Comment · Thu, May 30, 2024 · ND Owner
amount of powder in capsules do not match serving size?
Original post in this thread
pancakestacker641 · 0 points
question regarding making capsules: the amount of powder in capsules for certain noots do not match the label serving size. For example, the tribulus serving size is 500mg, yet there is typically approximately 550mg of powder in the capsule.
I want to lower the dose and take 200-250mg per day -- should I account for the additional powder or keep it simple and just weigh out 200mg?
What they were answering
ArcticPlatypus · 6 points
Most products have some amount of a filler ingredient to ensure even filling of the capsules during the encapsulation process. So what I would do is a small calculation: 550/500 = 1.1.
Then multiply your target dose by 1.1:
200 * 1.1 = 220 mg. If you want 250 mg of tribulus then weigh 275 mg of the powder. This accounts for the filler powder.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · ND Owner
Even in cases where we don't have to use a filler or excipient, we buffer up. We don't just do it for shits and giggles, though. We intelligently formulate our stuff to account for machine tolerances and the specs of the ingredients. This includes water content. Let's say we have an ingredient that has a spec of 5-10% water. Most brands just accept that's a part of life, and ignore it. We don't. We take the entire spec into account when we formulate. This means buffering up to account for those variables. This is why we are always over what the label claims. Some of that weight is likely water content. Some of it (usually 5%) is to account for machine manufacturing tolerances. We have upper specs, too. So we don't just toss more shit in there randomly. It adds to the cost, so that would be dumb. However, I am very vocal about calling out other brands for not having what they claim on the labels, so we go to a crazy degree to ensure every single capsule/tablet has at least what we claim on the label. If we don't, I know someone will try to test some random capsule of some lot, then call us out saying we don't have what we claim. So my team formulates to a degree than no other brands does.