Body Is Not
Absorbi ng Vitamin s Effectively
Disintegration Downfalls In order for your body to utilise vitamins and minerals they must be released into the body in a timely manner—meaning the pills must disintegrate quickly. However, a recent study examined forty-nine well-known commercially available multivitamins that were in either tablet (pill) or capsule form to determine if they could release their contained micronutrients within a twenty-minute time period—the time necessary for potential absorption. The results showed that out of the forty-nine multivitamins studied, twenty-five (or 51 percent) did not disintegrate.
Bulking Bombs Many supplements contain excipients, binders, fillers, and flow agents, that can be used to either make the ingredients stick together, bulk products up to a convenient size, or allow formulas to run smoothly through manufacturers’ machines. These can contribute to the poor disintegration rates for tablets (pills) and capsules.
Wax Washouts Have you noticed that some multivitamin tablets are shiny? That’s because some companies coat their multivitamins with shellac, wax, and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, which keeps the moisture out so they will have a longer shelf life. While this may be good for the vitamin company’s bottom line, it is not good for you. These coatings can decrease the solubility of a multivitamin tablet or capsule, reducing its ability to readily disintegrate.
Problems Taking Pills According to a Harris poll, 40% of the population has a hard time swallowing pills. The study reported that these individuals find swallowing pills so difficult that many delay, skip, or discontinue taking the pills or capsules altogether. This means that even if the micronutrients in the pill or capsule could be absorbed, you can’t get benefit from something you stop taking. Additionally, individuals with specific conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, hiatal hernias, diverticulitis, and those who have undergone bariatric surgery also have particular difficulty when taking their supplements in a pill or capsule form.
Sugar and Corn Syrup Cause Stalemates Would you believe that some manufacturers add sweeteners to pills to make them more appetizing? It’s true. And it is even worse in many chewable, gummy and liquid vitamins on the market. Not only are these commonly genetically modified sweeteners causing insulin spikes leading to weight gain, but they block micronutrients from being absorbed into the body as well. High fructose corn syrup contributes to deficiencies in chromium, magnesium, zinc, and copper, while sugar blocks the absorption of vitamin C, calcium and magnesium.
So, What is the Solution?
Step 1: Toss the tablets and pick a liquid vitamin
Taking a multivitamin delivered in a liquid form all but ensures micronutrient absorption. According to the American Pharmaceutical Association textbook, “A drug dissolved in an aqueous [liquid] solution is in the most bioavailable [absorbable] form. Since the drug is already in solution, no dissolution [disintegration] step is necessary before systemic absorption occurs.”
Step 2: Investigate the Ingredients Make sure to avoid products that contain sugar, corn syrup, binders, fillers, excipients, artificial colors and preservatives (BHA/BHT).
Step 3: Delve in Deeper We believe that taking a multivitamin is the best insurance policy to fill the gap from where your high–quality diet leaves off and micronutrient sufficiency is met. But, as you saw there are numerous absorption problems with the majority on the market…and the absorption is only the tip of the iceberg.