In this study, a comparative dissolution experiment was conducted between an immediate-release and a controlled-release vitamin C tablet applied with a technology to control the dissolution of vitamin C to maintain the vitamin C level in the human body. In order to confirm the dissolution rate (%) of vitamin C tablets, HPLC determination was conducted based on the dissolution test methods in the ‘Korean Pharmacopoeia (No. 2020-88),’ ‘Guidelines on Specifications of Dissolution Tests for Oral dosage Forms,’ and ‘Standard and Specifications for Health Functional Foods (No. 2020-63)’ from Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). In addition, the dissolution pattern between the immediate-release tablet and the controlled-release tablet was comparatively analyzed. The analysis result confirmed that the immediate-release vitamin C tablet was 100% dissolved after 45 minutes, while the controlled- release vitamin C tablet was 100% dissolved after 480 minutes (8 hours). Furthermore, the dissolution rate (%) at 60 minutes was slower than that of the immediate-release vitamin C tablet. Based on these results, this study confirmed that the dissolution rate (%) test and development of controlled-release tablets containing vitamin C as the main component a re possible.

The purpose of this study was to find efficient and customized tools for delivering the benefit of health functional foods (HFFs). Delivery tools which could influence the impact of advertising were images, explanations of ingredients, diagrams of health benefit, patents, and comments from authority. Six advertisements were developed using these tools: “A”: relevant image + explanation of ingredients + scientific diagram of efficacy; “B”: relevant image + explanation of ingredients; “C”: relevant image; “D”: irrelevant image; “E”: irrelevant image + explanation of ingredient + patent; “F”: irrelevant image + explanation of ingredient + comments from authority. To analyze the consumer perceptions on HFFs and advertisement effects, 300 respondents were requested to answer a questionnaire comprising of the following questions: 5 questions of attitudes (necessity of HFFs, trust in HFFs, gathering information, watching advertisements and trust in advertisement claims) and 6 questions on the 6 developed advertisements (attention, understanding, sufficiency of information, sympathy, trust, and purchase). Scoring was done as per the 5 Likert scale. There was a higher proportion of females and the elderly, as compared to males and youngsters. The overall consumer attitudes were positive. Explanation of ingredients, scientific diagram of health benefit, patents and expert comments were helpful factors in increasing the advertisement evaluation by consumer, but the images were not. Advertisement evaluation of consumer did not differ with gender and age. However, differences were observed between some of the consumer attitudes (necessity of HFFs, trust in HFFs, gathering information and trust in advertisements claim) and advertisement evaluations (attention, understanding, sympathy and purchase). Our results indicate that for consumers utilizing the HFFs, advertisements with concrete tools such as diagrams, patent, and expert comments are more helpful. However, for consumers who do not have interest in HFFs, the scientific information was irrelevant. We believe that to maximize the effect of health information in advertisements, consumers should be segmented, and customized tools for each segment needs to be developed.