Health trends come and go, and while each usually has its own supporters and detractors, the topic of isotonic vitamins is continually one of the most hotly-debated of them all. For those who love these types of vitamins, they claim they are much more potent and easily absorbed than their pill or capsule counterparts. Meanwhile, others say there is no significant difference between the formulations.
What Are Isotonic Vitamins?
The term "isotonic" means these vitamins have the same solute concentration as the fluids already found in the human body, like saliva, tears and blood. The vitamins are sold in a crystallized powder form, which are then mixed in water and ingested by drinking the mixture. Because the liquid has an equal solute concentration, manufacturers claim isotonic vitamins are absorbed easier, faster and better than other forms of vitamins.
Who Makes Them?
One of the biggest and most popular brands of these types of vitamins is Isotonix, which is marketed by Market America.
The Big Debate
According to the manufacturers and supporters of isotonic vitamins, because the vitamins are delivered through a solute vehicle, the body's small intestine will absorb about 95% of the nutrients, whereas ingesting a capsule or tablet vitamin requires the body to first break down the product to the point that only about 20% of the nutrients are actually absorbed.
Meanwhile, some scientists, including Dr. Andrew Weil, claim there is no scientifically proven research to back up that claim and that these types of vitamins may, in fact, be less stable than tablet or capsule vitamins because liquid-based vitamins oxidize more readily. Unfortunately, consumers may never get the scientific evidence they want because thanks to the 1994 Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act, nutritional supplements do not have to be tested for safety or effectiveness before being made available on the market.
Where to Obtain Isotonic Vitamins
You can purchase isotonic vitamins through a number of channels, most of which are found online. Because manufacturers of brands like Isotonix have the freedom to claim these products provide such astounding health benefits, even when scientifically unproven, they are often a popular product sold by affiliates in multi-level marketing strategies. This fact is another reason why many scientists don't take the claims of these vitamin manufacturers very seriously.
Types of Vitamins Available
There are many different types of vitamins available in isotonic form, including:
Do They Work?
Due to the lack of scientific research and hard results, there is no clear indication scientifically whether isotonic vitamins are more or less effective than their capsule or pill counterparts. Consumer reviews of Isotonix vitamins are overwhelmingly in favor of these vitamins, with many reviewers claiming excellent and better than expected results. Detractors will also note that because these reviews are typically found on multi-level marketing websites, they cannot be fully warranted as authentic and may simply be a marketing ploy to sell more products.
While these types of advanced vitamins certainly do have their pros and cons as well as supporters and detractors, ultimately they offer consumers an alternative way to take their vitamins. Nearly every doctor recommends you take some type of nutritional supplement to satisfy daily nutritional needs. Before you start taking vitamins, it is important to talk to your doctor. In the end, however, it's going to be up to the individual consumer as to whether or not these vitamins offer the results they're looking for in their nutritional supplements.
