Searching for a nutritional supplement or supplements these days can be a daunting task and it's easy to become overwhelmed by the number of products available and their accompanying claims. When it comes to your health though, it's vital to research the differences among the supplements you are considering in order to make a wise, informed decision.

There are several ways nutrients are able to get into the bloodstream including: injection, ingestion, through the skin, and by suppositories. However the most common method is ingestion by either liquid or pills/capsules. Thus a common question that arises when deciding on various supplements is: which is better, pills or liquids?

As with just about everything, there are pros and cons regarding the best form to consume in addition to other considerations. These include: ease of swallowing, rate of absorption, taste, purity, shelf life and price.

Liquids obviously have a big advantage over pills when it comes to swallowing. Most people, especially the elderly and young children, tend to have more difficulty swallowing a handful of pills in order to get the complete range of nutrients needed by the body. Many pills also come in sizes that are simply too large to comfortably swallow. In addition to the physical difficulty of swallowing pills, it can create a psychological resistance.

Other factors to consider are the speed and ease that a supplement or vitamin can be absorbed. Generally, supplements in liquid form are much more readily broken down and absorbed. Additionally, it has been shown that liquids are more completely and quickly absorbed than most capsules and pills. In fact, the Physician's Desk Reference states that 85-90% of nutrients in liquid supplements are absorbed in 22 to 30 seconds.

Compare this to hours it takes for the nutrients in pills to be absorbed by the body. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that only 10%-20% of the nutrients in pills actually are absorbed. The National Advisory Board states that 100 mg consumed in tablet form translates into a concentration of only 8.3 mg or 8.3% in the blood. This results in far less absorption for the money.

It is also common to have [hard] capsules pass through the body virtually undissolved due to binding agents. Binding agents are chemicals used to keep the pill ingredients "together" and therefore can prevent pills from breaking down completely. This does not happen with liquids, as they are absorbed entirely.

There are exceptions to every rule however. Large variations in quality exist, and some companies put much effort into their pill and capsule forms. These nutraceuticals are manufactured with great care and use very expensive all natural, potent ingredients and excipients.

Some of these supplements have highly sophisticated delivery systems. For example, the best have excipients and enteric coatings that delay breakdown in the stomach allowing most absorption to occur in the upper intestine where they can do the most good. Typically, these particular types of pills are not available to the general public, can be quite expensive and are only available in private health care practices or by prescription.

While liquid supplements have their advantages, they are not perfect. Generally, liquid supplements tend to lose their potency faster than pills or capsules. Yet there are many liquid multivitamins that are stable and can hold their potency for years if combined and processed properly. Pills, on the other hand tend to have a long shelf life, and stores may hold onto their supplies long after they begin to lose their potency.

Liquids are more suitable for combining many different nutrients into one complete product. Pills and capsules may be lacking in quality vitamins and minerals, fruit and vegetable extracts, omega 3 fatty acids, CoQ10, plant enzymes, trace minerals, antioxidant blends, or herbal complexes and are less costly due to inexpensive binders and fillers. Therefore, in order to get complete nutrition, megadoses of many different pills are necessary. These megadoses can lead to toxicity and an overburden on the digestive system, kidneys and liver. Even buffered pills, although they reduce nausea to an extent, slow down the absorption of nutrients.

Binders and fillers used in discounted mass-volume supplements, such as dibasic calcium phosphate (DCP) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), can't be broken down by the body, so they may pass right through along with the beneficial nutrients. Tons of un-dissolved pills have been found in sewer pipes. These same binder compounds can remain in the bloodstream long after the pill has been eliminated and over time can accumulate in the tissues between the cells where they can become toxic and lead to a variety of health complications including heart disease, stroke, pre-mature aging, painful joints, and kidney stones to name a few.

A key element in the manufacturing process of many vitamin pills and capsules is the use of heat, imitation or synthetic nutrients to save on cost, and chemical solvents like ether, benzene and toluene. Heat dramatically reduces the potency of the nutrients and thereby causes their effectiveness to be lost making them essentially unusable by the body's cells. Some of the chemicals used to manufacture solid supplements are identical to those used in insecticides, motor fuels, explosives and lacquers!

The beneficial effect of vitamins and minerals depends greatly on the right balance, combinations and proportions of nutrients. The small percentage of pills and encapsulated nutrients that do get absorbed are rendered essentially useless if not balanced with the other necessary vitamins and minerals.

When making the choice of the best nutritional supplements, look for organically complexed (carbon bound) supplements derived from whole foods, minimally processed and made from the highest quality ingredients. It's best to avoid preservatives, synthetics ingredients and binders as much as possible to acquire the best possible nutrition. Good health is ultimately worth the investment.

Until next month...

Yours in health,

Dr. Mike