Liquid vitamins, unlike those in pill or capsule form, are highly-concentrated, potent sources of vitamins. Solid vitamin pills can contain up to 80% inactive substances, including colors and flavors, filler material, and preservatives. In addition, vitamins of the kind found in pills are often synthetic. 

Liquid vitamins are different. Vitamins in liquid form are a concentrated source of essential nutrients, with no preservatives, fillers, or any other kind of artificial additive, although some liquid vitamin formulations do contain natural colors or flavors. In addition, liquid vitamins are generally derived from natural sources.

Why is there such a big difference in these key factors? It comes down to the way in which the different types of vitamin supplements are made. Vitamin pills are made using chemically synthesized vitamins, and the pills themselves need all kinds of additives to increase the shelf life of the vitamins, help the pill keep its shape, and make the pill more palatable. Some experts believe that these additives can actually reduce the body’s ability to absorb the vitamins in these pills. And the way in which vitamin pills are made – often high temperatures are required – may actually decrease the bioavailability of the vitamins.

Liquid vitamins, on the other hand, are made using vitamins from natural, plant-based sources. These concentrated plant liquids are carefully formulated to make sure that both fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins are available for the body to absorb and use. Most liquid vitamin supplements also contain essential trace minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese, which are required by the body but are sometimes hard to obtain from food. And because liquid vitamin supplements don’t contain inactive additives, they are easier for the body to absorb, and gentler on the stomach. A side-effect of this is that liquid vitamins have a much shorter shelf life, because they do not contain any preservative ingredients. This means that liquid vitamins are made, stored, and transported in a strictly temperature-controlled environment to maintain freshness and quality, and it also means that most liquid vitamin supplements must be refrigerated at home.

For reasons that experts still don’t understand, it appears that vitamins from natural sources are more effective than synthetic vitamins. Liquid vitamins are the only way of taking supplemental vitamins that are just the same as those that are found in foods.