitive actives until ingestion, which is the mechanism behind the butyrate product presented on October 29 [1]. The organic pullulan capsule launched at the 2025 show is the reference point for oxygen-barrier plant capsules.

Softgels: cross-linking is the constraint to design out

Softgel shells are gelatin, and gelatin cross-links. A 2026 formulation study encapsulated reactive fills, including aged omega-3 oils with elevated peroxide values, L-arginine, and glucosamine hydrochloride with chondroitin sulfate, and confirmed that cross-linking insolubilises the shell and delays or prevents disintegration, with consequences for bioavailability; modified shells incorporating HPMC, povidone K30, hydroxypropyl cellulose, or microcrystalline cellulose PH105 reduced the effect [11]. Fill and shell compatibility therefore has to be tested at accelerated conditions before a shelf life is claimed, and the softgel rupture test in USP 2040 is the compendial check [3]. Plasticizer and water migration between fill and shell are the other two failure modes to test. All4Nutra’s review of plant-based softgel shells covers starch, carrageenan, and pectin alternatives that avoid gelatin cross-linking altogether. Sirio’s October 28 presentation is the place to compare softgel and gummy platforms from one manufacturer [1].

Gummies: what the USP chewable gel monographs allow

Gummies are “chewable gels” in USP nomenclature, and the monographs set the constraints a formulator has to meet. A typical chewable gel is 5 to 8 percent gelling agent, 15 to 20 percent water, 28 to 50 percent sucrose, and 40 to 55 percent corn syrup solids [5]. Because actives degrade in that high-water, low-pH matrix, USP allows wider overages than in tablets and capsules: vitamin C 90 to 250 percent of label in chewable gels versus 90 to 150 percent in tablets, folic acid 90 to 245 percent versus 90 to 150 percent (never above the tolerable upper intake level), vitamins A, D, and E 90 to 170 percent versus 90 to 165 percent, and minerals 90 to 130 percent versus 90 to 125 percent; pantothenic acid was removed from the multivitamin chewable gel definition because it is too unstable [5].

Table 2: USP acceptance ranges for label claim in multivitamin-mineral tablets and capsules versus chewable gels, as presented by USP at the FDA public workshop of October 30, 2023 [5].

The monographs recommend water activity of not more than 0.75 together with pH of not more than 4.5, weight variation within 7.5 percent of the average under USP 2091, and dissolution testing because protective coatings and gelatin ageing can impair release [5]. FDA scientists published a 2026 perspective describing gummies as presenting challenges in formulation, manufacturing, and analytical testing, and calling for matrix-specific methods and justified overages [6]. Stabilised actives are the technical answer: a 2026 study built a liposomal vitamin C gummy in a xyloglucan, trehalose, and citric acid matrix with low water activity, improved retention under accelerated storage, and minimal gastric release [7]. TopGum’s October 29 session covers microencapsulation, fiber-based matrices, and high-dose delivery [1], and All4Nutra’s gummy quality parameters article gives moisture and weight-uniformity reference values.

Powders, effervescents, and beverages: moisture and solubility

Powders and effervescents fail on moisture before they fail on anything else. Effervescent granules combine citric acid with sodium bicarbonate, and the pair reacts with any absorbed water; a 2025 twin-screw melt granulation study stored granules in desiccators at every step and noted that citric acid degrades at 160 to 270 °C and sodium bicarbonate at 100 to 180 °C, which bounds the process window [16]. Stick packs and hydration powders add flow and dispersibility requirements, which is why the magnesium session on October 29 addresses form, particle engineering, and delivery format together, from gummies and soft chews to effervescents and electrolyte powders [1].

Beverages add solubility and sensory constraints. Actylis presents a magnesium bisglycinate positioned for clear ready-to-drink and powder formats on October 29, and the “Beverage solutions” session on the Future of Food & Beverage Stage covers flavour masking, solubility, natural colours, and stability in one block [1]. Microencapsulation is the usual route for minerals with metallic taste or poor tolerance: a double-blind randomised crossover trial in 40 adults on a low-magnesium diet found that microencapsulated magnesium raised plasma magnesium at 1, 4, and 6 hours, while magnesium oxide raised it only at 1 hour, citrate only at 4 hours, and bisglycinate not significantly, with fewer gastrointestinal complaints reported for the microcapsules [14].

Oral thin films and other low-dose formats

Oral thin films suit actives with small doses and a need for fast onset. A 2024 review of thin films for nutraceutical delivery lists rapid disintegration, dose accuracy, portability, and consumer acceptance among their advantages, and covers excipient selection, quality-by-design development, and case studies with plant extracts, vitamins, minerals, peptides, and probiotics [17]. The format’s ceiling is load: film area and thickness limit how many milligrams a unit can carry, so it fits melatonin, botanicals with milligram doses, and low-dose vitamins rather than 500 mg botanicals. All4Nutra’s coverage of oral thin films for nutraceuticals summarises the same review. Soft chews, lozenges, and melt-in-mouth powders sit in the same low-dose, high-acceptance space and appear across the Sirio and TopGum presentations [1].

Bioavailability technologies on the programme and their evidence

The technologies pitched at the show differ widely in the human evidence behind them, and the table below grades them.

Table 3: Delivery technologies presented at SupplySide Global 2026 with the strongest human evidence found for each.

Two points follow from the table. First, liposomal claims are best supported for vitamin C, but the scoping review notes that formulations, doses (0.15 to 10 g), and sampling windows varied so widely that studies cannot be compared directly, and none measured elimination [12]. Second, cocrystal and cyclodextrin data in nutraceuticals are still preclinical or unpublished, so a supplier claim needs a human pharmacokinetic study before it reaches a label. All4Nutra’s report on controlled-release technologies at Vitafoods Europe 2026 covers the coating, beadlet, and colon-targeted platforms that will reappear in Las Vegas.

Clean-label coatings and the titanium dioxide question

Film coating is where clean-label pressure meets regulation. The European Union banned titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive in 2022 after the European Food Safety Authority’s May 2021 opinion could not rule out genotoxicity [19]. In the United States, 21 CFR 73.575 still permits titanium dioxide at up to 1 percent by weight of the food, and a colour additive petition filed on April 14, 2023 asking FDA to revoke that listing remains under review [18]. Reformulation without titanium dioxide means accepting a different opacity and light-protection profile: calcium carbonate is the closest substitute for light protection and rice starch the alternative for mineral-free positioning, and pigment stability and colour range both need re-validation [20]. All4Nutra has covered TiO2-free coating systems built on a cellulose-based whitener. The “Reformulating for a clean label” session on October 28 addresses emulsifier and texturizer replacement and shelf-life consequences [1].

Questions to ask format and excipient suppliers on the show floor

1. Does the tablet or capsule meet USP 2040 disintegration and, for vitamin-mineral products, 75 percent dissolution in one hour at the intended hardness [3]?
2. Which shell material, and what oxygen and moisture data support it for this fill [8,9]?
3. For softgels, what cross-linking data exist with this fill under accelerated storage [11]?
4. For gummies, what are the overage, water activity, and pH targets, and which dissolution method applies [5,6]?
5. Which human pharmacokinetic study supports the bioavailability claim, at what dose and in which population [12,13,14]?
6. Is the coating titanium dioxide free, and which opacifier and weight gain replace it [20]?

Frequently asked questions

Which sessions at SupplySide Global 2026 focus on dosage forms?

“Bioavailability by design: choosing the right delivery format” on October 29 at 13:30 is the central session. Sponsored presentations cover cocrystals and softgel and gummy formats on October 28, and sustained release, cyclodextrin solubilisation, gummies, capsule-in-capsule, and beverage minerals on October 29 [1].

What disintegration time does USP require for supplement tablets and capsules?

USP General Chapter 2040 requires uncoated tablets, plain coated tablets, and hard gelatin capsules to disintegrate within 30 minutes under their respective conditions, and soft gelatin capsules to rupture within 15 minutes. Chewable and extended-release products are excluded. Vitamin-mineral dissolution classes require 75 percent of label dissolved in one hour [3].

How much overage can a gummy contain?

USP chewable gel monographs allow vitamin C at 90 to 250 percent of label and folic acid at 90 to 245 percent, compared with 90 to 150 percent in tablets and capsules, provided no tolerable upper intake level is exceeded. Water activity of not more than 0.75 and pH of not more than 4.5 are recommended [5].

Which capsule shell protects an oxygen-sensitive fill best?

Gelatin and pullulan shells have equivalent, low oxygen permeability, while HPMC shells permit oxygen transfer up to 50 times faster and need antioxidants or barrier packaging for oxidation-prone fills. HPMC has the lowest moisture sorption, so it suits hygroscopic powders instead [8,9].

Is liposomal delivery proven to raise bioavailability?

For vitamin C, nine of ten published studies showed higher bioavailability than non-liposomal ascorbate, with Cmax 1.2 to 5.4-fold and AUC 1.3 to 7.2-fold higher, and one randomised crossover trial found plasma AUC 21 percent higher. Formulations and doses vary widely and elimination was not measured, so results are not transferable between products [12,13].

Is titanium dioxide still allowed in supplement coatings?

Not in the European Union, where E171 has been banned as a food additive since 2022. In the United States it remains permitted at up to 1 percent by weight, with a 2023 petition to revoke the listing under FDA review. Calcium carbonate and rice starch are the usual replacements [18,19,20].

Key takeaways

• The central format session at SupplySide Global 2026 is “Bioavailability by design” on October 29, surrounded by sponsored presentations on cocrystals, cyclodextrins, sustained release, gummies, and capsule-in-capsule formats [1].
• USP 2040 sets 30-minute disintegration for tablets and hard capsules, 15-minute rupture for softgels, and 75 percent dissolution in one hour for vitamin-mineral products; USP 2800 extends testing to multi-ingredient products including chewable gels [3,4].
• Gelatin and pullulan shells block oxygen; HPMC shells block moisture; an acid-resistant HPMC capsule released in the intestine in all 16 subjects of an MRI study [8,9,10].
• Softgel shells cross-link with oxidised oils, arginine, and glucosamine fills, and modified shells reduce the effect [11].
• USP chewable gel monographs allow vitamin C overages to 250 percent and folic acid to 245 percent, with water activity not more than 0.75 and pH not more than 4.5 [5].
• Liposomal vitamin C and microencapsulated magnesium carry randomised human evidence; cocrystals and cyclodextrin complexes for nutraceuticals do not yet [12,13,14,15].
• Titanium dioxide is banned in EU foods since 2022 and under petition review in the United States; calcium carbonate and rice starch are the working substitutes [18,19,20].

Sources

1. SupplySide Global, SupplySide Global 2026 official session schedule, Informa Markets, 2026. https://attendees.supplysideshow.com/widget/event/supplyside-global-2026-1/plannings/RXZlbnRWaWV3XzEzMTcwMDA= (accessed 2026-09-24).
2. SupplySide Global, SupplySide Global 2026: Exhibitors, Informa Markets, 2026. https://exhibitor.supplysideglobal.com/supplysideglobal26/Public/Exhibitors.aspx (accessed 2026-09-24).
3. United States Pharmacopeia, General Chapter <2040> Disintegration and Dissolution of Dietary Supplements, USP-NF. https://doi.usp.org/USPNF/USPNF_M99970_04_01.html (accessed 2026-09-24).
4. ECA Academy, New USP Chapter for Food Supplements (General Chapter <2800>), GMP Compliance, 2024. https://www.gmp-compliance.org/gmp-news/new-usp-chapter-for-food-supplements (accessed 2026-09-24).
5. Davydova N, Overview of USP Monographs for Chewable Gels (Marketed as Gummies), United States Pharmacopeia, FDA public workshop, 2023. https://cersi.umd.edu/sites/cersi.umd.edu/files/Session_1-1_NataliaDavydovaCandy-Like_Oct30_2023.pdf (accessed 2026-09-24).
6. Hu H, Redan B, Celiz MD, Pawar R, Yakes BJ, Perspective on Gummy Dietary Supplements Manufacturing and Testing, Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2026.2727022 (accessed 2026-09-24).
7. Amalraj A, Abraham EK, Nair AS, Sivarajakumar P, Gopi S, Development of Highly Stable Vitamin C Gummies Using Innovative In Situ Soft Sphere Integrated (ISSI) Liposomal Technology, ACS Omega, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12878294/ (accessed 2026-09-24).
8. Yang N, Chen H, Jin Z, et al., Moisture sorption and desorption properties of gelatin, HPMC and pullulan hard capsules, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32439451/ (accessed 2026-09-24).
9. Vergauwen B, Creating the Perfect Capsule, Pharma Focus Asia (Rousselot). https://www.pharmafocusasia.com/research-development/creating-perfect-capsule (accessed 2026-09-24).
10. Grimm M, Rump A, Kromrey ML, et al., In Vivo Evaluation of a Gastro-Resistant Enprotect Capsule under Postprandial Conditions, Pharmaceutics, 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10674880/ (accessed 2026-09-24).
11. Kaliyamoorthy S, et al., Platform technology and alternates for cross-linking issues in soft gelatin capsules: A modified shell composition strategy for BCS class IV drug candidates, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42448177/ (accessed 2026-09-24).
12. Carr AC, Do Liposomal Vitamin C Formulations Have Improved Bioavailability? A Scoping Review Identifying Future Research Directions, Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12163105/ (accessed 2026-09-24).
13. Purpura M, Jäger R, Godavarthi A, Bhaskarachar D, Tinsley GM, Liposomal delivery enhances absorption of vitamin C into plasma and leukocytes: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, European Journal of Nutrition, 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11519160/ (accessed 2026-09-24).
14. Pajuelo D, Meissner JM, Negra T, Connolly A, Mullor JL, Comparative Clinical Study on Magnesium Absorption and Side Effects After Oral Intake of Microencapsulated Magnesium (MAGSHAPE Microcapsules) Versus Other Magnesium Sources, Nutrients, 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11677548/ (accessed 2026-09-24).
15. Haskins MM, Kavanagh ON, Sanii R, et al., Tuning the Pharmacokinetic Performance of Quercetin by Cocrystallization, Crystal Growth and Design, 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10401641/ (accessed 2026-09-24).
16. Horváth ZM, Kukuls K, Frolova AJ, et al., Effervescent Tablet Preparation by Twin-Screw Melt Granulation with Sorbitol as a Melt Binder, Pharmaceutics, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12115153/ (accessed 2026-09-24).
17. Ruchika, Khan N, Dogra SS, Saneja A, The dawning era of oral thin films for nutraceutical delivery: From laboratory to clinic, Biotechnology Advances, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38615985/ (accessed 2026-09-24).
18. US Food and Drug Administration, Titanium Dioxide as a Color Additive in Foods, FDA, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/industry/color-additives/titanium-dioxide-color-additive-foods (accessed 2026-09-24).
19. European Commission, Commission bans titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive, Newsroom Health and Food Safety, 2022. https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/sante/items/732079/en (accessed 2026-09-24).
20. Colorcon, Challenges and Opportunities to Formulate Nutraceutical Tablets Without Titanium Dioxide, Colorcon Education Insights. https://www.colorcon.com/education-insights/challenges-and-opportunities-to-formulate-nutraceutical-tablets-without-titanium-dioxide (accessed 2026-09-24).

Disclaimer

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is provided for dietary supplement industry professionals and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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