Children and adults who struggle to swallow pills, or who don’t get the essential nutrients from their diets, may find liquid supplements helpful. Furthermore, elderly patients experiencing difficulty with choking, swallowing or breathing issues also can benefit.
Liquid vitamins and dietary supplements are more easily absorbed than pills, capsules or tablets. Read more to understand why liquid supplements might be better for you and who typically benefits from using them.
Easy to Take
Liquid vitamins are often easier for kids and adults to swallow than pills, chewables or gummies. You can either sip directly from the bottle, or mix them into food or drinks for easy consumption – giving you greater control of dosage than pills or capsules can.
Liquid supplements made of high quality are often flavored with monk fruit, stevia or other safe natural sweeteners to make them appealing to children and are far superior than gummies which may contain added sugars and additives.
However, liquid supplements require refrigeration and have shorter shelf lives than pill form, limiting accessibility. Furthermore, they may be less cost-effective for older patients who require larger or slower-absorbing nutrients.
High Dosing
Liquid supplements often deliver higher dosages than pill or capsule options, making them suitable for children, the elderly and those with swallowing issues.
Note, however, that high doses can be hazardous and should be taken under medical advice only. Furthermore, liquid vitamin D should only be administered to infants as this can build up in their bodies and potentially lead to toxicity issues.
Liquid supplements may be more appropriate than pills when it comes to quick absorption rates, including fat-soluble vitamins like A, D and E as well as water-soluble ones like C and B12. Your functional medicine practitioner may suggest one with slower absorption.
Easily Absorbable
Studies show that liquid supplements can be more quickly absorbed into your bloodstream than pills or capsules, due to liposomes acting as “life jackets” to protect the nutrients while passing more quickly through your digestive tract.
Liquid multivitamins may also be suitable for individuals with sensitive digestive systems and many high-quality varieties are formulated without yeast, gluten, eggs or artificial sweeteners, making them suitable for people with food allergies or restrictions on their diets.
Liquid supplements tend to be less stable than tablets or capsules and can become unstable over time, potentially leading to a loss of ingredients over time. This may especially be problematic if they’re trying to delay absorption (for instance some time-release melatonin supplements) or need to pass through your stomach undamaged so they reach your intestines (such as enteric-coated probiotics or fish oil supplements). Therefore, depending on your particular dietary needs you might prefer pill or capsule form of the supplement instead.
Easily Digestible
Liquid supplements are easily assimilated by the body, making them more efficient than pills. Furthermore, liquid supplements tend to be free from yeast, egg, gluten and other additives which make them suitable for those with dietary restrictions.
Liquids offer a wealth of nutritional options that can meet specific health needs, from immunity and cognitive enhancement to flavoring or naturally sweetening to appeal more strongly to children or those with specific dietary restrictions.
Liquid dietary supplement sales have seen explosive growth as they provide an easily consumable nutritional solution. They’re especially popular among senior citizens who require extra calcium and vitamin D to maintain bone strength and boost energy. Furthermore, liquid supplements make an excellent nutritional companion in busy, on-the-go lifestyles.
