The Kushi Institute of Becket, Massachusetts reported that after following the nutritional components of most fruits and vegetables from 1975 and 1997, the level of vitamins in produce decreased over the years by 12 to 30 percent. Vitamin supplements are necessary, but discussion continues as to whether tablets help people as much as their manufacturers claim. Many consumers look to liquid vitamins to supplement their diets.
History
The discovery of many vitamins occurred in the 1920s and 1930s. Pablum was the first cereal to tout that it contained additional vitamins. In the 1940s, the nutritional community paid a great deal of attention to the vitamins that remained in water after fruits and vegetables were cooked. A campaign to use the vitamin-laden water became important throughout America. Those years also saw the advent of a push for pregnant women to take vitamin supplements. Dr. Stephen Cooter found that the symptoms of polio were almost identical to B1 deficiency damage, leading scientists to believe that vitamin B might improve infants' resistance to polio. The scientific community advocated giving infants vitamins. Dr. W.J. McCormick noted increased polio when a flourmill and white bread were introduced to an area. This study and others were cited by Fred R. Klenner, M.D., Reidsville, North Carolina in Southern Medicine and Surgery (Volume 103, Number 4, April, 1951). It began a rush of vitamin drinks like Hadocol, but they were very incomplete.
Significance
For many years, much of the American diet was deficient in nutrients. The method of refrigeration meant that many fresh foods were not available and only locally grown fruits and vegetables were available in season. Vitamin supplements provided important nutrition. Pediatric vitamins not found in all formulas or mother's milk became the first important liquid vitamins. United States Vitamin and Pharmaceutical Corporation led by H. Boris Burns created the first pediatric vitamins.
Types
In the early 1950s, numerous vitamin drinks became available. Many of these contained cod liver oil to provide additional vitamin D and A. Hadocol included vitamins B1 and B2. Manufacturers sold it as a tonic. In the 1960s, doctors prescribed liquid vitamins for infants as part of routine care.
Effects
Liquids enter into the body's system much faster than pills. The unaffected remains of many dry pills are often expelled in excrement. Liquid does not need to be broken down, so the theory is that the vitamins are effective as soon as you swallow them.
Misconceptions
Although liquid vitamins assimilate more easily into the body, they must still travel to the intestinal area where absorption takes place. Some inexpensive types of vitamin tablets may not digest properly, but many capsules do break down in the stomach quite readily and provide the liquid nutrition to the intestinal area.
Features
Newer liquid vitamins are often quite flavorful and provide an incentive for children and adults to remember to take the supplements. The increased consistency is one huge benefit of liquid vitamins.
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