If you don't get your recommended daily allowance, or RDA, of vitamins and other nutrients from fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other foods, you might choose to take a vitamin supplement. Most people can get their RDA of vitamins in liquid or pill form, but liquid vitamins offer benefits to the elderly, young children and people with a chronic health condition that limits their ability to absorb nutrients.
Liquid Versus Pill
The body absorbs liquid vitamins more rapidly than pill vitamins because the stomach and intestines do not have to work as hard. But this does not mean that vitamins that come in liquid form work better than pills or are better for you, according to the Mayo Clinic website. However, liquid vitamins might be easier to take for young children and seniors who have trouble swallowing pills.
Overdose Risk
Overdose is a huge concern with liquid vitamins. In 2000, researchers from the department of family medicine at Regions Hospital in St. Paul found that people often use inaccurate devices for measuring liquid medication, including household spoons. "Parents and caregivers should only use the dropper that comes with the vitamin D supplement purchased," explains Linda M. Katz, MD, a spokesperson with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In 2010, the FDA issued a statement indicating that some liquid vitamin D supplements on the market are packaged with droppers that pose the potential for accidental overdosing in amounts that could be harmful to an infant.
Considerations
Prior to using liquid vitamins, the FDA suggests educating yourself on the proper dosage amounts. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that infants get 400 IU of vitamin D a day. Read markings on your dropper before dosing your baby. Some droppers may hold more than 400 IU of liquid. You should also only use the dropper that comes with your vitamin; a dropper from another product may hold a different amount of liquid or may be designed for different measurements.
Consequences
There are fewer options for liquid vitamins, and they are often more expensive than their pill or capsule counterpart. However, if you buy a pill to save money and then crush or split it to make it easier to take, you might not be getting the right amount of vitamins. In 2011, researchers from Ghent University in Belgium found that more than 30 percent of tablets that were split for easier consumption were 15 percent to 25 percent off in terms of recommended dosing amounts. According to the "Journal of Advanced Nursing," tablet splitting is a "daily practice" in senior living facilities.
References
- Riverside: Liquid Vitamins vs. Pills: Does One Work Better than the Other?
- "The Journal of Family Practice; Liquid Medication Dosing Errors; Diane J. Madlon-Kay, MD; March 2000
- Nursing Times: Tablet-Splitting May be Dangerous; January 2011
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Infant Overdose Risk with Liquid Vitamin D; June 2011
- "Journal of Advanced Nursing"; Table Splitting is Highly Inaccurate and Potentially Dangerous Practice say Drug Study
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