Liquid Vitamin D: Developing the Best Form of Vitamin D for Absorption
Vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients for human health, playing several vital roles. As an essential vitamin, it's unique because it’s readily and naturally available through exposure to sunlight. When our skin is exposed to the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from sunlight, it produces vitamin D, which is crucial for the body.
However, there are limited naturally occurring sources for those who need more than what an afternoon in the sun can provide. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of vitamin D, notes on its absorption, and Spoke Science’s solution for better vitamin D formulation.
Vitamin D and the Human Body
Vitamin D is one of the most effective vitamins for overall human health, impacting multiple systems, such as bone density, the immune system, muscle function, and brain health.
Bone Health
Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone mineralization. Adequate vitamin D levels help prevent rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. In older adults, vitamin D supplementation combined with calcium can modestly decrease the risk of major fractures.
Immune Function
Vitamin D has immunomodulatory effects on both the innate and adaptive immune systems. It may help reduce the risk and severity of certain infections, including respiratory tract infections.
Cardiovascular Health
Some studies suggest that vitamin D may have protective effects on cardiovascular health, though the evidence is mixed. Observational studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (but large randomized controlled trials have not shown clear benefits of supplementation in vitamin D-replete individuals).
Neurological Health
Preclinical studies suggest potential neuroprotective effects of vitamin D, but clinical evidence is limited. Some observational studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk of multiple sclerosis.
The problem? Vitamin D isn’t always readily available or easily absorbed. Factors that impact vitamin D effectiveness include geographic location (people in colder climates get significantly less vitamin D than those in warmer climates), skin melanin levels, weight, and age.
Additionally, as people age, their ability to absorb vitamin D diminishes, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and muscle weakness. This can make mobility more difficult and increase the likelihood of injury.
Globally, approximately 1 billion people (about 13 percent of the world's population) are estimated to have vitamin D deficiency. It's even higher in Europe, with 40 percent of adults vitamin D deficient and 13 percent severely deficient. In the United States, about 24 percent are deficient, with an additional 5.9 percent deemed to have a severe deficiency.
All of this data paves the way for the development of new vitamin D supplements and fortified foods.
Best Form of Vitamin D for Absorption: Liquid or Pill?
The recommended daily intake for most adults is 600-800 IU, though individual needs may vary (always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen).
Beyond the sun, there are limited naturally occurring sources of vitamin D. Foods like salmon and sardines are high in vitamin D but may not appeal to everyone’s palate or dietary preferences. As a result, many people turn to vitamin D supplements or foods fortified with Vitamin D.
The science is not settled on whether consuming vitamin D in liquid-form versus solid-form (e.g. capsules, tablet, softgel) leads to better bioavailability. Realistically, the overall absorption efficiency of vitamin D is high (55 to 99 percent) regardless of the form (studies have shown no significant difference in absorption between the two).
But, given the number of factors that can affect vitamin D absorption among individuals, ancillary benefits give liquid forms the edge among consumers.
Benefits of liquid forms, including functional beverages, of vitamin D include:
Easier absorption: Liquid vitamin D supplements may be easier for some people to absorb than pill forms, especially for those with digestive issues, as they don't need to be broken down by stomach acids.
Flexible dosing: Liquid forms allow for more precise dosing, which can help adjust intake based on individual needs
Ease of use: Liquid forms may be easier for people with difficulty swallowing pills, such as young children or older adults. Liquid vitamin D can be mixed with drinks or food for easier administration.
Bioavailability: Some studies suggest that microencapsulated and oil-based forms of vitamin D may be more bioavailable than micellized forms.
The Challenge of Making a Better Vitamin D Supplement
Given the sheer number of people who are deficient in vitamin D and the potential health implications deficiency poses, there is a clear need for vitamin D supplements that provide a significant dose — all while being easy to take.
The challenges of making vitamin D supplements with greater bioavailability fall into three main categories:
Absorption: Vitamin D is fat-soluble, and the amount absorbed by the body can vary depending on how it’s consumed.
Age and body composition: These factors can significantly impact vitamin D absorption. As people age, vitamin D absorption becomes more difficult. People who are overweight also require more vitamin D.
Clinical conditions: Outside of controlled clinical studies with test subjects, accurately attributing vitamin D intake in real-world settings is challenging. It makes studying the effects of vitamin D supplementation difficult.
The Solution for Absorption? IsoCaps
With all the challenges in researching and creating a consistent bioavailable vitamin D supplement, Spoke Sciences’ water-dispersible IsoCaps are poised to offer a more consistent form of vitamin D absorption.
IsoCAPS VIT 100 delivers a greater density of vitamin D for product formulation than any other solution on the market. One milliliter of VIT 100 delivers 100 percent of the required daily allowance of vitamin D. The water-based format (a liquid vitamin D form) not only helps improve absorption and bioavailability but is also readily incorporated into the water phase of virtually any beverage or topical product formulation.
Spokes Sciences’ IsoCAPS provides better, safer, and more reliable functional ingredient delivery for foods, beverages, and cosmetics formulation.
Contact us to see how IsoCaps are a solution for your latest product.