But it can actually be difficult to determine exactly how much nutritional value you're getting from a gummy vitamin. There are advantages and disadvantages of liquid and gummy vitamins compared to tablets, tablets, capsules or soft capsules. And surprisingly, this isn't even the only problem with solid supplements. The vitamins in gummies and chewable products are marketed as being more affordable than pills, but it's no accident that they look and taste like candy.
They're often full of chemical flavor enhancers, have lower nutritional value, and are higher in sugar and calories than their liquid counterparts. While pills and capsules usually avoid this problem, they tend to be bulky and difficult to swallow, making them an arduous task, especially when you end up taking several at once because they don't offer you optimal nutrition. On the other hand, liquid vitamins such as DL, MD aim to be clean and simple sources of vitamins and minerals that provide their ingredients to the diet. No complications, no unnecessary extras in the form of added sugars or soluble pill capsules, just vital fuel for the body.
The vitamins in gummies may not be as effective as the vitamins and minerals in pill form. The vitamin content in gummies is usually lower than that of traditional pills and chewable vitamins. That's because manufacturers need to add additional ingredients such as sugars, sugar alcohols, corn starch and food colors to give the gummy candies their bright color and chewy texture. As a result, there isn't enough room for as many vitamins as traditional vitamins.
Secondly, the shelf life of gummy vitamins isn't as long as that of traditional pills, which means that they can quickly lose potency and become less effective. Gummy vitamins taste nice and are easy to take. However, most varieties contain added sugars and may not accurately include the nutrient content on their labels. The vitamins in gummies are usually packed with artificial food colors, fillers, and other things to give them an attractive texture.
This is partly because manufacturers can't include as many vitamins and minerals when they have to add sugars, colorants and other filling compounds that are used to maintain a rubbery texture. Gummy vitamins are chewable vitamins that have a texture and taste similar to gummy candies and come in a variety of flavors, colors and shapes. Taking daily multivitamins in their traditional forms, such as pills or capsules, is generally considered the best way to obtain certain nutrients that may be missing from the diet. You will also need a pill (tablet or capsules) instead of a liquid or gummy if you need to delay absorption (for example, with an extended-release melatonin) or if you are trying to deliver the ingredient intact to the intestine without being digested in the stomach, such as with some enteric coated probiotics and fish oils.
In fact, one study reported at least three cases of vitamin A toxicity due to excessive consumption of candy-like vitamins in children (1). If you're interested in testing vitamins in gummies, look for brands that are low in sugar and that have been tried by a third party.). This is great news, because if your goal is to optimize your health by taking vitamins in addition to your usual diet, you will also want to optimize the nutritional value you get from them. To reduce the amount of added sugars in gummy vitamins, some manufacturers may add sugar alcohols instead.
Because they are similar to candies, vitamin gummies pose a risk to children, who may consume more gummies than suggested and ingest excessive amounts of vitamins and minerals. It would be safe to assume that taking supplements can only be a positive thing, as it will save you time and increase your vitamin levels, making them a great way to ensure that you're getting all your essential nutrients. While this is common practice, research suggests that most people who eat a balanced diet don't need to take multivitamins (. That's because not all vitamin brands are up to the task in this regard, especially supplements in pills and gummies, which break down slowly in the body.
Because children need lower amounts of nutrients than adults, they are more susceptible to vitamin and mineral toxicity (1). With this in mind, it may be best to keep gummies out of reach of young children or to discuss vitamin intake with older children. Some people prefer vitamins in the form of gummies to pills because they're easier to swallow, taste better, and don't smell unusual. .