Abstract: An enhanced efficacy aluminum only salt active. The method for making such active comprises the steps of (a) providing an aqueous solution of an aluminum salt having a Band III polymer concentration of at least about 20%; (b) adding to the aqueous solution of step (a) an aqueous solution of a monomeric aluminum salt to form a mixture; and (c) rapidly drying the mixture to form a product powder. The active comprises an aluminum only salt having a Band III polymer concentration of at least about 20%, an aluminum to anion ratio of from about 1.1:1 to about 1.8:1 and a level of monomeric aluminum of from about 2% to about 20% of the total aluminum.

Abstract: An ingestible coating agent comprising: (a) sterol, and (b) solvent. The coating agent can be used to protect ingestible substrates from adverse conditions that would otherwise lead to degradation of the substrate. Preferably, the solvent comprises azeotropic solvent. In another aspect, the present invention provides a coated substrate comprising an ingestible coating and an ingestible substrate. The coating agent can be used to coat any suitable substrate. Suitable substrates can include, but are not limited to, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, phytochemicals, carotenoids, pharmaceuticals, salts, nutrients, physiological active agents, and mixtures thereof.