Q&A: Liquid vitamins—better absorption?
My wife pays a premium for liquid vitamin and mineral supplements, which are supposedly better absorbed by the body. Are they worth the cost? —D.P., Sacramento, Calif.
Probably not, unless your wife has trouble swallowing solid supplements. In theory, liquid supplements should be better absorbed by the stomach since they’re already dissolved. But there has been little research to substantiate that idea. And at least some evidence has shown no meaningful difference. A small study in adults over age 65, for example, found they absorbed calcium from solid supplements just as well as calcium from fortified milk or orange juice. And adults older than 50‚ who may lack sufficient amounts of a stomach chemical needed to fully extract vitamin B12 from food, readily absorb the vitamin from pills. So the better absorbability (in theory) from liquid supplements most likely doesn’t justify the added cost.
Read up on supplements to avoid (free), and see our Natural Medicine Ratings (subscribers only) for more facts on vitamins and minerals.
This article first appeared in the September 2006 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
Posted by: Jeanne M. | Sep 12, 2009 12:28:28 PM
So, since there's not enough data to prove these vitamins work, you're saying we should rule 'them' out? I don't get what you're trying to say here? Since many people have a hard time swallowing those 'extra long', and distasteful pills, and the capsules have additives and casings that could give bad reactions, why not try the liquid form, which 'could' very likely be going 'straight' to the blood stream, to give us the help that is needed?
Mr. Thompson, best liquid vitamin mineral, and not a seller of liquid vitamins, I intend to do just that. Hopefully and prayerfully sometime in the very 'near' future the necessary research (then again, I'm not always convinced by what the FDA says, as sometimes I think it's more about the 'dollars', then telling the real truth behind things we should know. I hope they prove me wrong here though.) will be done to back you up. Thanks for your help.
Posted by: J.D. | Aug 15, 2009 8:53:27 AM
What liquid multi-vitamin is considered best for the money?
Posted by: not a seller of liquid vitamins | Mar 1, 2009 12:39:10 PM
Yes. Liquid vitamins are amazing!! Being an ordinary consumer, just like you, I find that liquid vitamins are amazing!! I would gladly pay hundreds of dollar for such a supplement!
Posted by: best liquid vitamin mineral | Dec 27, 2008 4:21:49 PM
Liquid vitamins are the best thing I have tried since slice bread.
Posted by: Michael Thompson | Dec 12, 2008 7:19:22 PM
The liquid Multi-Vitamins that I take also include many of the most popular superfoods and antioxidants and the price may just surprise you!
Not everyone is out to make a killing with HIGH PRICES.
I feel better all around and it does not take near as long to wake up in the mornings like it used to before I started to take Liquid MultiVitamins.