Liquid nutritional supplements are fluids that provide nutrients to the body. They can contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or therapeutic herbs, are usually packaged in a bottle, and made ready for consumption. They are ingested through the mouth and follow standardized dosages based on the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA). Those under any medication or treatment should consult with a physician before adding these supplements into their diets, because ingredients may react with certain medications.1. Types of liquid nutritional supplementsLiquid nutritional supplements are available in syrup form, in drinkable form, or as add-ons.Liquid nutritional supplements that come in syrup form are usually formulated for children who have a hard time swallowing pills or capsules. (Note: Before administering any supplements or medicine to children, consult with a pediatrician or physician). They usually come in fruity flavors, such as orange, strawberry, and grape, so that they are more palatable to kids (and therefore much easier to administer).Drinkable forms are flavored nutritional drinks available in sweet or savory flavors. Some of these products, however, are not suitable for some people, such as diabetics, because of their sugar content.Other liquid nutritional supplements can be added to existing drinks or other foods.2. Advantages of liquid nutritional supplements In general, liquid nutritional supplements are easier to administer to children (compared to capsules and tablets) because they are easier to swallow. Liquid is also ideal for those who do not like swallowing tablets or pills. Liquid nutritional supplements are also advantageous for people who find it difficult to swallow because of old age or sickness.Another notable advantage of liquids is that they are the easiest to absorb because they do not need to be digested. Absorption starts once the liquid is swallowed. They also have greater bioavailability than tablets, which means that more of their substance will be absorbed in the blood stream (given that all other factors are equal).3. CautionLiquid nutritional supplements are not governed by the Food and Drug Administration Board, so you should take extra caution when buying and ingesting them.To be sure that the supplement you are taking does not contain any known harmful ingredients or contaminants, check if it is made by a manufacturer that rigorously follows Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards. Compliance to GMP means not only that the supplement is free of fillers, but that it also contains all of the ingredients indicated on its label. Supplements manufactured by non-GMP companies may contain less than the amount of nutrients they claim to have.