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The LURA team
Scientific documentation
FORMAT COMPARISON
Sachet vs Capsules: Which supplement format is better?
Most supplements come in capsules. But more and more brands are switching to sachets (powdered formulas to dissolve). Is there a real difference in absorption, or is it just marketing? Here are the facts.
TL;DR
Sachets are better for water-soluble ingredients (minerals, B vitamins, amino acids) — faster absorption, higher dose per serving, gentler on the stomach. Capsules are better for fat-soluble ingredients (vitamin D, omega-3), probiotics, and when travel convenience is a priority. Neither format is universally "better" — it depends on the ingredient.
The two formats in numbers
Sachet (powder formula)
- Absorption: 15-30 min. (already dissolved)
- Dose: up to 6g+ active ingredients per serving
- Stomach: gentler (diluted concentration)
- Ritual: can become a pleasant evening habit
- Requires a cup + water
- More expensive to produce = higher price
Capsules
- Convenience: swallow and done, anywhere
- No taste: perfect for bitter ingredients
- Enteric coating: protects probiotics
- Cheaper to produce and for consumers
- Max. ~500 mg per capsule (low dose)
- Slower absorption (shell + breakdown)
The science behind absorption
When you swallow a capsule, it goes through 3 stages before the contents reach your bloodstream:
Stage 1
Shell breakdown in the stomach
15-30 min.
Stage 2
Dissolving the contents
10-20 min.
Stage 3
Absorption through the small intestine
15-45 min.
With a sachet/powder formula, stages 1 and 2 are eliminated — the ingredient is already dissolved. The stomach receives a ready solution and absorption begins immediately.
This is especially important for supplements taken before bed. A 30-minute difference can mean you fall asleep with L-theanine's help at 10:15 PM instead of 10:45 PM.
Important note
Faster absorption doesn't always mean "better". For some ingredients (e.g. iron, caffeine), slow release is an advantage — it reduces side effects. Context determines which format is right.
The math of dosage
A standard capsule (size 0) holds ~500 mg of powder. A large capsule (size 00) — ~735 mg. This is a physical limitation.
Example: Corti-Glow in capsules?
The Corti-Glow formula contains 5,771 mg of active ingredients per serving. If you "packed" it into capsules:
12
capsules (size 0)
8
capsules (size 00)
8-12 capsules per evening. Most people would quit by day two.
That's why complex formulas with high doses (magnesium 670 mg + inulin 2500 mg + myo-inositol 2000 mg) almost always come as a powder to dissolve, not as capsules. Capsules are physically unable to hold that much.
Full comparison
| Criterion | Sachet | Capsules | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorption speed | Dissolved in water — the stomach doesn't need to break down a shell. Ingredients reach the small intestine in 15-30 minutes. | The capsule must dissolve in the stomach (15-30 min.), then the contents release. Total: 30-60 minutes. | Sachet |
| Bioavailability | Higher for water-soluble ingredients (magnesium, vitamin B6, myo-inositol). Already in solution — the stomach absorbs more easily. | Standard. The capsule protects contents from stomach acid, which is an advantage for some ingredients (probiotics, enzymes). | Sachet |
| Dose per serving | Can hold 5-6 grams of active ingredients in 1 sachet. Corti-Glow: 5.77g of active substances. | Standard capsule (size 0): ~500 mg. For 5.77g = 12 capsules. Even with XL capsules (size 00) — minimum 7-8. | Sachet |
| Travel convenience | Requires a cup and water. Bulkier than tablets. | Toss in your bag, take with a sip of water. Maximum portability. | Capsules |
| Taste | Can be pleasant (wild strawberry and lime) or unpleasant (depends on ingredients and formulation). | No taste — swallowed directly. An advantage if the ingredient is bitter (e.g. ashwagandha). | Depends |
| Stomach comfort | Dissolved ingredients are gentler on the stomach. Less concentrated impact. | Concentrated contents can irritate the stomach lining, especially on an empty stomach. | Sachet |
| Shelf life | Individual packaging protects from moisture and oxidation. Typically 18-24 months. | A bottle with many capsules — each opening lets in air and moisture. Desiccant helps, but not completely. | Sachet |
| Price | More expensive to produce (individual packaging, filling machines). Higher cost for the consumer. | Cheaper to produce. Widely available. | Capsules |
| Experience / End-of-day | You dissolve it in a cup, drink slowly — creates a calming moment. A psychological signal for the "end of the day". | Fast and functional. No calming aspect — just swallow and move on. | Sachet |
Absorption speed Sachet
Sachet
Dissolved in water — the stomach doesn't need to break down a shell. Ingredients reach the small intestine in 15-30 minutes.
Capsules
The capsule must dissolve in the stomach (15-30 min.), then the contents release. Total: 30-60 minutes.
Bioavailability Sachet
Sachet
Higher for water-soluble ingredients (magnesium, vitamin B6, myo-inositol). Already in solution — the stomach absorbs more easily.
Capsules
Standard. The capsule protects contents from stomach acid, which is an advantage for some ingredients (probiotics, enzymes).
Dose per serving Sachet
Sachet
Can hold 5-6 grams of active ingredients in 1 sachet. Corti-Glow: 5.77g of active substances.
Capsules
Standard capsule (size 0): ~500 mg. For 5.77g = 12 capsules. Even with XL capsules (size 00) — minimum 7-8.
Travel convenience Capsules
Sachet
Requires a cup and water. Bulkier than tablets.
Capsules
Toss in your bag, take with a sip of water. Maximum portability.
Taste Depends
Sachet
Can be pleasant (wild strawberry and lime) or unpleasant (depends on ingredients and formulation).
Capsules
No taste — swallowed directly. An advantage if the ingredient is bitter (e.g. ashwagandha).
Stomach comfort Sachet
Sachet
Dissolved ingredients are gentler on the stomach. Less concentrated impact.
Capsules
Concentrated contents can irritate the stomach lining, especially on an empty stomach.
Shelf life Sachet
Sachet
Individual packaging protects from moisture and oxidation. Typically 18-24 months.
Capsules
A bottle with many capsules — each opening lets in air and moisture. Desiccant helps, but not completely.
Price Capsules
Sachet
More expensive to produce (individual packaging, filling machines). Higher cost for the consumer.
Capsules
Cheaper to produce. Widely available.
Experience / End-of-day Sachet
Sachet
You dissolve it in a cup, drink slowly — creates a calming moment. A psychological signal for the "end of the day".
Capsules
Fast and functional. No calming aspect — just swallow and move on.
When capsules are the better choice
Sachets aren't universally better. Capsules win in these situations:
- Fat-soluble vitamins: Vitamin D, E, K, omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10 — these ingredients absorb better with fats, not water. A softgel capsule with oil is the ideal format.
- Probiotics: Live bacteria must survive stomach acid. An enteric-coated capsule protects them until they reach the small intestine. Dissolved in a cup of water — they would die.
- Travel: If you travel constantly and don't have access to a cup, capsules are practically indestructible — in your bag, with a sip of water, done.
- Low doses: If the ingredient is low-dose (1-5 mg vitamin B12, 50mcg selenium), a capsule is ideal — there's no point in a whole sachet for a few milligrams.
- Bitter ingredients: Turmeric, iron bisglycinate, NAC — have an unbearable taste. A capsule "hides" the flavor.
When sachets are the better choice
- High-dose formulas: When the dose exceeds 2-3 grams (magnesium + inulin + myo-inositol), it's physically impossible to fit them into 1-2 capsules.
- Water-soluble ingredients: Magnesium, B-group vitamins, amino acids (L-theanine, glycine) — already dissolved = faster absorption.
- Evening routine: If the goal is sleep and relaxation, a warm cup with a pleasant taste is a more effective "end of day" signal than swallowing a pill.
- Sensitive stomach: Dissolved powder is gentler than a concentrated capsule, especially for people with stomach reflux.
- Difficulty swallowing: Children, older adults, or simply people who don't like swallowing pills.
Why Corti-Glow is a sachet
The Corti-Glow formula contains 5,771 mg of active ingredients per serving. We chose the sachet format for three reasons:
- Physical necessity: 5.77g of powder = 8-12 capsules. No one wants to swallow 12 capsules every evening.
- Faster absorption before bed: L-theanine and magnesium work faster when already in solution — the effect kicks in within 15-20 min. instead of 40-60 min.
- Evening habit: A cup of warm (or cold) water + Corti-Glow is a psychological signal for the brain: "the day is over". The act of preparing it itself supports sleep — something a pill can't do.
The flavor (wild strawberry and lime) was specifically developed to mask the slightly bitter aftertaste of ashwagandha without added sugar. We use stevia and natural flavorings.
Questions and answers
Does a sachet really absorb faster than capsules?
Yes, for water-soluble ingredients (B vitamins, minerals, amino acids). The reason is simple: the ingredient is already dissolved in water when it reaches the stomach — no waiting for shell breakdown. A study by Shargel & Yu (Applied Biopharmaceutics, 2016) shows that liquid forms have a faster Tmax (time to peak concentration) than solid forms. But the difference is 15-30 minutes, not hours.
If sachets are better, why are most supplements in capsules?
Manufacturing cost. A capsule-filling machine is 10-50 times cheaper than a sachet line. Capsules don't require flavorings, solution stabilizers, or individual packaging. For manufacturers, capsules are more profitable. For the consumer — not always better.
When are capsules the better choice?
In three cases: 1) Fat-soluble ingredients (vitamin D, omega-3, CoQ10) — they absorb better with fats, not water. 2) Probiotics — enteric-coated capsules protect them from stomach acid. 3) Ingredients with a bad taste (turmeric, iron bisglycinate) — there's no way to make them pleasant to drink.
Corti-Glow is a sachet. Why?
The formula contains 5.77g of active substances per serving: 2500 mg inulin, 2000 mg myo-inositol, 670 mg magnesium bisglycinate, 300 mg ashwagandha, 200 mg L-theanine, 100 mg bromelain, 1.4 mg vitamin B6. In capsules this is 8-12 capsules per evening. The sachet format allows a higher dose in 1 serving, faster absorption, and a pleasant moment before bed.
7 ingredients. 1 sachet. One evening, before sleep.
5,771 mg of active ingredients in 1 sachet. Wild strawberry and lime. No capsules, no pills to swallow.