B-12 or B Complex?

[Eric3237]

Sent a message to ConsumerLAb about NOW's disintegration claims (I copy and pasted the statement to them).

Here is what they replied:

Thank you for you message.

We rely upon the USP disintegration methods, which, in this case, has a limit of 30 minutes. We have communicated with the USP in the past about its limits and their bases. As USP recently wrote to us “With certain supplements -- folic acid, for example, -- timely disintegration can be critical in ensuring that the supplement is effectively absorbed into the system.”

While it is possible that 40 minutes vs. 30 minutes may not matter much for some nutrients in the Adam multivitamin, it may for others. As many products have been meeting this standard for many years, we consider it prudent to use the USP limit whenever appropriate.

Although it probably has not been done, you may want to ask the manufacturer if they can provide human absorption data on which they base their extended disintegration times. If you receive anything, please forward to us as we would be happy to review it.


Sincerely,

Tod Cooperman, MD
President

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Now I'm not going to be contacting NOW over a multivitamin , lol, but I'm just providing this as a counterpoint.

[widdoes2504]

Interesting

[Eric3237]

What people really need to realize with vit/minerals is what is likely to be deficient as opposed to others. There are not that many common and widespread definciencies in the developed world. All the talk about natural ingredients, blah blah, doesn't mean crap compared to, as mentioned, folic acid (folacin), as an example.

Most of the vitamins are going to be more than satisfied by any common multi. But something like folic acid (and b-12) are much more likely to be deficient. One reason for that is that folic acid is about the most fragile thing there is. Easily destroyed and lost. So all the "fancy" stuff going on with "natural" ingredients may not make a difference AT ALL for the most part in terms of absorption. But with something like folacin 10 minutes could be the difference between it being absorbed intact or not. This is why standared exist.

None of it is likely a big deal AT ALL. But there are plenty of good products on the market that meet standards and give more than enough of everything and meet standards as opposed to in-house criteria.

[john917v]

I don't know if this helps, but as far as dissolving, what I do to give the grinder a head start is to put the multiv. in my mouth with some water, and swish it around a little while, until I've remove the coating.