Hydroxy-methyl…What?

Bookmark Print

Text Resize: T T Reset

All-Natural, Plant-Derived Vegetarian Material

By VRP Staff

In April of 2001, VRP began to switch our entire line of encapsulated supplements over to a new, all-natural, plant-based capsule. VRP had spent years looking for an alternative to the beef-derived gelatin capsules that are the staple of the pharmaceutical and nutritional industries. When vegetable-based capsules finally became available, VRP was one of the first nutritional manufacturers to commit to converting our entire supplement line, and the timing couldn’t have been better, as anxiety about animal-based products was running particularly high with our European clients.

Hydroxy, Propyl, Methyl…What?
One of the unintended (and unanticipated) side effects following the introduction of V-Caps has been some confusion (and raised eyebrows) from clients who call wanting to know why something called “hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose” is in our formulas. And given the highly complex and technical name, it’s only natural that some clients might be concerned. As it turns out, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) is a completely natural, commonly used cellulose raw material that is 100% plant-derived. In addition to providing the combination of flexibility and strength that perfectly meets the unique requirements of vegetarian capsules, HPMC also offers a wide range of pharmaceutical applications. Ongoing research is exploring its use in applications ranging from adhering lens implants during eye surgery to delivering pharmaceutical drugs in a time-delayed viscoelastic matrix. HPMC has also shown surprising promise as a cholesterol-lowering agent.

In one study published in the journal Nutrition, researchers found that HPMC shared certain characteristics with soluble fibers. In particular, HPMC was found to exert a lipid-lowering effect. This finding supported an earlier study that suggested that HPMC was a potential agent for lowering cholesterol in patients with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia. In fact, that study found that HPMC significantly lowered both LDL and total cholesterol levels in as little as 4 weeks, leading the study authors to state that, “…HPMC is a well-tolerated and effective adjunct to diet for lowering LDL cholesterol in patients with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia.”

Conclusion
While the amount of HPMC contained in V-Caps is unlikely to have much impact on cholesterol levels, this natural substance is both safe and beneficial. And as this brief glance at just a few of the many studies being conducted with HPMC indicate, the potential for discovering more promising health benefits is very high.

References
1. Bigar F, Gloor B, Schimmelpfennig B, Thumm D. The tolerance of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose in implantation of posterior chamber lenses. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd. 1988 Jul;193(1):21-4.

2. Maki KC, Davidson MH, Malik KC, Albrecht HH, OMullane J, Daggy BP. Cholesterol lowering with high-viscosity hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. Am J Cardiol. 1999 Nov 15;84(10):1198-203.

3. Maki KC, Davidson MH, Torri S, Ingram KA, OMullane J, Daggy BP, Albrecht HH. High-molecular-weight hydroxypropylmethylcellulose taken with or between meals is hypocholesterolemic in adult men. J Nutr. 2000 Jul;130(7):1705-10.

Product Category Product Name Product Number Health Concerns Ingredient

Hydroxy-methyl…What?

All-Natural, Plant-Derived Vegetarian Material

Vitamins By Popularity

Vitamins By Health Concerns

Top Vitamin Ingredients

Navigation