Since the mid-1970s, different forms of alginates such as alginate salt, alginic acids and propylene glycol alginates have been used successfully in pharmaceutical applications. Alginates are extensively used in pharmaceutical applications due to their unique properties. Some of the applications wherein alginates are used include film formers, disintegrants, for controlled release and control of gastric reflux as well as thickening and stabilization. These are but a few of the pharmaceutical applications in which alginate have been used. One of the advantages of alginate is that it hydrates quickly whether in cold or hot water. Alginates are also known to form gels that are thermally irreversible as well as clear, uniform and glossy films. In addition, when alginates are mixed along with water, it easily changes to alginic acid in a below 4 PH. Some of the other uses of alginates in the pharmaceutical field include:
Alginate Uses in Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical Grade Alginate
Pharmaceutical grade sodium alginate, also called as, is a kind of white or light yellow granular or powder, which is almost odorless and tasteless
Alginates are known as natural polymers and are used widely in the food industry because of their qualities of non-toxicity, biodegradable, biocompatible and easy availability. In the pharmaceutical industry, however, it is the bioadhesive quality of alginates that makes it really useful. They can be used and formulated as matrices, gels, microspheres, membranes and more.
Blood Chelator
The alginate can also serve as a chelator, a substance that can remove the heavy metals – toxins – in your bloodstream simply by binding them. There are heavy metals in the bloodstream because of reasons including diet, exposure to certain materials and to environment. In a study, it’s been found that specified doses of sodium alginate can effectively reduce the absorption of strontium, a heavy metal known to cause problems such as bone cancer, Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia and more.
Diet Supplement
Compared to placebo, alginate has shown greater weight loss that can be attributed mainly to the effective reduction of body fat’s percentage. On the other hand, in the ITT analysis, there is not any difference between the treatment groups in terms of the plasma concentrations of insulin, ghrelin, glucose, C-reactive protein, lipid metabolism and HOMA-IR.
Cosmetic Uses
One common use for alginate is in cosmetics wherein it is used for its functionality as a moisture retainer and thickener. With these qualities, alginates have been used in several applications such as in retaining a lipstick’s color on the lip surface. It works so by the alginates forming a gel-like network that works on retaining the color of the lipstick.
Nutritional Benefits of Alginate
Alginate Seaweed Fertilizer
Some of the more common pharmaceutical uses of alginates in drugs, supplements and cosmetics.
Kelp seaweed is the raw material that alginate is extracted from. Unlike land-based vegtable material, that is made up of cellulose, kelp structure is wholly alginate based.
Reflux and Antacid Aide
Parkinson Disease and Alginate
Satiety Applications
Alginates are used for diet and in dietary foods for satiety purposes. It is mostly used in biscuits which when ingested swells in your stomach and when taken sufficiently gives you the feeling as if you are already “full”. With that, it dissuades you from eating more and becomes an effective dietary supplement. It has been found to have effects of increased satiety feelings as well as reduced intakes of energy. With that, it is capable of improving weight for obese people effectively.
Heartburn & Reflux Treatment
Alginic acid is also capable of relieving acid indigestion and heartburn as it is able to keep in place the gastric contents. At the same time, it is capable of reducing any likelihood that the esophagus lining is irritated of reflux. On that note, some of the most common products used for treating acid reflux and heartburn that incorporates alginates include Gaviscon, Tums, Algicote, Algicon, to name a few brand examples.
Tablet Binder and Disolver
Alginates, particularly sodium alginate powder have been used traditionally as a tablet adhesive agent. On the other hand, alginates are used as disintegrating agent or dissolver for rapid-release tablets. But, you must know, however, that the effects of sodium alginate as binder is based on the content and so sometimes can act as dissolver instead. When compared to starch, sodium alginates actually have higher mechanical strength for tablets.
Controls Drug Release
One of the other uses of alginate is in the controlled release of some medicinal drugs and chemicals. When applied, the active ingredient of the medicine or chemical is placed inside a calcium alginate bead. When the bead is exposed in a particular environment, it then slowly releases.
In the recent studies, in the delivery of several drugs in controlled-release systems which involves alginate microspheres, it has been tested to have the medicinal drugs coated in chitosan so as to improve its mechanical strength. Some of the drugs that used this application include Nicorette Commit (GSK) and Isoptin/Biaxin/Dilacoron.
