Nutrition Stop - Vitamins and Minerals

Iron Absorption - Solids vs. Liquids

Solid iron tablets first need to be broken down by the body before their iron becomes available for absorption. Tablets are held together with binders and coated with substances to help them keep their shape. Due to the binders, fillers, and coating, the body cannot easily get to the nutrients in the tablet. As well, tablets usually use forms of iron that are not well absorbed by the body. Liquid supplements, on the other hand, do not need to be broken down by the body before the active ingredients can be released and absorbed. They are right there for the body to pick out and absorb through the gastric mucus lining, since liquid supplements provide the body with a much larger surface area to volume ratio for easy absorption.