STUDY REGARDING A NEW EXTENDED-RELEASE CALCIUM ASCORBATE AND HESPERIDIN SOLID ORAL FORMULATION

Vitamin C is indispensable for the normal functioning of the most important biological processes in the human body and plays an essential role in the immune response to stress and viral and bacterial infections. Hesperidin is a bioflavonoid with vascular protecting and anti-inflammatory properties. Given the benefits of vitamin C and hesperidin and the increased absorption of vitamin C by bioflavonoids, a dietary supplement containing both active ingredients has been developed to improve the functioning of the human immune system. Calcium ascorbate was used for vitamin C intake to reduce the high acid side effects at the gastric level. A slow-release pharmaceutical formulation was chosen to gradually release the active ingredients and a prolonged effect (prolonged-release tablets). The present study presents the quality analysis of this innovative dietary supplement with a formula based on non-acidic vitamin C (containing 605 mg of calcium ascorbate, equivalent to 500 mg of ascorbic acid) and bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) bioflavonoid complex (standardised to 80% hesperidin) by testing the following parameters: the neutrality of the product, the vitamin C assay, the hesperidin assay, and in vitro vitamin C dissolution. The study revealed suitable active substances contents of the product and a delayed pharmaceutical formulation that extends the duration of beneficial effects on the human body with reduced side effects.