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I am confused with the two. Which is better? It seems to me that sublingual would be better since in goes directly into the bloodstream rather than digesting through the gut. Also, wouldn't liquid vitamins be better than oral capsules? What am I missing here? My stomach and bowels are having a hard enough time digesting and absorbing food, why would I want to add a hard vitamin pill to the mix?
Mandy
Which is better? Sublingual or oral vitamins?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Mandy,
You're quite correct. Sublingual lozenges have a much better, (and much faster), absorption rate, especially for someone who has gut malabsorption problems, which is usually the case, with MC. Not only that, but some/most of the subligual lozenges use the active form of the vitamin, so that it doesn't require activation by the body. For example, sublingual B-12 uses methylcobalamin, instead of the cyanocobalamin used by most oral B-12 supplements.
Even if they are swallowed, the methylcobalamin form has a much higher absorption rate than the cheaper cyanocobalamin form, because the digestive system has to remove the cyanide from the compound in order to complete the conversion to methylcobalamin, so that the body can utilize it. Cyanocobalamin has a longer shelf life than methylcobalamin, and it's much cheaper, so that's why most B-12 supplements use the cyanocobalamin form. Anyone with MC should use the methylcobalamin form, at least until their gut has sufficient time to heal.
The problem that most of us have with vitamins is that with rapid transit, and small intestinal damage, a high percentage of nutrients/vitamins exit the body before they can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Water-soluble vitamins are lost due to the diarrhea, and fat-soluble vitamins are lost due to steatorrhea, (unabsorbed fat). And many of the vitamins in food are lost because much of the food is incompletely digested, during a flare, so they're unavailable for absorption. We can digest foods such as vegetables much better if they're overcooked, but of course, overcooking causes the loss of vitamins, also, so it's hard to win, until we can get our symptoms under control.
Tex
You're quite correct. Sublingual lozenges have a much better, (and much faster), absorption rate, especially for someone who has gut malabsorption problems, which is usually the case, with MC. Not only that, but some/most of the subligual lozenges use the active form of the vitamin, so that it doesn't require activation by the body. For example, sublingual B-12 uses methylcobalamin, instead of the cyanocobalamin used by most oral B-12 supplements.
Even if they are swallowed, the methylcobalamin form has a much higher absorption rate than the cheaper cyanocobalamin form, because the digestive system has to remove the cyanide from the compound in order to complete the conversion to methylcobalamin, so that the body can utilize it. Cyanocobalamin has a longer shelf life than methylcobalamin, and it's much cheaper, so that's why most B-12 supplements use the cyanocobalamin form. Anyone with MC should use the methylcobalamin form, at least until their gut has sufficient time to heal.
The problem that most of us have with vitamins is that with rapid transit, and small intestinal damage, a high percentage of nutrients/vitamins exit the body before they can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Water-soluble vitamins are lost due to the diarrhea, and fat-soluble vitamins are lost due to steatorrhea, (unabsorbed fat). And many of the vitamins in food are lost because much of the food is incompletely digested, during a flare, so they're unavailable for absorption. We can digest foods such as vegetables much better if they're overcooked, but of course, overcooking causes the loss of vitamins, also, so it's hard to win, until we can get our symptoms under control.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Mandy
I take Vit D and B12 in sublingual form. So they do exist for these Vits at least. The ones I buy are made by a company called Superior Source and I found them at Whole Foods. The other ingredients are lactose and arcadia gum(?). Whether or not these would be problematic for you to take (because of ingredients) is another question.
I kind of like Sara's approach to figuring out sensitivities which is to pare down to the basics and then add one thing at a time slowly and see how it goes.
Best wishes,
Gabby
I take Vit D and B12 in sublingual form. So they do exist for these Vits at least. The ones I buy are made by a company called Superior Source and I found them at Whole Foods. The other ingredients are lactose and arcadia gum(?). Whether or not these would be problematic for you to take (because of ingredients) is another question.
I kind of like Sara's approach to figuring out sensitivities which is to pare down to the basics and then add one thing at a time slowly and see how it goes.
Best wishes,
Gabby
Mandy,
As Gabby mentioned, D3 is the active form of vitamin D. Interestingly, virtually all OTC formulations of vitamin D are D3, while virtually all prescription versions are for D2, the inactive form.
I have no idea why that seemingly weird arrangement exists, but that seems to be the case.
The only other vitamins that I happen to know the active forms of are folic acid, (B-9, L-methylfolate), and B-6, (Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate). I'm not knowledgeable enough about the active forms of the other vitamins to be able to advise you on them. The only reason why I am familiar with the ones I mentioned, is because I take a prescription vitamin, consisting of high doses of the active forms of B-12, B-9, and B-6, to treat peripheral neuropathy, (the product is called Metanx). I take it orally, though, not sublingually, since it doesn't appear to be designed as a lozenge.
I would assume that the liquid version of most vitamins would be more readily absorbable than tablet or capsule forms, but I don't know that for a fact. I'm just going by the fact that the tablets and capsules have to be broken down by the digestive system, before the ingredients can become available for absorption.
Tex
As Gabby mentioned, D3 is the active form of vitamin D. Interestingly, virtually all OTC formulations of vitamin D are D3, while virtually all prescription versions are for D2, the inactive form.
I have no idea why that seemingly weird arrangement exists, but that seems to be the case.The only other vitamins that I happen to know the active forms of are folic acid, (B-9, L-methylfolate), and B-6, (Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate). I'm not knowledgeable enough about the active forms of the other vitamins to be able to advise you on them. The only reason why I am familiar with the ones I mentioned, is because I take a prescription vitamin, consisting of high doses of the active forms of B-12, B-9, and B-6, to treat peripheral neuropathy, (the product is called Metanx). I take it orally, though, not sublingually, since it doesn't appear to be designed as a lozenge.
I would assume that the liquid version of most vitamins would be more readily absorbable than tablet or capsule forms, but I don't know that for a fact. I'm just going by the fact that the tablets and capsules have to be broken down by the digestive system, before the ingredients can become available for absorption.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Gabes-Apg
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Mandy
i have had good acceptance with the Sub-lingual approach.
I also find supplements in liquid form or a powder that you mix with water works better than tablets.
In all cases i start with small dose (1/6th - 1/4) and work up to the full dose over the period of a couple of weeks
and only introduce one at a time
i have had good acceptance with the Sub-lingual approach.
I also find supplements in liquid form or a powder that you mix with water works better than tablets.
In all cases i start with small dose (1/6th - 1/4) and work up to the full dose over the period of a couple of weeks
and only introduce one at a time
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
