Maya Ellison
While pills may look and feel like they are coated in plastic, they are not. The coating on pills is made from biodegradable materials extracted from plants and animals. Many capsules are made of gelatin, which dissolves in the stomach and has no negative effects on the body. However, some pills do contain plasticizing chemicals such as phthalates, which may act like hormones and disrupt the endocrine system. These chemicals are often found in vinyl flooring, shower curtains, cleaning products, and personal care products. Researchers have found that phthalate levels can increase significantly after taking medication containing these compounds, although the potential effects on humans are still unknown. To avoid exposure to phthalates, consumers can check the product labels of medications and choose vegan hard-shelled capsules, which are made from vegetable-based gelatin substitutes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic ingredients in pills | Phthalates |
| Other names for Phthalates | Diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalates, hypromellose phthalate, cellulose acetate phthalate, polyvinyl acetate phthalate |
| Health risks | Potential endocrine disruption, mimicking estrogen, influencing breast and prostate development |
| Products containing Phthalates | Vinyl flooring, shower curtains, cleaning products, nail polish, perfumes, insecticides, food packaging |
| Alternatives to plastic coatings | Vegetable-based gelatin, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), pullulan |
| Plastic coating behaviour | Dissolves in water, dissolves in the mouth or stomach |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic coatings on pills are made from biodegradable materials
- Phthalates in pill coatings can act like hormones and disrupt them
- Plastic coatings are used to release ingredients more slowly
- Plastic coatings are used to make pills easier to swallow
- Plastic coatings may be harmful to infants and pregnant women
Plastic coatings on pills are made from biodegradable materials
Many people are shocked to learn that their pills may be coated in plastic. These plastic coatings are often made from a group of chemicals called phthalates, which are also found in vinyl flooring, shower curtains, cleaning products, nail polish, perfumes, insecticides, and food packaging. Phthalates are known to have potentially toxic effects, acting as endocrine disruptors and throwing hormones out of balance.
However, it is important to clarify that while pill coatings may look and feel like plastic, they are not actually made of plastic. Instead, they are typically made from biodegradable materials extracted from plants and animals. For example, gelatin is a common ingredient in pill coatings, and it safely dissolves in the stomach without negative effects on the body.
Pharma companies usually rely on standard industry-used coatings, and when they do develop new coatings, they are made from the same types of materials, just in different quantities. These coatings are designed to be edible and non-toxic, ensuring that they can be safely consumed along with the pill's active ingredients.
While the potential health risks of plastic exposure are well-documented, the specific effects of ingesting plastic coatings on pills are still unknown and require further investigation. Some pills may contain phthalates or other plasticizing chemicals, but these are not the same as the plastic coatings that people feel on their pills. The coatings are designed to be safe and biodegradable, preventing any potential harm to the body.
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Phthalates in pill coatings can act like hormones and disrupt them
While pills may look and feel like they are coated in plastic, they are not made of plastic. The coating is made from biodegradable materials extracted from plants and animals. Many capsules are made of gelatin, which dissolves in the stomach and has no negative effects on the body.
However, some pills do contain plasticizing chemicals called phthalates. These are added to pills to act as plasticizers, making the pills more durable and flexible. Phthalates are also commonly found in vinyl flooring and shower curtains, cleaning products, nail polish, perfumes, and fragranced personal care products, insecticides, and food products.
Phthalates have been shown to act like hormones and disrupt them. Research published in Environmental Health Perspectives (March 2012) found 50 prescription-drug products and 26 dietary supplements that included a potentially toxic phthalate. Phthalate levels can rise as much as 100-fold after a few months of taking such medication. While the potential effects of human exposure to phthalates through medications are unknown, researchers state that further investigation is warranted.
Phthalates are not required to be disclosed by companies as this information is often considered a trade secret. However, consumers can take steps to minimize their exposure to phthalates by checking product labels and looking out for ingredient names like "aqueous enteric coating" and labeling terms like "enteric coating" and "time release."
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Plastic coatings are used to release ingredients more slowly
While many people are shocked by the idea that pills may be coated in plastic, the coatings are not actually made of plastic. Instead, they are made from biodegradable materials extracted from plants and animals. Many capsules are made of gelatin, which dissolves in the stomach with no negative effects on the body.
However, some pills do contain plasticizing chemicals, known as phthalates, which are added to release the ingredients more slowly. Phthalates are also commonly found in vinyl flooring and shower curtains, cleaning products, nail polish, perfumes, insecticides, and food packaging. While the potential health risks of phthalates are still being debated, some researchers consider them endocrine disruptors, as they can act like hormones and potentially throw hormones out of balance.
A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives sampled a small portion of pills on the market and found that 10 to 20 percent contained two types of phthalates. These chemicals have been linked to lifelong health problems. Another study, published in the same journal in 2009, found that phthalate levels can rise as much as 100-fold after a few months of taking medication containing these compounds.
To avoid exposure to phthalates, consumers can check the labels of their medications and supplements. For over-the-counter medicines, the drug facts panel under "inactive ingredients" can be consulted, while for prescription drugs, a pharmacist can check the complete product label. Diethyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalates are the types of phthalates most linked to health problems.
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Plastic coatings are used to make pills easier to swallow
While the idea of plastic-coated pills may shock some people, it is important to note that these coatings are not made of plastic in the conventional sense. The "plastic" coating on pills is typically made from biodegradable materials extracted from plants and animals. These capsules are designed to be durable and flexible, but also easy to break, swallow, and dissolve in the stomach. This makes the pills easier to swallow, as the coating may hide the taste of the medication inside, which may be unpleasant.
The concern surrounding pill coatings arises from the presence of phthalates, which are plasticizing chemicals. Phthalates are known to act like hormones and can potentially disrupt the endocrine system. Research has found phthalates in a variety of prescription drugs and dietary supplements, including fish oil, garlic supplements, and vitamin C tablets. While the long-term effects of phthalates are unknown, some studies suggest that exposure to these chemicals can lead to a dramatic increase in phthalate levels in the body.
To address this concern, drug manufacturers have started offering vegan hard-shelled capsules made from vegetable-based gelatin substitutes. These plant-based capsules are just as effective as their animal-based counterparts and are preferred by those who follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. Additionally, some people may opt for plant-based capsules if they experience problems with animal-based gelatin capsules.
It is worth noting that supplement regulations are generally more relaxed than those for medications. As a result, it may be more challenging to obtain detailed information about the ingredients in supplements. Consumers concerned about their exposure to phthalates should carefully read labels and look for alternative products if they identify ingredients like "aqueous enteric coating" or terms like "enteric coating" and "time release."
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Plastic coatings may be harmful to infants and pregnant women
Many pills have coatings that may feel like plastic, but they are not actually made of plastic. These coatings are usually made from biodegradable materials extracted from plants and animals, such as gelatin, which dissolves in the stomach and is harmless to the body.
However, some pills do contain plasticizing chemicals in their coatings, such as phthalates. Phthalates are commonly found in plastics and provide flexibility and resilience. They are often added to pills to regulate the release of drugs over time or deliver active ingredients to specific areas in the body. While phthalates are generally considered safe, they have been linked to potential health risks, especially for infants and pregnant women.
Phthalates have been detected in the urine of patients taking coated medications, indicating that they can be absorbed into the body. Studies have shown that phthalate levels can increase significantly after taking phthalate-containing medications for a few months. While the health risks of phthalates are still being studied, they have been linked to hormonal and reproductive problems in both rats and humans. Exposure to phthalates during pregnancy may impact brain development in fetuses and influence breast and prostate development.
To minimize the potential risks associated with phthalates, it is recommended that pregnant women and infants avoid unnecessary exposure to these chemicals. Pregnant women who take regular medication for chronic conditions should consult their healthcare providers about alternatives that do not contain phthalates. It is important to read labels carefully and look for terms like "enteric-coated," "time release," or "film-coated," which may indicate the presence of phthalates.
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Frequently asked questions
The pill feels like plastic because it is coated with a plasticizing chemical, which is designed to release the ingredients into your system more slowly. These plastic chemicals are called phthalates and can be found in many other products such as vinyl flooring and cleaning products.
The concern is that some of these compounds act like estrogens and can throw hormones out of balance. Research published in Environmental Health Perspectives (March 2012) found 50 prescription-drug products that included a potentially toxic phthalate. However, the potential effects of human exposure to these phthalates through medications are unknown and require further investigation.
For over-the-counter medicines, you can read the drug facts panel under "inactive ingredients" and avoid products with a word containing "phthalate". Diethyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalates are most linked to health problems. Alternatively, you can opt for vegan hard-shelled capsules, which are made from vegetable-based gelatin substitutes and do not contain plastic.
