People who prefer liquid vitamins say that the human body can more readily absorb their nutrients than those in tablets, pills or capsules. Those favoring solid formats for nutritional supplements argue that they are more cost effective than liquids. However, the American Dietetic Association maintains that neither liquid nor solid supplements can meet or beat the absorption of vitamins and minerals from food.
Some Exceptions
Of course, there are numerous exceptions that merit including multivitamins in one’s daily regimen, and sometimes people feel more comfortable with solids than fluids, or vice versa. If a person is diagnosed with a nutritional deficiency and a physician recommends nutritional supplements, the preferred format might factor in whether a patient has difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal difficulties or allergies. That could dictate a very specific recommendation of a nutritional supplement that doesn’t conflict with the individual’s condition.
New Versus Old
Liquid vitamins are a newer type of nutritional supplement than solid capsules, tablets and pills, so drinkable formulas simply don’t have the same amount of reach as the older forms that consumers are more familiar with. There are only about 20 different fluid multivitamins on the market that come in ready-to-drink format, while solid types of nutritional supplements number in the thousands. That makes it easier for people to obtain, pills, tablets and capsules than anything in liquid form. The liquids tend to sell for higher prices than the solids, and that can perpetuate the difference in availability and popularity of the two.
