Liquid vitamin and mineral supplements are a good alternative if you have difficulty swallowing pills. It's also easier for you to control the amount of the supplement that you are taking. Liquid vitamin and mineral supplements can be taken directly with a glass of water or added to juice or other beverages. Many liquid supplements can also be added to cooked foods, giving them a nutritional boost.
Manufacturers' Claims
Liquid vitamins and minerals are supposed to be easy to take and easy for your body to absorb. Because they are in liquid form, your body absorbs them faster than it would be able to digest and absorb vitamins in pill form. Manufacturers' claims for vitamin absorption range from 10 to 30 percent for pills and up to 98 percent for liquid vitamins, although validating these claims is difficult. The availability of all vitamins and minerals that you ingest is affected by the health of your digestive system and the types of foods that you eat. Fat-soluble vitamins, which are A, D, E, F and K, must be taken with foods that contain fats in order to be absorbed.
Trace Minerals
Liquid minerals may include macrominerals and microminerals. The macrominerals are those that your body needs in relatively large amounts for good health. These minerals are calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and sulfur. Microminerals are also known as trace minerals, and they include copper, iron, manganese and zinc. Additionally, many other minerals are used by your body in extremely small quantities. A good liquid mineral supplement will include a wide range of minerals. These liquids usually taste salty and somewhat metallic, but they can be added to soups or other foods to mask their flavor.
Bioavailability
Many manufacturers of liquid vitamin and mineral supplements tout their products based on the bioavailability of the vitamins in their products. Simply, this means that the vitamins and minerals are in a form that your body can quickly and easily absorb and use. However, vitamin pills may contain enzymes that act as catalysts to help your body metabolize vitamins and minerals and prevent your stomach acid from destroying them. Liquid supplements do not contain these enzymes, so some of the vitamins and minerals do not make it out of your stomach and are not absorbed by your body.
Special Populations
Liquid vitamins and minerals are often given to infants and very young children who cannot handle solid foods. Children are also unlikely to want to take pills, which they tend to associate with medicines. People who are ill or who have had dental work or other facial surgery can also benefit from liquid supplements. And many elderly people find liquids easier to manage. But for anyone who does not like to take large pills or keep count of the number of pills, liquid supplements are a viable alternative.
Count the Calories
Some liquid vitamins and mineral supplements contain sweeteners or flavorings that are intended to mask the unpleasant taste of vitamins and minerals and make the product taste better. Some manufacturers use organic or natural sweeteners like agave nectar, while others may use vegetable glycerin and fruit flavors to sweeten their products. If you are watching your weight or are trying to avoid certain food additives, be sure to read the label thoroughly before you purchase a liquid vitamin and mineral supplement.
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