Sodium Starch Glycolate is a pharmaceutical ingredient used primarily as a dissolution excipient for tablets and capsules. It also works as a disintegrant and a gelling agent. The use of Sodium Starch Glycolate in drugs and dietary supplement products has been shown to increase the effectiveness of active ingredients as the compound helps improve overall bioavailability.
What is Sodium Starch Glycolate?
Sodium Starch Glycolate is the sodium salt of carboxymethyl ether of starch classified as a disintegrant and an excipient. It is generally used alongside active ingredients in pharmaceutical drugs and dietary supplements. While the compound was initially thought to be an “inactive” ingredient as it does not produce direct effects on individual users, it was later found that it plays an important role in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Thus, its inclusion in formulations for drugs and dietary supplement products is not negligible but rather quite significant.
Sodium Starch Glycolate contains about 2.8 to 5.0 percent of Sodium, depending on its type, and not more than 7 percent of Sodium Chloride. It is otherwise known for its other generic names which include SSG, Sodium salt of Carboxymethyl Ether, Carboxymethyl Starch Sodium salt, Sodium Starch Glycolate Type A potato, and Sodium Starch Glycolate Type B. Brand names for the compound include Primojel, EXPLOTAB, and GLYCOLYS.
It is described as having a white to off-whitish free-flowing powder appearance. The compound is also tasteless and generally odorless. Sodium Starch Glycolate is considered practically insolvent in water and many organic solvents.
Carboxymethyl Ether sodium salt
The CAS number for Carboxymethyl Ether sodium salt or Sodium Starch Glycolate is 9063-38-1. It must be distinguished from Carboxymethylcellulose sodium which is often used as a bulk-forming agent and a laxative.
Sodium Starch Glycolate forms and specifications
Several forms of Sodium Starch Glycolate are available in the market. These include Sodium Starch Glycolate powder, Sodium Starch Glycolate granule, and Sodium Starch USP Standard. Sodium Starch USP Standard comes in varieties such as type A, type B, PH, and those with sodium content.
The compound may be purchased in bulk or lesser quantities from legitimate ingredient suppliers like Nutriavenue. It is usually packed in paper drums with two layers of poly bags inside when purchased in bulk. Each drum contains a net weight of about 25 kilograms. Customers may also avail of other options for packaging depending on their preference.
Types of Sodium Starch Glycolate
There are three major types of Sodium Starch Glycolate. These are SSG Type A, SSG Type B, and SSG Type C. Essentially, Types A and B of Sodium Starch Glycolate are cross-linked salts of sodium that are partly O-carboxymethylated potato starch. Type C, however, is manufactured through physical dehydration by cross-linking of sodium salt of partly carboxymethylated starch.
Types A, B, and C of Sodium Starch Glycolate differ in terms of pH, Sodium Chloride content, and Assay Sodium. Both Type A and Type C have pH levels of 5.5 to 7.5. Type B, in contrast, has a pH level of 3.0 to 5.0. The Sodium Chloride content of Types A and B is at a maximum of 7% while the Sodium Chloride content of Type C is at a maximum of 1%. As to Assay Sodium, the ranges for Types A, B and C are 2.8% to 4.2%, 2.0% to 3.4%, and 2.8% to 5.0%, respectively.
Sodium Starch Glycolate safety
Sodium Starch Glycolate has been previously approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as a disintegrant in prescription and over-the-counter medications. Also, the compound is safely used for the said purpose in dietary supplement products. Considering that it is an inert compound having no active ingredient properties, it is considered safe for use among individual users.
How Does Sodium Starch Glycolate Work?
As a dissolution excipient, Sodium Starch Glycolate works as a disintegrant. Generally, the compound works by absorbing water several times its weight when ingested orally. This results in swelling which eventually causes the breakdown of the active ingredients first into granules then into fine particles. This action of the compound essentially results in higher bioavailability of active ingredients and improved dissolution rates.
What Are Sodium Starch Glycolate Uses?
The following are among the well-known uses of Sodium Starch Glycolate.
It works as a dissolution excipient for tablets and capsules.
As a dissolution excipient, Sodium Starch Glycolate helps maintain the effectiveness of active ingredients in tablets and capsules. These active ingredients are protected from breaking down prematurely while passing through the digestive tract. Thereafter, the said active ingredients are broken down in areas where absorption occurs with their maximum effectiveness preserved.
It is used as a suspending agent.
Research also shows that Sodium Starch Glycolate may work as a suspending excipient agent. This means that it may be useful in protecting active ingredients from caking at the bottom of the drug or dietary supplement form and maintaining their suspension in the formulation. It is believed that Sodium Starch Glycolate works as a suspending agent by filming around active ingredient particles and decreasing inter-particulate attraction.
It works as a gelling agent.
Sodium Starch Glycolate may also be used as a gelling agent. Thus, it helps stabilize active ingredients in medications and dietary supplement products. It also works as a thickening agent.
Sodium Starch Glycolate Side Effects
Generally, there are no side effects associated with Sodium Starch Glycolate supplementation as it does not have a direct effect on individual users. Nonetheless, it should be used only within the range of its Acceptable Daily Intake to prevent any untoward reactions.
Sodium Starch Glycolate Acceptable Daily Intake
The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for Sodium Starch Glycolate is 13mg/kg body weight per day among adults and 80 mg/kg body weight per day among children. The ADI may vary depending on the individual user’s age, weight, and overall physical condition.
Where To Buy Bulk Sodium Starch Glycolate Powder?
If you are looking for a place to buy bulk Sodium Starch Glycolate powder, Nutriavenue is the best choice.
Nutriavenue is an FDA-registered supplement ingredients supplier which is recognized by Halal, Kosher, and GMP. Our company offers high-quality products at very affordable prices.
We also offer shipping services through the air, sea, or couriers like FedEx or UPS. Rates for shipping may vary depending on the number of products you purchase and your location.
For more information on our products or to get a free quote, you may visit our website and inquire from our friendly and customer-oriented technical support staff.
