The Supplement World Is Changing
Not long ago, supplements meant one thing: pills. Big capsules, chalky tablets, sometimes horse-sized softgels that were more chore than choice. But over the last decade, new supplement delivery formats — gummies, chews, sprays, even transdermal patches — have exploded in popularity.
Walk into Walmart, browse Amazon, or scroll iHerb and you’ll see it: brightly packaged gummies for adults, vitamin sprays, drinkable collagen shots, effervescent powders. Supplement makers know people are tired of choking down pills, and they’re chasing convenience.
But here’s the big question: are these formats actually better for your body, or just a marketing trick? Let’s dig in.
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Why Gummies and Chews Took Off
Gummies and chews are the most obvious “new” format — and the most successful. According to Nutrition Business Journal, gummy vitamins now account for nearly $1.5 billion in annual U.S. sales.
Why people like them:
- Convenience: Pop it like candy, no water needed.
- Taste: Fruit flavors beat chalky pills.
- Kid- and senior-friendly: No swallowing issues.
Downsides:
- Added sugar: Many gummy brands pack 2–4 grams per serving.
- Lower nutrient density: You can’t cram as much into a gummy as a capsule. That’s why many brands spread a “serving” across 2–4 gummies.
- Stability: Some nutrients degrade faster in gummy form.
Brands to watch:
- Olly (Target’s go-to gummy brand)
- SmartyPants (popular on Amazon)
- Nature Made Gummies (Walmart/Amazon staple)
For simple nutrients like vitamin C or biotin, gummies work fine. For higher-dose essentials (say, magnesium or CoQ10), you’ll rarely get enough per serving.
Sprays and Liquids: The Fast Absorbers?
Liquid vitamins and oral sprays are marketed as faster and more bioavailable. Sprays are especially hot in Europe and gaining traction in the U.S.
Claims you’ll see:
- Nutrients absorb directly into the bloodstream via the mouth.
- Higher bioavailability than pills.
- Easy dosing for kids and people who can’t swallow pills.
Reality check:
- Sublingual absorption works for some nutrients (like vitamin B12).
- For most vitamins/minerals, your body still processes them through digestion.
- Liquids can be less shelf-stable, often requiring preservatives.
Examples:
- BetterYou Vitamin D Oral Spray
- MaryRuth Organics Liquid Multivitamins
- Garden of Life mykind Organics B12 Spray
These can be genuinely useful for B12, vitamin D, and certain herbal tinctures. For other supplements? Sprays are more about convenience than science.
Transdermal Patches: Wear Your Supplements
One of the newest gimmicks is the supplement patch. Just slap it on your skin and let nutrients “absorb transdermally.”
Pros:
- Easy, no swallowing.
- Works for steady release (theoretically).
Cons:
- Very little research.
- Skin absorption varies by person and nutrient.
- Many experts remain skeptical.
Brands like PatchMD and Nutri-Patch are betting on the future of wearable nutrition. But for now, patches are more novelty than proven solution.
Chewable Tablets: Old Format, New Popularity
Chewables aren’t new — Flintstones vitamins have been around for decades — but they’ve gotten a modern makeover.
Upside:
- No swallowing issues.
- Higher nutrient load than gummies.
- Often sugar-free.
Downside:
- Chalky taste is still an issue.
- Some need multiple chewables per serving.
Brands like NOW Foods and Solgar still make chewable vitamins for people who want simplicity without sugar-loaded gummies.
Do New Supplement Formats Actually Work Better?
Here’s the blunt truth: for most people, format doesn’t matter nearly as much as quality and dosage.
- Absorption: Your gut handles most supplements the same way. Whether it came as a capsule, gummy, or spray doesn’t radically change the process.
- Convenience: If you’re more likely to take a gummy than a capsule, that’s where the benefit lies. Compliance matters more than chemistry.
- Exceptions:
- B12 works best as sublingual or injection.
- Fat-soluble vitamins (D, E, K, CoQ10) are better absorbed in oil-based softgels.
- Minerals usually require bulk — gummies rarely deliver effective doses.
When New Formats Make Sense
- Kids: Gummies and sprays make daily dosing less of a battle.
- Seniors: Trouble swallowing pills? Chewables or liquids are a game-changer.
- Travelers: Single-serve liquid packets or sprays fit in a carry-on.
- Specific needs: Sublingual B12 or liquid iron for deficiency treatment.
When They’re Just Trendy (and Overpriced)
- “Detox sprays” or “patches” with vague ingredient lists.
- Collagen shots charging triple the price per gram compared to powders.
- Gummies for everything — including things that require grams, not milligrams (like protein or magnesium).
These exist because consumers chase convenience — and brands chase profit margins. Always compare the dosage on the label to what research shows you actually need.
Practical Buying Tips
- Read the serving size. A bottle with “60 gummies” may only be a 15-day supply if you need 4 a day.
- Check sugar and additives. Look for sugar-free or low-sugar gummies.
- Compare cost per dose. Gummies and sprays are often 2–3× pricier per nutrient than capsules.
- Stick with trusted brands. NOW Foods, Life Extension, Doctor’s Best, Garden of Life, Thorne.
The Bottom Line
New supplement delivery formats are here to stay. Gummies, sprays, and chews make taking vitamins easier — and for many people, that means more consistent supplementation.
But don’t be fooled by the hype. Convenience doesn’t always equal better absorption, and in some cases (like patches), the science just isn’t there yet.
Capsules and softgels remain the gold standard for most nutrients, especially when cost and dosage matter. New formats shine when convenience is the top priority.
The truth is, new supplement delivery formats aren’t automatically better — but they are making supplements easier to stick with. If convenience helps you stay consistent, gummies, sprays, or chews are worth it. If you want maximum potency for the lowest cost, capsules and softgels still rule.
see also: 5 Rookie Mistakes People Make with Supplements – And How to Avoid Them