Many people still assume that a classic pill is the most effective way to take vitamins. Gummies are often seen as a lighter and less effective option.
Recent scientific research into vitamin D absorption proves the opposite, as the form of the supplement you take can indeed make a difference.
What exactly was investigated?
In two clinical studies, researchers compared the absorption of vitamin D from tablets and gummies.
Participants were given both forms. Subsequently, it was accurately measured how much vitamin D effectively entered the bloodstream.
Both forms peaked after approximately 10 hours. Initially, there seemed to be hardly any difference. However, once researchers looked further into how much vitamin was absorbed in total, the result turned out to be different.
The main conclusion
The results were clear: gummies had a higher bioavailability than tablets and led to higher vitamin D concentrations in the blood.
In other words: not only do gummies work just as well, but in some cases, they can even be better absorbed.
How does this difference arise?
The difference is not in the vitamin itself, but in how the body processes the different forms.
1. The absorption process starts in the mouth
Gummies need to be chewed, meaning they immediately dissolve in your saliva. This may seem like a small detail, but it means that the absorption process starts before the stomach.
Pills are swallowed whole and must first be completely broken down by your digestive system. This gives gummies a significant head start.
2. The formulation plays a crucial role
The composition of a supplement plays a major role in how quickly and efficiently the active ingredients are released into your body.
Gummies often have a softer structure, for example, based on syrup, gelatin, or pectin. (Our gummies, by the way, are made from apple pectin and are completely vegan.) As a result, they dissolve faster and the vitamins are released more smoothly.
Tablets, on the other hand, contain binders such as cellulose or starch, which ensure they maintain their shape but also cause them to break down more slowly in the body.
This difference impacts:
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how quickly the vitamins are released
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how well the supplement dissolves
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how much of the vitamin is effectively available for absorption
👉 Faster dissolution = better availability
3. Additional absorption via the oral mucosa
An interesting and lesser-known mechanism is sublingual absorption.
Because gummies dissolve in the mouth, some of the vitamin can already be absorbed through the oral mucosa. This means that a portion of the substance bypasses the liver, and there is less breakdown in the digestive tract.
This ensures that more active vitamin reaches the bloodstream.
Although this requires further investigation, it provides a strong explanation for the higher absorption.
4. Vitamin D is fat-soluble
Vitamin D belongs to the fat-soluble vitamins. This means that its absorption depends on a complex process in the body.
The vitamin must: be released from the formulation, be dissolved in fatty structures (micelles), and be absorbed by your intestinal cells.
Small differences in formulation can therefore have a large impact on the ultimate absorption.
What does this mean in practice?
The study makes one thing clear: The form of a supplement is not a detail, but an essential part of its effectiveness.
Its effectiveness depends not only on what's inside but also on:
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how well it is released
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how efficiently it is absorbed
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how much effectively enters your bloodstream
Are gummies always better?
Not automatically. The quality of the supplement itself remains decisive. It is important to consider the dosage, the quality of ingredients, and the formulation.
High-quality gummies are at least as effective as pills and, in some cases, are even better absorbed.
But perhaps even more important: the best supplement is the one you consistently continue to take. And who doesn't love high-quality, effective, and delicious vitamin gummies?
