Are Liquid Vitamins Absorbed Better Than Tablet Form?

Because the average American diet is lacking in key nutrients, and because the cost of a multivitamin is relatively low, the "Journal of the American Medical Association" recommends everyone take a vitamin daily. While many people can get their needs met with a multivitamin in tablet form, some people may need a liquid vitamin.

The Need for Vitamin Supplements

Most American diets are deficient in calcium, chromium, copper, folic acid, vitamin B6 & vitamin E. According to the USDA, only about 10 percent of Americans eat a "good diet," one that includes the recommended number of servings of fruit each day. Fruits and vegetables supply the majority of a number of readily-absorbed vitamins, phytonutrients and antioxidants, substances necessary for the prevention of a number of chronic diseases. Additionally, growing conditions, agricultural technologies, nutrient content of the soil and food preparation and storage methods can decrease the amount of nutrients in food.

Absorption Rates

Since supplementing with a daily multivitamin can help restore optimal nutrient levels, finding one that is effectively absorbed by your body is important. A 2006 study published in the "Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences" found that, when tested in Simulated Intestinal Fluid, more than half the multivitamin tablets did not dissolve within 20 minutes. The researchers concluded that tablet disintegration rates were still a concern.

However, different foods leave the stomach at differing rates. It takes between 2.5 and 3 hours for 50 percent of the contents of your stomach to move into your small intestine, so a 20-minute test may be too short. Additionally, because the pH level in your small intestine is higher, anything not dissolved in the stomach is often dissolved in the small intestine.

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Bone Clinic found that participants who took vitamin D supplements with the largest meal of the day increase their absorption of the vitamin, indicating that some foods may help absorption rates.

Absorption Sites

Because many vitamins are not absorbed until they reach the small intestine, delayed disintegration may not always be a problem. According to Dr. Dan Benardot, author of "Advanced Sports Nutrition," the small intestine is the primary absorption site for minerals such as calcium, iron and zinc. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse reports that most vitamins are absorbed in the small intestines. While some tablets pass through the intestines without dissolving, most pass an official laboratory disintegration test performed by ConsumerLab, a company that tests consumer supplements.

Benefits of Liquid Vitamins

According to a 2006 report in "Consumer Reports on Health," liquid vitamins are theoretically more easily absorbed, but evidence doesn't prove they are any better than tablets, unless you have a problem with swallowing pills. People with medical conditions involving the small intestine may be advised to take liquid vitamins. Check with your doctor for specific recommendations.