Take complete control over your daily supplement routine with NOW® Size "0" Empty Gelatin Capsules (Item N5150). These pure bovine gelatin capsules allow you to make your own custom vitamin, mineral, and herbal blends at home without synthetic binders or expensive retail markups. Each capsule breaks down quickly and gently in your stomach, releasing your nutrients right when your body needs them.
Quick Specs Snapshot
✓Active Form & Potency: Precision two-piece Size "0" hard capsules designed to hold 400 mg to 600 mg of most dry vitamin, mineral, or herbal powders.
✓Primary Cellular Target: Fast gastric breakdown in normal stomach acid, dissolving in minutes to deliver pure nutrients directly to intestinal absorption sites.
✓Supply & Value Math: Bulk packing cuts your pill costs by up to 50% to 70% compared to pre-bottled retail supplements, saving you money on every single dose.
✓Formulation Purity: Made from 100% BSE-free pharmaceutical-grade bovine gelatin and purified water (H2O) with zero chemical preservatives, artificial colors, or common allergens.
Buyer Guide & Capsule Form Comparison
Why the Gelatin Form Matters
Not all empty capsules are made the same way. Many cheap big-box store capsules are made with low-grade animal scraps that can crack, split in your filling machine, or contain chemical preservatives. NOW® uses pure, pharmaceutical-grade bovine gelatin that stays flexible, snaps shut tightly, and dissolves smoothly in warm stomach fluid without causing heavy stomach gas or indigestion.
Ideal For Shoppers Who:
✓Want to create custom herbal recipes or supplement powders at home while skipping synthetic flow agents and tablet binders.
✓Prefer a comfortable, standard medium-sized pill (Size "0") that holds 400 mg to 600 mg and glides down easily with a sip of water.
✓Want reliable locking caps that click firmly together and will not spill powder in your travel case or storage bottles.
Consider Another Option If:
✘You follow a strict vegetarian or vegan lifestyle (you should choose NOW Veg Capsules in "0" or "00" made from plant cellulose).
✘You need to encapsulate water-based liquids or fresh juices (liquids dissolve gelatin shells within minutes; use dry powders or thick oils meant for immediate use instead).
✘You need to pack more than 600 mg of bulky herb powder into a single pill (in that case, upgrade to Size "00" or "000" capsules).
Every order is backed by VitaNet®, LLC's unconditional 100% money-back guarantee—even on opened bottles, with return shipping covered—so you can test the size, fit, and swallowability completely risk-free.
How Gelatin Capsules Work in Your Body
When you swallow a gelatin capsule, your body puts it through a fast, natural digestion process. Gelatin is made from natural collagen protein [1]. Inside your stomach, two things immediately go to work on the capsule shell: warm body temperature (37°C / 98.6°F) and natural gastric acid (hydrochloric acid, or HCl) [2].
Fast Gastric Breakdown (Within 5 to 15 Minutes)
Unlike rock-hard compressed tablets that need 30 to 60 minutes to slowly crumble, thin two-piece gelatin capsules absorb moisture from your stomach fluid in seconds [2]. The gelatin softens, expands, and opens up within 5 to 15 minutes of reaching your stomach [3]. This fast breakdown releases your pure powder so your digestive juices can dissolve it immediately.
Gentle Protein Cleavage into Natural Amino Acids
Once the capsule opens, your digestive enzymes (like pepsin) break the gelatin shell down into harmless, natural amino acids—mainly glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline [1, 4]. Because gelatin is an edible, food-grade protein, the shell itself is digested naturally. It leaves behind zero synthetic polymers, zero artificial plasticizers, and zero chemical residues to irritate your sensitive stomach lining [3].
Scientific References:
Gullapalli, R. P., & Mazzitelli, C. L. (2017). Gelatin and non-gelatin capsule dosage forms. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 106(6), 1453–1465.
Cole, E. T., et al. (2002). In vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics of gelatin and HPMC capsules. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17(1-2), 49–57.
Chiwele, I., Jones, B. E., & Fell, J. T. (2000). The problems with gelatin capsules. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 203(1-2), 1–13.
Stegemann, S., et al. (2007). When poor bioavailability is not an issue: Gelatin capsules as efficient delivery systems. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 30(2), 129–136.
Daily Filling, Timing & Usage Protocol
Optimal Timing & How to Swallow Comfortably
Always swallow your filled capsules with a full 8-ounce glass of cool or room-temperature water. Drinking enough liquid makes the capsule glide effortlessly down your throat and prevents it from sticking to the esophagus [2]. If you fill your capsules with fat-soluble nutrients (like Vitamins A, D3, E, or CoQ10), take them with a meal that contains healthy dietary fats for optimal absorption. For bitter herbs, taking them midway through a meal keeps your stomach comfortable.
Circadian & Split-Dosing Strategy
Filling your own capsules makes it easy to split your daily doses between morning and evening. For instance, minerals like magnesium and calming herbs like valerian can be packed into capsules for bedtime use, while B-vitamins and energizing botanicals can be taken with breakfast. Splitting your doses keeps nutrient levels steady in your bloodstream throughout the entire day.
Smart Synergies & Powder Rules
✓Ideal For: Fine herbal powders, vitamin crystals, raw mineral salts, amino acids, and dry mushroom extracts.
✘Avoid Liquid Water: Never pre-fill gelatin capsules with water-based tinctures or fresh juices. Water breaks down the gelatin wall and causes the capsule to melt before you can take it.
✓Two-Hour Spacing Rule: If you fill your capsules with iron or calcium, take them at least 2 hours apart from prescription medications or strong tea to prevent absorption competition.
Timeline of Expectations
Week 1: You will master filling your capsules by hand or machine. You will notice zero chemical aftertaste and enjoy smooth, easy swallowing with zero throat irritation.
Weeks 3–4: Your custom supplement routine runs like clockwork. You will begin to notice big financial savings compared to buying expensive pre-made vitamin bottles.
Months 2–3+: You have full, total control over your health. You know exactly what goes into your body, free from hidden additives, and at a fraction of standard retail cost.
Physical Profile, Capsule Size & Pure Ingredients
Capsule Format & Swallowability
Size "0" is the most popular capsule size in the nutritional world. It measures approximately 21.6 mm long and 7.6 mm in diameter. It strikes the perfect balance: large enough to hold a meaningful 400 mg to 600 mg dose of dry powder, yet slender enough to swallow comfortably without feeling like a "horse pill." The smooth exterior glides easily over your tongue and throat.
Aroma, Taste & Clarity
These capsules are completely transparent, crystal-clear, and odorless. They carry zero taste, completely masking bitter herbs (like goldenseal or cayenne) so you never have to taste strong powders. Because they are clear, you can inspect your fill level and check powder uniformity with a quick glance.
Only Two Ingredients Demystified
1. Bovine Gelatin: Sourced from healthy beef collagen. It provides the firm, clear structure that protects your powder and melts away smoothly at body temperature.
2. Water (H2O): Purified water added during manufacturing to keep the gelatin shells flexible so they do not crack or shatter when snapped shut.
Storage & Shell Care
Gelatin responds naturally to air humidity. Keep your capsule container tightly sealed in a cool, dry pantry between 59°F and 77°F (15°C to 25°C), with relative humidity between 35% and 55%. Avoid storing capsules in steamy bathrooms, damp basements, or near warm kitchen stoves to keep them from becoming sticky or brittle.
Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Big-box stores and unverified online sellers frequently source cheap generic capsules from uninspected overseas facilities. Those budget capsules can carry hidden risks of heavy metal contamination, industrial chemical residues, or unmonitored animal scraps. In contrast, NOW® sets the gold standard for purity:
✓16,000+ Lab Tests Per Month: NOW runs more than 16,000 physical, chemical, and microbiological tests each month across its world-class, in-house analytical laboratories.
✓Parts-Per-Billion Heavy Metal Screening (ICP-MS): Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, incoming lots are tested for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury down to parts-per-billion (ppb) thresholds, clearing USP and strict California Proposition 65 safety ceilings.
✓Certified BSE-Free Assurance: All bovine material is certified 100% free from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (mad cow disease) and sourced only from inspected, healthy cattle herds.
✓Microbiological Pathogen Clearance: Every batch is screened to guarantee the total absence of harmful bacteria including Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Staphylococcus aureus.
✓ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited & UL cGMP Certified: NOW's testing suites maintain independent ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, and facilities are audited and certified for Current Good Manufacturing Practices by UL Solutions.
About VitaNet®, LLC — Trusted Nutritional Heritage Since 1995
VitaNet®, LLC is a family-owned discount vitamin and supplement curator founded in 1995. Backed by over 31 years of direct human biochemistry expertise and hands-on industry experience, we operate our physical storefront at 887 Edison Street Northwest in Hartville, Ohio 44632. As a Better Business Bureau A+ accredited company, we stock factory-fresh products shipped directly from verified manufacturers like NOW®.
Every single order is protected by our unconditional 100% money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, we will refund your money and pay for return shipping, even on opened containers. Have questions? Call our friendly Ohio-based customer support team directly at (330) 877-8786.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much powder fits inside a single Size "0" capsule?
A Size "0" capsule holds between 400 mg and 600 mg of most nutritional powders. The exact weight depends on how fine or dense your powder is. Fluffy herb powders (like chamomile) will weigh around 400 mg, while dense mineral salts (like calcium carbonate) can reach up to 600 mg.
Can I fill these gelatin capsules with essential oils or liquid tinctures?
You can fill them with thick carrier oils (like olive or MCT oil) if you take the capsule right away. However, you should never fill them with water-based tinctures, fresh juices, or alcohol extracts, because water quickly softens and dissolves gelatin within minutes. For liquids, only fill right before swallowing.
How do Size "0" gelatin capsules compare to Size "00" and Veggie capsules?
Size "0" capsules are medium-sized and hold 400 mg to 600 mg, making them easier to swallow than larger Size "00" capsules, which hold 600 mg to 950 mg. Bovine gelatin capsules are derived from beef collagen and dissolve very quickly in warm stomach acid. Veggie capsules are made from plant cellulose (hypromellose) and are 100% vegan, but they typically cost slightly more than gelatin.
Will taking these empty gelatin capsules break intermittent fasting?
No. An empty gelatin capsule contains less than 1 calorie and tiny trace amounts of protein. This will not trigger a meaningful rise in blood sugar or insulin levels. As long as the powder you put inside the capsule is zero-calorie (such as pure electrolytes or unsweetened herbs), taking it will not break your fast.
How does NOW test empty gelatin capsules for heavy metals and BSE?
NOW tests every single batch in its in-house, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited analytical laboratories. Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), chemists screen for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury down to parts-per-billion (ppb) levels to meet strict California Proposition 65 standards. In addition, all gelatin is certified 100% BSE-free and sourced exclusively from monitored, healthy cattle herds.
